Schindler expands fleet of elevator shaft robots

R.I.S.E is a self-climbing robot designed to navigate elevator shafts independently while installing components with “precision and speed”. Equipped with tools to drill holes and install anchor bolts, the robot significantly reduces human involvement in this part of the construction process, removing workers from the noisy, repetitive and dusty tasks of drilling and setting anchor bolts required for landing doors, divider beams and wall brackets.

Such tasks can lead to fatigue when performed at height, but using the robot eliminates this risk. A specialist operator monitors the robot’s movements via a remote-control panel.

“We are seeing growing demand worldwide as construction projects face tighter deadlines and increasingly prioritise safer, improved working conditions on site,” said Faruk Osmanbasic, lead, advanced installation technologies, at Schindler. “Elevator installation is carried out in confined spaces, where workers may spend hours exposed to noise and dust from drilling. Contractors are recognising the wide range of benefits these robots bring.”

When not at construction sites, the robots are maintained at strategically located hubs, positioned in regions where demand is strongest, allowing them to be dispatched quickly and efficiently.

Schindler currently operates hubs in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Australia, where the robots return for servicing between projects. Additional hubs are under evaluation in high-growth markets to ensure shorter transportation routes and faster deployment.

The R.I.S.E robot was nominated for Product Innovation of the Year at the Digital Construction Awards 2026. Skanska was the first UK contractor to use the robot at the 105 Victoria Street project in central London.