Tech Fund Boosts Construction Sector

Site safety has always been a priority in the construction industry. For welders, there can be significant health risks from enduring intense light, high temperatures and harmful gases for extended periods.

One local engineering equipment firm recently acquired a welding robot, primarily for connecting foundation piles. Project Manager Ken Lai highlighted that the robot not only enhances worker safety but also accelerates construction times.

Significant benefits

“Traditional welders must work close to the workpieces, exposing them to harmful light and gases,” Mr Lai explained. “By using welding robots, operators can control them from a safe distance, effectively reducing health risks.”

He added: “With programmed operations, we can ensure each procedure is performed under stable conditions, improving efficiency and significantly enhancing the final product’s quality.”

In the current context of labour shortages, Mr Lai believes construction robots can address this issue effectively. “Our operators can control at least two robots simultaneously, significantly enhancing construction efficiency. This allows us to maintain high productivity levels even with a reduced workforce.”

Besides its welding robot, the company has acquired a painting robot, a transportation robot and a cutting robot. For these four purchases, it has been granted funding in excess of $3.3 million via the Construction Innovation & Technology Fund (CITF).

“Our robots have received up to 80% funding assistance from the CITF, which encourages us to explore more applications for construction robots and drive innovation in the industry.”

Extensive programme

The CITF, established in 2018, has channelled $2.2 billion in government funding towards promoting innovative construction methods and technologies. Its objectives include enhancing productivity, improving construction quality, increasing site safety and boosting environmental performance. The Construction Industry Council advises the Government on the fund’s operations and participates in funding approvals.

As of March of this year, the fund had approved applications totalling approximately $1.68 billion, benefitting around 1,330 companies. About 60% of these firms have been small or medium-sized enterprises.

The council’s Executive Director Albert Cheng revealed: “The most popular categories are building information modelling and advanced construction technologies, with over 60% of applications falling into these areas.”

Full menu

In recent years, the fund has run a special programme to support the implementation of the Smart Site Safety System. This programme provides a “package” of options to help the industry select and apply the most suitable innovative technologies to enhance construction site safety across various environments.

“Some contractors lack clarity on the best safety devices to adopt under different conditions and stages,” said Mr Cheng. “The Construction Industry Council aims to assist these stakeholders by creating standard lists of devices.

“We also provide information on the market providers for each device and their pricing, enabling stakeholders to quickly understand the costs and types of devices they need to adopt.”