The landscape of construction and heavy industry is all set to transform with the arrival of a new remote-controlled robotic saw.

The KUKA Catonator is completely changing what we thought was possible in cutting rock and concrete.

The Catonator is equipped on a KUKA robotic arm platform FORTEC KR 480 Ultra. It is engineered for extreme cutting tasks.

The saw excels at precise cutting, featuring a powerful spindle that fits blades from 1,000 to 2,000 mm in diameter.

In collaboration with contractor Sørheim Riveservice, Smart Production has developed this remote-controlled robotic saw to tackle the most challenging materials in construction, shipbuilding, and heavy manufacturing sectors.

“Our goal was to create a solution that combines brute force with the finesse of modern automation,” Joacim Lorentsson, CEO of KUKA Nordic, told TechEBlog.

“The Catonator delivers on that promise, enabling manufacturers to cut complex geometries in materials that were once considered untouchable by robots,” Nordic added.

Fully electric

Reportedly, the Catonator uses a “high-torque cutting system,” allowing it to effortlessly slice through tough materials such as steel, concrete, and even complex composites.

Beyond its cutting power, the Catonator has impressive physical capabilities, including a payload capacity of up to 300 kg and an expansive reach extending over 3 meters. But its power is matched by its commitment to a better future. Thanks to its high-performance battery module, the Catonator is fully electric and produces no CO₂ emissions.

“In addition to reducing negative environmental impacts, the solution improves the working environment by eliminating noise and exhaust fumes from diesel generators – a major advance in sustainable construction technology,” the Kuka website noted.

Precision control

It offers precision and control at the fingertips.

At its core is KUKA’s SmartProduction ecosystem, which has a dashboard that is conveniently accessible on PCs and smartphones.

A constant stream of real-time data from built-in sensors optimizes cutting paths.

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Wonder how much this robotic saw costs? It appears to be a very cool piece of equipment. I wonder how many of these are on job sites as of today?