The Foundry Partners

Innovation: The HP Layout Robot

Construction worker holds a rugged tablet displaying a blueprint over a concrete site with a trench nearby and a small yellow device on the ground nearby.
Construction site with a yellow surveying instrument on a tripod in the foreground and a worker in a high‑visibility vest in the background.

Foundry Partners is proud to stay at the forefront of innovation by incorporating the latest technology and trained technicians into our work. This quarter, we started using the HP Site Print Layout Robot to sketch the Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) drawings onto each floor of our building.

CAD drawings illustrate where wall panels, supports, and other structural elements will be installed. CAD drawings have largely replaced traditional hand-drawn blueprints because they offer greater consistency, accuracy, and efficiency. In the same way, the Layout Robot transforms how we bring these plans to life, replacing chalk-line layouts with advanced automation that increases productivity, shortens construction timelines, and delivers exceptional precision.

To use the Layout Robot, a trimble is placed in a fixed point. The trimble connects its laser beam to a prism embedded in the Layout Robot. This connection provides the Layout Robot with the Geo Spatial Location Technology that it needs to move around, drawing the site plan as it goes.  This technology originated from military applications used for surveying terrain and buildings in search and recovery missions.

While the Layout Robot is highly advanced, it relies heavily on skilled human operators. Our Layout Robot technician is a Trained Union Carpenter who previously drew layouts by hand. Equipped with a video game controller, he guides the robot away from hazards, selects the correct drawings, and repositions the trimble and robot as work progresses.  “This is the future,” Said Layout Robot Operator Ted Hanak. “We’re not losing jobs to robots. We’re increasing our productivity, ensuring accuracy and learning new skills in a fast-paced construction environment.  

The future is bright at Foundry Partners. By embracing innovation, we seize the opportunity to integrate new technology in a way that improves our building practices and supports the continuous evolution of the construction workforce. The use of a Layout Robot, with a skilled operator, is a perfect example of our dedication to innovation.