HDB Smart Hoists Could Let Two Workers Handle Six BTO Site Lifts

At Woodgrove Edge, one worker can remotely supervise as many as three temporary construction lifts. On a site with six of these “smart hoists”, HDB says two supervisors could handle work that would ordinarily require six dedicated operators—a vivid example of how its latest productivity push changes daily life on a building site.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat announced on 25 September 2026 that about half of newly tendered Build-to-Order (BTO) sites will use smart hoists from 2027. HDB is also expanding its trials of floor-screeding robots and standardising more precast building components, with the wider aim of completing individual jobs using fewer man-hours.

One supervisor can oversee three hoists

Construction hoists are the temporary lifts fixed to the outside of unfinished blocks. They move workers and materials between floors, and a conventional hoist typically requires its own operator.

Workers can call a smart hoist to the floor where it is needed. Obstruction and anti-pinch sensors help prevent its doors from closing on people or objects, while a supervisor watches up to three hoists through live camera feeds.

HDB calculates that using two workers instead of six for a six-hoist operation represents a 200% productivity improvement. Put another way, each supervisor handles the work previously assigned to three operators.

That figure applies only to operating the hoists, not to construction of an entire BTO project. The practical gain is that fewer workers need to spend their shifts inside individual lifts, leaving manpower available for other work on site.

This is automation with a person still firmly in the loop. The hoists respond to calls and include safety sensors, but workers continue to supervise their operation rather than leaving the machines entirely on their own.

Robots will level floors in more BTO flats

HDB is separately increasing its use of floor-screeding robots. Screeding means spreading, levelling and smoothing the layer placed over a concrete floor before finishes such as tiles or vinyl are installed.

The laser-guided machine has undergone preliminary trials at BTO sites in Bukit Merah and Ghim Moh. Trials are planned at at least four more BTO projects in 2027, as HDB works towards deploying the technology at all new BTO sites.

HDB says the robot can screed a four-room flat in about one day. There is no single percentage saving that applies everywhere, however, because the time gained varies according to the flat’s layout and the operator’s experience.

The machines are part of an established programme rather than HDB’s first experiment with building robots. In October 2024, HDB said painting and wall-skimming robots would progressively be introduced at about half of new BTO sites from 2025.

The new phase is broader. Instead of automating only selected finishing jobs, HDB is combining robotic work inside flats with remotely supervised transport outside the block and more consistent specifications for parts made in factories.

Seventeen building components will be standardised

The least eye-catching change may have the widest reach. HDB’s Enhanced Precast Components Catalogue covers 17 commonly used components, including bathroom units, household shelters and staircases.

Precast components are building sections manufactured away from the site and delivered for installation. Using agreed specifications means designers need not repeatedly redraw common parts, while manufacturers can produce them in larger runs.

The catalogue is scheduled to launch on 28 September 2026 and apply to projects tendered from December 2026. HDB expects the system to reduce project man-hours by up to 20% through less repetitive design work, greater manufacturing scale and more sourcing choices for contractors.

Standardising these repeated parts is different from making every estate look the same. It deals mainly with the specifications of components hidden within or assembled into a project; architects can still use them in different layouts and designs.

Will BTO buyers receive their keys sooner?

Together, the three changes target small but recurring drains on time and manpower: operating site lifts, levelling floors and redesigning familiar components. Saving time at each stage can make the overall building process more efficient, especially when the same methods are repeated across many blocks.

But HDB did not announce earlier completion dates for any named BTO project. A project’s schedule still depends on factors including its design, complexity and site conditions, so faster hoist or screeding work does not guarantee a shorter wait for every household.

The real test begins with the 2027 expansion. The machines have shown that they can handle particular tasks; the next step is making them routine across BTO sites with different layouts, contractors and ground conditions. For future residents, that quieter shift from demonstration to everyday practice is where these technologies could matter most.