The II Conference on «Construction Industrialization. Industrialization for an Efficient and Sustainable Model» (June 4, 2025, Hotel Santa Catalina, Las Palmas) made one thing clear: industrialization is no longer a pilot, it is a shared roadmap. Public authorities, professional associations, and companies are all pushing to gain productivity, traceability, and lower footprint in building and civil works. In this article, we focus on construction industrialization in the Canary Islands as a replicable model.
In our case, the validation of results came after the Conference, with Evoconstructor® already tested in the Canary Islands; here we integrate that data along with the discussions from the event.
At the roundtable moderated by ASINCA, participants included EVOCONS, Ytong/Xella, Canary Welding Solutions, and PREARSA.
1. From Theory to Execution: Construction Industrialization at Conference II
Conference II in the cycle «Industrialized Construction: Redefining Contemporary Architecture» focused on moving from speech to practice, with technical presentations and panels addressing advantages, challenges, and specific implementation features in the Canary Islands.
Roundtable, «Advantages and Challenges of Industrialized Construction. Implementation Difficulties in the Canary Islands»
Participants included Daniel Lorenzo (CEO of EVOCONS), Ytong Canarias / Xella Spain, Canary Welding Solutions, and PREARSA, moderated by Laura M.ª Dapresa (ASINCA). The conversation connected institutional, technical, and market perspectives.
Six Key Ideas to Move from Theory to Practice
- Industrialization with local identity. Adapt catalogs, logistics, and methodology to the island environment (climate, materials, access) instead of replicating mainland solutions.
- Regulation as an enabler. ISO/ASTM 52939:2023 (UNE-EN 52939:2024) provides a qualification framework for structural additive manufacturing, facilitating technical approval and risk management.
- Public procurement that drives demand. Well-designed pilots and performance-based tenders can accelerate adoption with verifiable metrics (time, CO₂, quality, cost).
- Supply chain and prefabrication. Manufacturing components in controlled environments reduces waste, variability, and downtime, and improves supply reliability.
- Public-private collaboration. Early alignment among authorities, developers, and technologists unlocks procedures, ensures interoperability, and shortens the learning curve.
- Training and modular coordination. Professional associations and industry hubs as levers to deploy talent and protocols among trades, engineering, and operations.
Our Proposal (Practical Recommendations)
- Design measurable pilots with verifiable KPIs (schedule, CO₂/m², total cost, quality, and safety).
- Implement digital capture (sensors + production logs) and milestone audits.
- Align public-private collaboration from the beginning and standardize procedures to ease technical acceptance and insurance.
Based on this, we now share the data from our real case in the Canary Islands, finalized after the Conference.
2. What is Construction Industrialization (and Why Now)
To industrialize is not to build soulless cookie-cutter homes. It means turning the construction site into a production platform: repeatable processes, online QA/QC, unified data, and automation of critical operations. Construction 5.0 adds robotics, AI, digital twins, and 3D printing to reduce variability, waste, and delays.
In islands and cities under housing pressure, this transition results in faster projects, better total cost control, and less waste. At the Conference, we emphasized that local identity matters: catalogs, logistics, and methodology must be adapted to climate, material availability, and access. Mainland recipes don’t work here.
From Craft to Production Platform
- Takt Time and cadence-based planning.
- Offsite manufacturing of components with coordinated on-site assembly.
- Continuous quality control (batch, mix, and parameter traceability).
Construction 5.0: robotics, AI, digital twins, and 3D printing
In our pilot in the Spain, we combined BIM + digital twin with robotics for printing/pouring, levelling, and finishing tasks, easing typical bottlenecks of traditional construction.
3. Quantified Benefits of Construction Industrialization: 4× Faster, –30% Cost, and –40% CO₂
When you move processes to a controlled environment and automate repetitive tasks, the impact is evident:
- Up to 4× faster (approx. –75% of construction time).
- Approx. –30% cost savings (fewer deviations and better productivity).
- Approx. –40% CO₂ reduction (less transport, waste, and rework).
- Around 60% of the process automated in a real project.
