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A machine can replace five bricklayers. Wienerberger chief backs robotics as homebuilding slumps
Translated from Czech and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
Interview
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Context piece
- Czech construction of family homes has fallen sharply since 2022 amid high mortgage rates, rising material and labor costs, and more expensive land.
- The downturn affects Wienerberger, for which family homes are an important source of sales.
- Chief executive Kamil Jeลรกbek sees robotics as the answer to labor costs and a potential revival in brickmaking.
A single machine can save the work of five bricklayers, according to Kamil Jeลรกbek, chief executive of brickmaker Wienerberger. He is looking to robotics rather than lower labor costs as the way to revive the companyโs traditional market.
Construction of family homes has fallen sharply since 2022. High mortgage rates, more expensive building materials and labor, and rising land prices have all weighed on the sector.
The slowdown matters particularly to Wienerberger because family homes represent a very important source of sales for the traditional brick manufacturer. Jeลรกbek does not expect the company to benefit from a reduction in the price of human labor. Instead, he predicts that wider use of robotics will bring a โbrick renaissance.โ
Brick renaissance
About this summary
Originally published by iDNES in Czech. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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