AUTONOMOUS TECH TRIALLED TO BOOST SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY ON SITE
Holcim UK recently completed a successful trial of an AI-powered autonomous excavator at its Lee Moor sand and gravel quarry in Plymouth. The pilot involved a 23-tonne Develon crawler excavator fitted with autonomous technology from Swiss startup Gravis Robotics. Once set up and calibrated, the machine was assigned to feed a screener hopper with sand and gravel over a period of two days — targeting 100 cycles per hour.
The results exceeded expectations:
- 133 cycles per hour on average
- 1,500 tonnes of material moved daily
- 99% accuracy with minimal spillage
This trial, supported by Holcim MAQER Ventures, marks a key milestone in our push for innovation, efficiency, and safety in quarry operations.
What’s Next?
Following the trial, Holcim has signed a three-way Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gravis Robotics and HD Hyundai Xitesolution to develop the commercialisation of the autonomous technology designed to enhance productivity, improve safety in quarry operations and within confined material handling. We encourage teams across the Group to explore where such solutions could add value — especially in stationary loading tasks like hoppers, crushers, or repetitive truck-loading. Interested in exploring opportunities? Reach out to Uwe Müller to discuss potential applications.
Mathan Durairaj
Chief Procurement Officer
“The introduction of this type of technology in our industry has the potential to significantly boost productivity, enhancing on-site safety, and improving sustainability.”
