Gadelius Supplies Remote-Controlled Robot 'Brokk500' for Tunnel Construction in Japan — First Application in Domestic Tunnel Projects

Gadelius K.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yosta Thirefors; exclusive distributor of Brokk robots) has supplied the 'Brokk500' remote-controlled construction and demolition robot, manufactured by Sweden's Brokk, for a tunnel construction site operated by Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Masakazu Hosokawa). This marks the first time a remote-controlled construction and demolition robot has been used in a tunnel construction project in Japan.

The 'BROKK®' series consists of remote-controlled construction and demolition robots that can be equipped with various attachments, allowing a single unit to perform multiple construction tasks. The 'Brokk500' provided this time is the second-largest model in the series, capable of handling major tunnel construction processes such as excavation, mucking, and concrete spraying with a single unit.

For this deployment, a fully electric model was selected in consideration of the tunnel's environmental conditions. Furthermore, by utilizing the remote control function for construction in narrow spaces, the project aims to improve worker safety and construction efficiency. These efforts are expected to yield significant benefits, including CO2 emission reduction, enhanced safety, and shortened construction periods.

Background of Deployment
This deployment was carried out under special conditions for constructing a connecting tunnel located between the main tunnel and the shaft for the shield machine's launch. Due to constraints on the removal range of segments and the cross-sectional shape of the excavation, it was difficult to use large machines traditionally used in tunnel excavation.

To solve this challenge, Gadelius K.K. provided the 'Brokk500' remote-controlled construction and demolition robot, achieving both machine miniaturization and high construction capability. This aims to improve construction cycles and on-site productivity.

Overview of Construction with 'Brokk500'
The 'Brokk500' is the second-largest model in the BROKK® series, with a lineup of six types of attachments designed for tunnel construction.

At this site, a single base machine was used to perform a series of operations in tunnel excavation (NATM/machine excavation), including excavation, mucking (loading), concrete spraying, temporary support installation, and rock bolt driving, while swapping attachments to verify each one.

Expected Effects
The introduction of the 'Brokk500' is expected to bring the following effects:
- Improved construction efficiency through miniaturized machine size
- CO2 reduction through fully electric drive (approx. 33% reduction compared to traditional methods)
- Improved cycle time through reduced machine swapping time (shortened construction period)
- Improved safety through remote operation

In this deployment, for the breaker, the machine achieved a significant increase in capacity (700kg class), far exceeding what is possible for a machine of this size. Furthermore, other attachments were applied to various construction tasks, and verification was conducted to expand the application to future tunnel projects.

Future Prospects — Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd.
Nishimatsu Construction plans to expand the application of the 'Brokk500' by focusing on the following areas:
- Improvement of operation and construction methods for further cycle time enhancement
- Facility expansion (communication/video-related) to support long-distance remote construction
- Application to construction in specialized conditions, such as disaster recovery, beyond tunnel projects
- Enhancement of operator systems and training to improve usability

Nishimatsu Construction is committed to actively promoting the use of electric and remote-controlled machinery, including this robot, to accelerate efforts toward CO2 reduction and work-style reform.

Exhibition Notice
The company will exhibit at the '8th CSPI-EXPO 2026' to be held at Makuhari Messe from June 17 (Wed) to June 20 (Sat), 2026. At the booth, the company will display the 'BROKK®' robot and various other products that contribute to operational efficiency in construction and maintenance sites.