Bouygues UK wins ‘Best Innovation’ Award at Franco-British Awards 2024 for use of Printing Robot

Bouygues UK is thrilled to announce that it has been honoured with the prestigious 'Best Innovation' award at the Franco-British Business Awards 2024 for its groundbreaking use of the HP SitePrint Robot at the Oriel construction site. This accolade recognises the significant advancements in construction efficiency and accuracy achieved through this innovative technology.

This year's Franco-British Business Awards celebrate companies that have gone above and beyond to support their people and communities, foster innovation, make progress on climate action, and nurture the Franco-British relationship.

Developed in partnership with HP Construction Services and Hexagon's Leica Geosystems, the HP SitePrint Robot automates the layout of primary fitout information directly onto the concrete slab, enhancing both quality and productivity. Equipped with ink marking capabilities, obstacle avoidance sensors, and safety light features, the robot can print partition lines, room numbers, wall codes, door openings, and various other critical details with an accuracy of 3mm.

The introduction of the HP SitePrint Robot offers several significant benefits:

• Enhanced quality and accuracy: The robot prints detailed measurements and information, reducing errors and enhancing the visibility of installation details.
• Improved efficiency: By automating the layout process, the robot prints 24,943 linear metres with an average performance of 150 sqm/hour.
• Reduction in errors: The ability to visualise potential design conflicts early helps prevent costly errors and rework.
• Improved health and safety: Automation reduces the physical strain on workers, minimising repetitive tasks.

Lewis Wenman, Lead BIM Manager at Bouygues UK said, "We are absolutely thrilled to have been recognised at the Franco-British Business Awards for this innovative solution. The introduction of HP SitePrint is a gamechanger, bringing 2D drawings alive in the field, providing clear visibility in setting out and coordination for the project team. The site teams now have confidence in the setting out and can plan installation and temporary storage of materials, reducing waste and labour."

James Bayliss, from HP Construction Service, said, “We're very happy to work alongside Bouygues UK to implement SitePrint across the business. Bouygues UK is a key strategic partner within the construction industry for HP across Europe and beyond. We're looking forward to developing this partnership. Together, we're using SitePrint to drive improvements and efficiencies across Bouygues UK’s business.”

Chris Evans of Hexagon Geosystems UK added, “The introduction of the HP SitePrint solution to Bouygues UK is a continuation of the Hexagon / Bouygues UK partnership. Hexagon work closely with Bouygues UK across multiple regions to help bring innovative solutions to their construction process. This not only benefits Bouygues UK as a principal contractor, but it also shares knowledge throughout its supply chain and helps to accelerate the adoption of technology. The use of digital technologies as part of modern methods of construction will improve efficiency and sustainability across its projects.”

The successful trial at the Oriel site, where Bouygues UK is building a new eye care, research, and education centre in Camden, has paved the way for the planned deployment of the HP SitePrint Robot at an additional Bouygues UK healthcare project. The insights gained from the Oriel site will be instrumental in maximising the benefits of this technology across future projects.

Bouygues UK is honoured to receive this recognition at the Franco-British Business Awards 2024, a testament to its commitment to innovation and excellence in the construction industry.