The construction industry is undergoing a transformation towards more industrialised, digital and efficient models. In contrast to traditional methods, the construction of the future seeks to incorporate processes typical of advanced sectors, such as aeronautics or the automotive industry, where automation, precision and the optimisation of resources are fundamental elements.

In this new landscape, technologies such as robotics, advanced manufacturing and composite materials are opening up new opportunities to develop construction systems that are faster, more sustainable and better suited to current needs.

FIDAMC works on the development of advanced technologies applicable to various industrial sectors, combining expertise in materials, automation, digitalisation and manufacturing processes.

An energy, environmental and productivity imperative

This transformation is not driven solely by the need for productivity. In the European Union, buildings account for around 40 per cent of energy consumption and 36 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, construction and demolition waste makes up more than a third of all waste generated in the EU.

European indicators highlighting the need to improve design, manufacturing, the use of materials and circularity. Source: European Commission.

Industrialising processes, designing for manufacturing and assembly, improving traceability and reducing variability in execution are key elements in moving towards more efficient and circular construction.

The future of building depends on industrialisation

One of the major challenges facing the sector is to move towards models in which a greater proportion of the process takes place in controlled manufacturing environments.

Industrialised construction seeks to apply concepts from advanced manufacturing to the property sector: designing, producing and assembling building components with greater control over timings, costs and quality.

This paradigm shift enables components or modules to be manufactured in specialised facilities for subsequent integration into the final building, thereby reducing uncertainties and optimising processes. As in other industrial sectors, the aim is to achieve production systems that are more repeatable, efficient and scalable.

The value chain of a connected, industrialised building.

Potential benefits, not guaranteed results

A systematic review published in 2025, based on 90 scientific articles, identified reported reductions in project duration of between 9 per cent and 50 per cent and cost reductions of between 7 per cent and 50 per cent. The same review also found instances of increases, linked to factors such as initial investment, logistics, lack of scale, the availability of skilled labour, or the specific conditions of each project.

Reduction ranges reported in the studies reviewed; these do not constitute a guarantee applicable to all projects. Source: Kamali and Hewage / Applied Sciences

Spanish context: PERTE for Housing Industrialisation

In Spain, industrialised construction forms part of industrial policy. The PERTE for Housing Industrialisation aims to initially mobilise 1,300 million euros to increase production capacity, digitise the sector move towards more scalable and sustainable housing production. Among its objectives is to initially achieve an output of 15,000 industrialised homes per year and to reach 20,000 per year within a ten-year timeframe.[

The Spanish Government estimates that industrialisation can reduce construction times by between 20 per cent and 60 per cent. This figure should be interpreted as an official estimate and not as a guaranteed universal result.

Robotics for more precise construction processes

The integration of robotics and automation is a key element in this evolution. Robotic systems enable tasks to be carried out with high levels of precision, repeatability and control, particularly in processes where consistent, traceable and optimised manufacturing is required.

Within advanced manufacturing, robotics can help to:

• Automate repetitive or physically demanding processes.
• Improve precision in manufacturing and assembly.
• Reducing errors associated with the variability of manual processes.
• Optimising production times and resource utilisation.
• Improving operator safety by relieving them of hazardous tasks.

FIDAMC develops capabilities in robotics and industrial digitalisation aimed at improving the efficiency of production processes. These technologies form part of a vision for a more connected and automated industry.

This case demonstrates that automation does not necessarily eliminate human expertise: it can redistribute tasks so that machines take on precision and handling operations, whilst people retain roles involving integration, problem-solving and monitoring.

Robotic applications with the greatest potential

Advanced materials for a new building

The industrialisation of construction depends not only on automating processes, but also on advancing the materials used.

Composite materials offer new possibilities thanks to their lightness, strength and ability to adapt to different designs. Their use can help to develop construction solutions with:

• Lower weight and reduced loads during transport and assembly.
• Greater durability in demanding environments.
• Good structural performance.
• New possibilities for functional and design integration.

Real-life texture of a building material used as an editorial image. Original image by Bricks25, CC0; processing carried out using scikit-image. Source: CC0Textures / scikit-image 

FIDAMC’s expertise in composite materials enables it to transfer knowledge developed in highly demanding sectors to new industrial fields, including construction and infrastructure.

However, the choice of composite materials must take the entire system into account: fire performance, joint design, inspection, reparability, cost, recyclability and end-of-life considerations. Sustainability should not be automatically attributed to the material, but should be assessed using technical and life-cycle criteria.

Advanced manufacturing: from concept to structural component

One of the great opportunities offered by industrialised construction is the shift from manufacturing individual elements on-site to developing complete solutions in the factory.

Certain building components can be designed, manufactured and validated before they reach the installation site, incorporating aspects such as functionality, quality, traceability and efficiency from the outset.

The combination of digital design, advanced manufacturing and automation enables the creation of new production models in which the construction industry is increasingly resembling a precision industry.

Demonstrators of this kind illustrate how computational design, additive manufacturing and structural engineering can be combined to produce full-scale components.

FIDAMC and technology transfer in the construction sector

The expertise FIDAMC has built up in sectors such as aeronautics, mobility, shipbuilding, rail and renewable energy enables it to apply advanced methodologies to new industrial challenges. Its knowledge of composite materials, automated processes, validation and industrial digitalisation provides a technological foundation for driving forward more efficient and future-proof construction.

FIDAMC’s expertise in materials, automation, digitalisation and manufacturing processes enables it to approach industrialised construction from a cross-cutting perspective, bringing together skills developed in highly technically demanding sectors.

The convergence of construction, robotics and advanced manufacturing presents an opportunity to transform the way we design and build the spaces of tomorrow.