British construction tech start-up Automated Architecture (AUAR) is sending two of its pop-up, robotic micro-factories to the U.S. for the first time in a move to bring automated and affordable house building to North America.

Founded in 2019, AUAR functions by licensing its technology to builders and contractors to build low-energy homes at the price of normal homes, at scale.

The micro-factories will be deployed by real estate development and construction firm Rival Holdings, which aims to address the ongoing housing crisis by building thousands of sustainable, affordable, and high-quality homes across the Midwest. The partnership between Rival Holdings and AUAR was announced in March. 

“We are really excited to partner with Rival Holdings to bring our cutting-edge Robotic Micro-factories to the United States,” said Co-Founder and CEO of AUAR, Mollie Claypool. “This partnership is our first in the US and will enable us to scale up the production of high-quality, affordable and sustainable homes where there is a huge and urgent need for them.”

AUAR’s technology, developed with the help of Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation ABB, is a boon for an industry struggling with a shortage of skilled labor, low productivity, and a lack of digitization. These factories combine robotics with AI-powered software to automate the design and construction process. As a result, the time and labor costs associated with traditional building methods are significantly reduced. 

According to AUAR, the two micro-factories that were shipped to the U.S. can each produce up to 180 homes a year. They are packed in standard shipping containers, with all of the required components pre-assembled for quick deployment. Each micro-factory is capable of producing modular timber-frame panels for walls, floors, and roofs. The technology is also being offered through a “hardware-as-a-service” model, which allows AUAR’s licensees to quickly set up without large capital expenses.  

“We have designed our Micro-Factory solution to be truly accessible to home-builders,” added Co-Founder and CTO of AUAR, Gilles Retsin. “We do this by keeping the upfront costs low and allowing for quick installation and delivery. The operation of the Micro-Factory itself doesn’t require extensive training or knowledge of robotics, our software and team take care of everything from the initial designs down to manufacturing.”

Rival Holdings' first project using AUAR’s technology will be a low-energy Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Following this, the micro-factories will be used to manufacture homes.

As stated by VP of Innovation and Strategy at Rival Holdings, Jerod Hevel, “We are investing in these first Micro-factories because we see the potential to reduce cost, reduce time on-site, and improve quality – all in a way that makes life better for homeowners.”