Robot Plasters Walls at New UK Hospital Build Site

Construction robots are transforming how hospitals get built, and patients at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will soon benefit from facilities created with help from an unusual new crew member.

A French-built plastering robot called PACO1.5v is currently working eight-week shifts at the hospital construction site in Shrewsbury, England. The machine uses LiDAR laser scanning to analyze each room, identify the right surfaces, and automatically spray high-quality plaster finishes across walls.

The robotic plasterer handles the repetitive, back-breaking work that traditionally leaves human workers exhausted. That frees up skilled construction teams to focus on more complex technical tasks that require human judgment and expertise.

Integrated Health Projects, the joint venture leading the build, isn't stopping with one robot. Digital field printers now map out precise floor plans directly onto concrete slabs. Precision cutting robots slice through materials while producing less noise and dust than traditional methods, making the site safer for everyone working there.

Live construction mapping tools help coordinate daily planning sessions and keep subcontractors aligned. Enhanced security technology strengthens health and safety management across the entire development.

The Ripple Effect

This tech-forward approach creates benefits that extend far beyond faster construction timelines. Workers go home healthier because robots handle the most physically demanding and hazardous tasks. Nearby residents experience less construction noise and dust pollution. The hospital ultimately receives higher-quality facilities built with greater precision than human hands alone could achieve.

The construction industry has traditionally been slow to adopt new technology, but healthcare facility projects like Royal Shrewsbury are proving that robots and humans work better together. As these innovations become more common, construction sites everywhere could become safer, quieter, and more efficient.

The plastering robot will finish its work in just a few weeks, but the blueprint it represents for smarter hospital construction is built to last.