Japanese contractor Shimizu Corp., its subsidiary SC Machinery and power assisting technology firm Active Link jointly developed a robot which helps heavy steel rebar works. The companies on September 6 demonstrated workers placing a 156kg rebar with assistance of the robot at the expressway construction site in Chiba Prefecture. The technology enables to reduce the number of workers required to place a 200kg rebar from six-eight to three. As operation of the machine does not require special skills, inexperienced workers manage rebar placement easily with the robot. (2016/09/07)