Fewer and fewer road builders, automatic asphalt roller offers a solution

According to Heijmans, the quality and availability of Dutch infrastructure are under pressure. The average age of an asphalt roller is 55, and it's difficult to find new skilled workers. Due to the aging population and retirement, many people are leaving the workforce.

A major shortage of skilled workers is looming in ten years. "Robotization is a solution," says Dennis Verschuren, spokesperson at Heijmans. "It also makes work safer and smarter."

The self-propelled roller operates based on pre-entered instructions and independently monitors the asphalt temperature. An operator controls the machine remotely. This reduces the need for physical personnel on the construction site, reducing the risk of collisions. The roller is equipped with an automatic emergency brake for added safety.

Below you can see the waltz in action:

The construction company has an ambition for the future: to develop more electric equipment to work more sustainably and cleanly, without compromising on quality or speed. The company is investigating whether other machines used in the asphalt process, such as a paver, can also be fully automated.

Eventually, two operators will be able to manage multiple machines simultaneously. With full robotization of an "asphalt train"—a combination of machines that work together to apply asphalt—this could result in savings of 10 to 15 personnel per project.

The prototype will be tested for the first time at Schiphol Airport on October 27th. Heijmans aims to deploy the first operational version with an asphalt crew in mid-2026.

It's not just road construction that's experimenting with automation. Robots are also increasingly being used in residential construction. Think of bricklaying robots that work three times faster than humans, paving robots, and factories that produce prefabricated homes. In Germany, a completely 3D-printed building was even built by just two people and one robot.

The major advantages: less physical strain, better working conditions, and less reliance on scarce skilled workers. Technological innovation also makes the work more attractive to new generations.

Here you see the robot that should make bricklaying fun again:

A disadvantage of masonry robots is their continued high cost. Therefore, they are practically only suitable for very large projects. The benefits of automation and robotization in construction currently lie primarily in measuring and dimensioning. For example, robots and drones can accurately map dimensions, allowing construction drawings to be generated almost automatically.

And there are even more reasons why robotization in construction is progressing more slowly than in other sectors. The construction world is traditional and fragmented. Construction companies work with contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers, and they all need to be part of this automation. This coordination and collaboration takes time.

The TNO research institute has created a glimpse into the construction sector in 2040. The researchers don't have a crystal ball, but they do see more construction companies deploying robots for masonry, inspections, or material transport.

Due to staff shortages, work needs to be done more efficiently. This can be achieved, for example, through increased standardization, with robots building complete facade sections, floors, and walls, and automated guided vehicles transporting building elements and supplying materials.