The collaboration between AUAR and Rival Holdings comes at a critical time, as the US continues to grapple with a housing crisis. Together, the two companies aim to deliver homes that are not only affordable but also sustainable, offering durability and environmental efficiency.

AUAR has partnered with ABB Robotics to create a global, automated construction ecosystem, leveraging advanced robotic technologies to streamline the building process. The micro-factories, equipped with modular assembly capabilities and AI-driven systems, improve construction speed, precision, and oversight, reducing financial risk and environmental impact in timber home construction.

Each micro-factory shipped to the US has the capacity to produce up to 180 homes annually. Unlike traditional setups, AUAR’s micro-factories are compact and fast to deploy, with just a 12-week lead time from order to delivery. Shipped in standard containers with pre-assembled components, they are ready for rapid installation at Rival’s sites. AUAR’s flexible ‘hardware-as-a-service’ model also eliminates the need for large upfront capital investments, allowing partners to access robotic construction capabilities without heavy financial commitments. Additionally, AUAR provides ongoing remote support through AI-powered software, automating design and manufacturing processes, and saving thousands of manual labour hours.

Mollie Claypool, Co-Founder and CEO of AUAR, said: “We are really excited to partner with Rival Holdings to bring our cutting-edge Robotic Micro-factories to the United States. This partnership is our first in the US and will enable us to scale up the production of high-quality, affordable and sustainable homes where there is a huge and urgent need for them.”

The Robotic Micro-factories developed by AUAR are a breakthrough technology for an industry struggling with a lack of skilled labour and low productivity. These compact, mobile pop-up factories combine robotics with proprietary software to automate the design and construction process, significantly reducing the time and labour costs associated with traditional building methods. Each Micro-factory is capable of producing modular timber-frame panels for walls, floors and roofs which can be quickly assembled on-site to create a variety of home designs.

“We have designed our Micro-Factory solution to be truly accessible to home-builders,” said Gilles Retsin, Co-Founder and CTO of AUAR. “We do this by keeping the upfront costs low and allowing for quick installation and delivery. The operation of the Micro-Factory itself doesn’t require extensive training or knowledge of robotics, our software and team take care of everything from the initial designs down to manufacturing.”

To get the team at Rival Holdings up and running with AUAR’s technology, an innovative low-energy ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) will be built first. Afterwards, the Micro-Factories will be used to manufacture homes in the Midwest.

“The building industry is facing significant challenges ahead – growing labour challenges, increasing housing shortage, housing affordability. These challenges motivate us to set a new course for our businesses – the innovation and disruption created by the AUAR team are necessary to move the industry forward in a sustainable way. We believe in AUAR’s straightforward, customer-centred approach to making building easier, faster, and higher quality. As an investor in AUAR, we believe in the impact their system will have on building globally. As the first customer outside of Europe, we look forward to demonstrating the value AUAR can bring to our market, working with their team to continue expanding applications. We are investing in these first Micro-factories because we see the potential to reduce cost, reduce time on-site, and improve quality – all in a way that makes life better for homeowners,” said Jerod Hevel, VP of Innovation and Strategy at Rival Holdings.

AUAR’s expansion into the US is made possible through the ongoing strategic partnership with ABB Robotics, which was officially announced earlier this year. This collaboration is supported by ABB teams in the UK, US, and globally.

Craig McDonnell, Managing Director Business Line Industries at ABB Robotics, added: “Our partnership with AUAR is strategically vital as we work together to revolutionize the construction industry. By integrating ABB’s advanced robotic technologies into AUAR’s micro-factories, we are addressing critical global challenges such as labour and skills shortages. Our shared commitment to sustainable construction is pivotal in reducing the environmental impact of the industry, which currently accounts for 11% of total global emissions. We are excited to welcome our partners in the US as they expand their impact outside of Europe for the first time, paving the way for a greener, more efficient future in construction.”