The International Union of Operating Engineers & Built Robotics Join Forces
What happens when an international union representing close to half-a-million of the most highly skilled craft workers joins forces with a leader in construction robotics?
They move a lot of dirt together.
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) and Built Robotics have signed a multi-year strategic partnership agreement.
The partnership will establish a training program to prepare IUOE members to oversee and manage fleets of robotic equipment, in addition to working collaboratively alongside autonomously operating vehicles.
And yes, this includes using robots to move dirt, or more specifically, excavate, trench, develop, and build using autonomous heavy equipment to expand the skill-set of IUOE members.
“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the IUOE and a technology company, and it will enable our members access to programs and training to keep them at the forefront of skilled craft work,” said James T. Callahan, General President of the IUOE. “We are proud to bring Built Robotics technology to the ITEC and equip our members with the skills they need to be successful in the 21st century.”
As part of the agreement, Built Robotics will provide its guidance systems to the IUOE’s state-of-the-art International Training & Education Center (ITEC) in Crosby, Texas. The Built Robotics guidance systems will be the latest cutting-edge technology to be added to the curriculum, and IUOE members will be trained to install, operate, and repair robots in realistic job site conditions.
“We are honored to partner with the IUOE, one of the largest and most historic construction institutions in North America,” said Noah Ready-Campbell, CEO of Built Robotics. “At the end of the day, robots are just tools in the hands of skilled operators, and we believe that the best-trained workers equipped with our technology will fundamentally change the future of construction. Together we can build and maintain the critical infrastructure our country needs,” he continued.
The partnership will add autonomy to the growing number of hi-tech tools available to skilled workers to drive safety and productivity for the construction industry as it seeks to address a growing need for critical infrastructure around the country.
