Swiss speciality chemicals major Sika is making a major push into digital construction technologies with its investment in MESH AG, an ETH spin-off and global leader in robot-assisted reinforcement construction. The CHF 2.9 million fundraising round, backed by partners including ABB Robotics and Shimizu Corporation, will fuel MESH’s global expansion.
Sika’s participation signals a strategic step in expanding its portfolio of digital construction and manufacturing technologies. The company says it is committed to “promoting digital innovations in construction that increase efficiency, quality, and sustainability along the construction industry’s entire value chain.”
MESH’s technology automates the construction of reinforcement cages, speeding up processes while improving accuracy and efficiency over traditional manual methods. Its robot-assisted production converts digital design data directly into reinforcement structures. In Switzerland alone, over one million rebar elements have been fabricated using MESH technology for high-profile projects like the new Gotthard Road Tunnel.
With its stake in MESH, Sika aims to: Advance digital manufacturing in reinforcement production; Integrate robot-assisted applications with its materials technology; Develop customer-focused solutions for infrastructure and precast applications.
Ivo Schädler, Head of Construction at Sika, said: “The digitalization of the construction industry is proceeding rapidly. Through our partnership with MESH, we are investing in one of the most innovative technologies worldwide for robot-assisted manufacturing in industrial mass production. Combined with our materials expertise, we are creating new ways to generate significant increases in efficiency, quality, and sustainability in the construction industry.”
MESH CEO and co-founder Ammar Mirjan added: “The partnership with Sika and other international industry leaders marks a key turning point for MESH on the journey from regional innovator to global technology supplier. With Sika, we see strong synergies — particularly in the precast concrete industry and as part of major infrastructure projects such as the Gotthard Road Tunnel, where our technology is already proving its value.
"Together, we can unlock new opportunities by combining digital manufacturing with advanced materials solutions. The successful financing round is a central milestone in advancing this growth and developing new business opportunities worldwide.”