Chronology Note. These metrics were not presented at the Conference: they were consolidated at project completion and are now shared to complete the previously discussed framework (roadmap, public-private coordination, regulatory basis).
How We Measured KPIs (schedule, CO₂/m², total cost, quality, safety)
- Schedule: milestone/element duration vs. baseline plan.
- CO₂/m²: material and transport inventory with LCA factors.
- Total cost: project CAPEX + OPEX (including non-conformities).
- Quality: digital «reject/rework» rate.
- Safety: no incidents recorded in the automated phase.
Island Context Case: What We Learned in the Canary Islands
Designing the supply chain is key. Certain components benefit from factory manufacturing for stability and repeatability, while other stages benefit from on-site execution with automation due to flexibility and reduced waiting times. This sectoral combination is common; however, our pilot in the Canary Islands was executed entirely on-site with automation.
4. Evoconstructor®: Multifunctional Robot for Construction Industrialization (On-Site and Prefab)
Evoconstructor® integrates in a single platform: 3D printing, pumping/pouring and levelling of structural elements, self-elevation for vertical progression, and finishing tools (plastering, tiling, polishing, milling, insulation, among others). It is designed for both on-site construction and prefab plants, to accelerate construction industrialization.
Self-Elevation, Interchangeable Modules, and Rapid Deployment
- Self-elevation: vertical cycle without external scaffolding, enhancing safety.
- Interchangeable modules: quick tool changes per phase.
- Reduced logistics footprint: suitable for islands and urban centers.
Traceability and Online Quality Control
Each operation logs parameters (mix, flow rate, temperature, vibration, geometry). This digital trace facilitates audits and licensing. In short: quantified performance combined with regulatory compliance equals real scalability.
5. Regulation Enabling Construction Industrialization: ISO/ASTM 52939 → UNE-EN 52939
UNE-EN 52939:2024 (adopts ISO/ASTM 52939:2023) establishes a qualification framework for 3D-printed structural elements and is key to industrializing construction through additive manufacturing.
What It Enables in Practice
- Qualification and verification flows for 3D elements
- Traceability of materials and approved procedures
- Mechanical performance and geometry tests by batch/element
- Digital records integrated into construction documentation
Streamlined Licensing and Risk Management
With the robot recording process data, technical supervision validates by evidence. This regulatory alignment shortens procedures and reduces insurance uncertainty.
6. Two Complementary Paths in Construction Industrialization (and Our On-Site Case)
In industrialization, two approaches coexist and can be combined depending on project goals and constraints:
- On-site automation: offers geometric flexibility, continuous pace, and less reliance on large-volume transport. Useful when access, climate, or land availability limit logistics.
- Off-site/prefabrication: offers stable factory cadences, environmental control, and high repetition with tight tolerances, coordinating transport and lifting.
7. Benefits by Stakeholder: Developers, Public Authorities, and Prefab Manufacturers
In construction industrialization projects, benefits are distributed as follows:
Developers and Builders:
Fewer schedule and budget deviations, with end-to-end productivity and traceability.
Public Authorities:
Drive industrialized housing with verifiable environmental metrics and recognized standards (UNE-EN 52939), better planning and reporting.
Prefab Manufacturers:
Process robotics integration, stable cadences, waste reduction, and flexibility for new element typologies.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are industrialization, prefabrication, and modular the same?
They overlap but are not identical. Industrialization is a methodology; prefabrication and modular are product formats.
How do I certify a 3D-printed piece for structural use?
By applying UNE-EN 52939: materials, procedures, tests, and digital traceability. With process logs, approval is smoother.
What KPIs should I use in a pilot?
Base KPIs: schedule, CO₂/m², total cost, non-conformities, and safety. Add user satisfaction and maintainability depending on use.
Request a Technical Demo: Adapt Evoconstructor® to Your Standards and Site
Does your project need certainty in schedule, cost, and CO₂? Evoconstructor® adapts to your technical, regulatory, and operational requirements.
Request a demo and we’ll review KPIs, scope, and scheduling based on your case.