New fully automated panel production facility for Adelaide

The Australian company 5North, a specialist in innovative construction solutions, and KUKA, one of the world’s leading providers of intelligent automation solutions, announce their collaboration. Together, they are building a state-of-the-art, fully automated production facility for 2D panels at the new manufacturing site in Adelaide.

The fully automated production facility for 2D panels use cutting-edge robotics and conveyor technology to efficiently feed raw materials such as timber. The materials are then precisely cut, milled, and drilled. Robots also handle the accurate placement of components as well as bonding and screwing operations. This creates a fully automated manufacturing process, from material feeding to the finished panel.

In the new facility, the production process is elevated to a new level using the latest robotic technology. The plant will be able to produce a finished 2D panel every ten minutes. These 2D building elements are prefabricated, flat components that play a central role in modern timber construction. They are made from wood-based materials such as radiated pine, cross-laminated timber or solid wood and serve as walls, floors, ceilings, or roof components.

The term “2D” refers to the fact that these elements are manufactured in two dimensions, length and width. Thanks to automated production, the panels are dimensionally accurate and ready for immediate use. On-site, the elements only need to be positioned and connected, significantly reducing construction time.

At 5North, we believe everyone deserves an address and have a significant focus on Social and Attainable homes, delivered with sustainable and healthy materials. 5North is not the builder but with our new plant, we are setting new standards in the construction industry for our developer and construction clients.

Working with KUKA allows us to use technology and advances manufacturing to offer maximum precision, consistent quality, and an unprecedented production speed,” says Wayne Hughes, Founder and CEO of 5North.

The production of the 2D panels is scheduled to start in mid of 2026. With this new technology, it will be possible to respond flexibly and quickly to different customer requirements. The highly automated manufacturing process ensures not only consistent quality but also reliable scheduling of orders, offering a major advantage for construction companies and end customers.

By combining digital planning with automated production, 2D panels are created that are perfectly tailored to the requirements of each project. This makes homebuilding efficient, sustainable, and future-proof.

“This is a milestone for Adelaide as a manufacturing site and will strengthen the competitiveness of the Australian construction industry,” adds Timo Heil, CEO of KUKA Systems EMEA.

Source & image credit: KUKA