NEOM, the sustainable development taking shape in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with Samsung C&T Corporation to unlock an initial investment of more than SAR1.3 billion in construction robotics.
According to a statement from NEOM, the agreement will accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge construction automation technology in Saudi Arabia.
The JV aims to automate rebar cage assembly through advanced robotic welding and tying techniques, enabling the assembly of large, pre-manufactured reinforcement cages, said the statement.
Through automation, the adoption of rebar assembly technology can reduce manual workforce hours by up to 80%, based on global average installation metrics for traditional construction methods, improving safety and quality, reducing material waste, and reducing cage assembly costs by up to 40%.
"Sustainability at NEOM is a core principle that drives not only what we build, but how we build it. By automating labor-intensive processes through robotics, we are pushing the boundaries of construction innovation,” CEO of NEOM Investment Fund Majid Mufti said.
The agreement will establish rebar cage assembly factories in NEOM, creating more than 2,000 highly skilled job opportunities locally while meeting the extensive requirements for the construction of THE LINE and other key developments in the region.
