In a move it says reflects not only growing demand, but the industry’s broader embrace of workplace robots, Advanced Construction Robotics has announced that it is now offering its rebar tying robot through direct sales, plus of ongoing service agreements.
TyBOT’s The gantry-mounted robotic arm is capable of tying rebar intersections in large rebar installations, such as those used in bridge decks. With its largely hands-free operation, TyBOT automates much of what is typically considered a burdensome and physically demanding task in the workplace.
The robot was first used on a real construction site in 2017 and has since been deployed on dozens of projects. The new TyBOT 3.0 standard model has a working width of 67 inches and costs $425,000. With several available attachments, the working width can be expanded to 117 inches in a fully configured version that costs $455,000. Included in the sale price is training on the operation of the curve binder robot, as well as future software updates and access to an online portal to track its use and productivity. Other options include other modes of travel for non-bridge projects and a new transport feature for transporting materials to the job site.
Until now, working with TyBOT came through a robotics-as-a-service model with its maker, Pittsburgh-based Advanced Construction Robotics. “It was always a question [from customers] of ‘Can I buy one?’ as we walked them through this RaaS model,” says Danielle Proctor, President and CEO of ACR.
The company will still offer TyBOT rentals in the future and is exploring other distribution options. But Proctor says the real hurdle to selling the robot directly had been the training required to operate it. “A big thing for us was creating a training curriculum that was repeatable and explainable,” he says. “With TyBOT, our goal has always been to make this thing seamlessly integrated into the tools of the trade.”
Users have exceeded initial reservations to fully endorse the robot. Proctor notes that broad initial engagement with union ironworkers and specialty contractors helped win over some skeptics, and direct user input contributed to TyBOT’s current 3.0 version.
“Not only did we ask for customer feedback, but we had partners who participated from day one,” adds Stephen Muck, ACR’s founder and executive chairman. “We integrated with users throughout the process, from idea conception to proof of concept and beyond…when we bring a product to market, we want it to be economically viable and solve real problems.”
Muck says that most users use a TyBOT not to reduce their labor costs or even to deal with labor shortages, but as a multiplier for their teams to tackle bigger and bigger jobs great “Some want lower labor costs, yes, but more want to do more work and make more money doing more volume.”
And having a robot of its own that doesn’t require continuous coordination with ACR is already changing the way customers use their TyBOTs, Proctor says. “We’ve been proactively talking to a few users about how they’d like to get their units out, and one said, ‘Oh my god, it’s on sale now.’ We have many other jobs we want to get there. It becomes this flexible tool that you can apply wherever you need to.”
ACR is beginning to take orders for the first direct sales of TyBOT 3.0 units, with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2025.
