Saint-Gobain, around for 360 years, is using robots and focusing on sustainability to bring construction up to date. The company worked with the University of Aveiro to try out a robot that can lay bricks and build walls. This could help solve the big problem of not having enough skilled workers in Portugal and other places. Early tests in homes have gone well, and the robot tech might be ready for bigger buildings in a year or two.
The construction business is short about 80,000 workers, both skilled and unskilled, which is putting projects at risk of delays. Jobs like caulking, welding, and building walls are especially hard to fill. Saint-Gobain is also helping by offering training in Aveiro and Carregado, as well as online courses, to grow skills locally.
Being sustainable is another big thing for them. The company wants to cut CO₂ emissions by a third by 2025. They are also trying to use hydrogen in furnaces and push for recycling construction stuff, which isn't happening much in Portugal right now. Saint-Gobain, with €46.6 billion in sales in 2024, business in 80 countries, and 600 workers in Portugal, is mixing new ideas, sustainability, and training to help shape what's next for construction.
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