Webuild has opened one of the world’s largest automated segment production facilities.
The factory in Bovino, a municipality on the border between Campania and Apuli, will produce segments for the Naples-Bari high-speed railway.
Webuild says the facility is a major technological advancement in the production of prefabricated segments. It includes high-level automation processes and uses robotics and AI to achieve safety and sustainability targets. Every seven minutes, two segments will be produced, taking the plant’s overall production capacity to 48 rings per day. This will enable the supply of over 1 million m3 of segments for the six TBMs planned for the excavation of the Hirpinia and Orsara tunnels on the Naples-Bari line.
Equipped with two independent automated production lines, the facility will operate with high safety standards while accelerating the delivery of prefabricated segments to construction sites. The plant is expected to boost overall productivity by 30% and reduce its environmental impact, especially by cutting out the need for long-distance segment transportation. In addition, Webuild says its energy-efficient design will prevent the emission of around 140 tonnes of CO2 annually.
The facility, named Roboplant 2, is an evolution of Roboplant 1 – the first automated factory for segment production, inaugurated by Webuild in Catania, Sicily, a year ago. Roboplant 1 has already produced approximately 25,000 segments for Webuild’s railway projects on the island. In Belpasso, the Etnaplant facility is also operational, providing both manual and automated support to Roboplant 1.
Roboplant 3 is set to become operational between 2025 and 2026 in Dittaino, in the province of Enna. Once complete, the three Sicilian factories will work together to supply segments for the high-capacity railway line linking Palermo, Catania, and Messina.
