July 25, 2023, HP has officially launched the fully updated SitePrint robot in the United Kingdom and Ireland, following a successful initial release last summer. The SitePrint robot is designed to offer precise and consistent on-site floor printing of lines, complex objects, and text, bringing digital model data directly to the construction site.
HP's SitePrint robot boasts a compact and lightweight design, providing ease of use and manoeuvrability. The robot can be remotely controlled and configured via a touch-screen tablet, while its positioning and navigation on the job site are achieved by connecting to a robotic total station, ensuring accurate and efficient execution.
The latest version of the SitePrint robot incorporates valuable feedback from contractors like John Sisk and the Vinci Building/Sir Robert McAlpine joint venture, who tested the robot in the UK. The improvements include enhanced obstacle avoidance sensors, increasing the robot's on-site autonomy, and eight different interchangeable inks, including cyan, magenta, and black, suitable for various surfaces with options for permanent or semi-permanent durability. The inks are now delivered via cartridges, replacing the previous inkwell prototypes.
In addition, the SitePrint robot is now compatible with more robotic total stations, including Leica’s TS16 and iCR80, Trimble’s RTS573, and Topcon’s LN-150. The setup process for the robotic total station has been integrated into the tablet-operated user interface, reducing the time required to start a job.
Daniel Martinez, General Manager of HP Large Format Printing, expressed his excitement about the launch and shared insights into the development process in an exclusive interview with a leading technology publication.
"We're thrilled to be making our innovative HP SitePrint solution fully available to customers in the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland," said Daniel Martinez. "We've successfully demonstrated the ability to radically improve productivity when it comes to the layout process. By digitising what has long been a manual and time-consuming task, SitePrint makes it faster and easier for construction professionals to bring an idea to life on-site, while also providing layout accuracy and reducing costs."
With the introduction of the updated SitePrint robot, HP aims to transform the construction industry by streamlining layout processes, increasing productivity, and delivering accurate results, thus paving the way for a more efficient and cost-effective future in construction.