Company Name: FBR
Announcement Date: 01/11/2017
Announcement Category: Product launch/update
Announcement Content:
Australian robotic technology company Fastbrick Robotics Limited (ASX:FBR) (āFastbrickā or āthe Companyā) is pleased to provide its quarterly update for the three months to the end of September 2017. The September quarter follows on from the previous quarterās achievements and culminated with Fastbrick executing a Memorandum of Understanding (āMOUā) with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) and a MOU with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiaās Ministry of Housing.
Hadrian X Procurement Update
During the quarter the Company progressed the procurement activity for the Hadrian X construction robot. Orders for medium lead-time items were placed, including the latest generation laser tracking system, servo drives, mechanical drive components, servo motors and hydraulic systems. Many of the bespoke machined components have already been manufactured and ready for assembly. Significant, meticulous and exhaustive 3D virtual testing and digital simulation has been undertaken to test the assembly, strength, systems, control programs and interrelated components. The control system is being developed with the help of multiple digital twins to simulate and test code before it will be used on the Hadrian X prototype. Significantly for Fastbrick, this process materially de-risks the assembly, build and physical world testing phases.
Fastbrickās, Chief Technology Officer, Mark Pivac:
āThis quarter we saw significant momentum and confidence in the Hadrian X prototype programme, that now means our committed engineering team who have worked passionately over a long period, can now move onto the next phase of the Hadrian X programme. As we move away from the 3D virtual testing and simulation test environment to the engineering floor, we will start to see progress as the procurement process gathers pace. Over the coming months and as we move into 2018, this will translate into the engineering team starting to assemble and test some of the key modules of the Hadrian X.
As part of our risk mitigation process, the board has agreed to adopt and apply the latest high technology best practice methods from the aeronautical and defence industries and has agreed to invest in a 2nd Hadrian X prototype. The 2nd Hadrian X will be assembled and tested in parallel with the current Hadrian X prototype and will allow the engineering team to significantly de-risk the assembly and test phases by applying the learnings from the assembly and de-bugging process between each Hadrian X as they progress to completion and ultimately to demonstration stage and the construction of the brick component of a house within 3 days.ā
Hadrian X Global Partner - Caterpillar Inc.
The Caterpillar MOU signed in July 2017, allows both companies to discuss and develop a potential framework for the joint collaboration of the Hadrian X development, manufacturing, sales, and servicing of Fastbrickās Hadrian X bricklaying construction robot.
As part of the MOU, Caterpillar invested USD$2m at an issue price of AUD$0.10 per share, which resulted in 26,466,000 fully paid ordinary shares being allotted by the Company to Caterpillar. In addition the MOU, granted Caterpillar an option to invest a further USD$8 million at AUD$0.20 per share. This option was subject to Fastbrickās shareholder approval, this was sought and received at a Fastbrick shareholder meeting held on 2 October 2017. The option expires on 30 June 2018.
Both companies are progressing a strategic alliance that intends to consider the most appropriate comercialisation pathway for the Hadrian X. The strategic alliance objectives will include the identification of early adopters in key global markets who will apply the Hadrian X disruptive technology and undertake pilot programmes.
Hadrian X Customer Discovery Strategy ā Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fastbrick signed the MOU with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (āSaudi Arabiaā) in August 2017. The MOU is the Companyās first such agreement with a Government and positions Saudi Arabia as a potential global first adopter of Fastbrickās Hadrian X bricklaying construction robot.
The MOU contemplates the construction of 50,000 new home units (minimum) using Hadrian X construction robots, which translates into an equivalent machine requirement of 100 Hadrian X construction robots. Saudi Arabia has a new home building target of 1.5 million new homes which are to be completed by 2022, including the Innovative Construction Target.
Organisational Build
During the quarter, Fastbrick continued to expand its team and organisation in line with the ramp-up of the deployment of resources as it progresses and moves into the Hadrian X procurement, assembly, test and building phases of the Hadrian X programme. This expansion dovetails into and follows on from Fastbrickās move to a manufacturing and test facility in High Wycombe, Western Australia.
As part of the organisational build, the Company will continue to add executives and human resources to ensure that the company manages and continues to de-risk its development programme and is able to successfully execute the Hadrian X prototype construction phase.
Intellectual Property (āIPā) Portfolio
Fastbrick has an integrated IP Aggregation Strategy to protect, manage and maximise the value of Fastbrickās IP portfolio. The Company has global patents in key markets and has applied for new patents related to its Dynamic Stabilisation Technology.
Fastbrick has an IP portfolio consisting of 18 patent cases, 2 design cases and a number of granted trademarks and trademark applications. The patent cases are at various stages ranging from provisional applications to PCT applications, to national phase entries and to granted status in relevant jurisdictions globally. This strategy allows Fastbrick to have a mix of IP protection now and into an extended future.
Fastbrick also has control code which is protected by copyright and by deployment protection methods including compilation, hardware key and license key protection.
As confirmed earlier in this announcement, the software for the design of brick structures and the automated programing of the Hadrian X is at a mature and advanced stage of testing.
Fastbrickās Chief Executive Officer, Mike Pivac:
āAs the CEO of Fastbrick, the September 2017 quarter was satisfying for me, as we were able to execute on 2 key important strategic objectives that we contemplated and planned for when we decided to IPO in 2015. During the quarter, Fastbrick aligned itself with its preferred Global Partner for the Hadrian X bricklaying construction robot. In parallel, we were also able to commence executing on our Customer Discovery Strategy through the MOU signed with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Importantly for our Company and our shareholders, this is just the beginning, with more challenges to overcome and additional strategic accretive milestones to deliver and execute against. As we move into 2018, I look forward to being able to deliver these milestones as we enter a very exciting phase for the Company, with the Hadrian X prototype procurement process gathering pace.
We also confirmed an investment in a 2nd Hadrian X prototype, which not only de-risks the assembly and build phase of the Hadrian X, but importantly for us, allows Fastbrick to aggressively pursue its Customer Discovery Strategy and early adopter pilot programme. A 2nd Hadrian X opens up the possibility of Fastbrick pursuing 2 pilot programmes in separate key geographical markets. Following on from the Saudi Arabia MOU, we are now pursuing additional key and significant early adopter customers.ā
Announcement URL: http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20171031/pdf/43nsfytr6vxn0f.pdf
About FBR:
Fastbrick Robotics Limited (ASX:FBR) is an Australian robotic technology company developing and commercialising digital construction technology solutions. Fastbrick Roboticsā revolutionary bricklaying machine Hadrian X represents the first application of the Companyās underlying intellectual property portfolio. Hadrian X is a globally patented 3D robotic bricklaying system and marks the transition to dynamically stabilised robots (DSR) operating outdoors in uncontrolled environments.
Fastbrick is currently advancing its robotics technology through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) demonstrating global scalability and a MOU with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia highlighting customer demand for Fastbrick's technology. Fastbrick is committed to improving the safety, speed, accuracy, cost and waste management in the global construction industry through utilising the worldās latest innovations in mobile robotic technology.
Go to Company Profile for: FBR
Announcement Contact: [email protected]
