John Deere has announced plans to acquire construction technology firm Tenna. By integrating Tenna’s software and sensor-based systems with John Deere’s existing connected equipment portfolio, the combined offering aims to give construction companies deeper visibility into fleet utilization, maintenance needs and project progress.

A Los Angeles-based company is rewriting the rules of metal fabrication. Machina Labs, a pioneer in advanced manufacturing, is delivering on a promise that sounds almost impossible to traditionalists: turning digital CAD files into physical, industrial-grade metal parts in a matter of days, not months.

While the headline-grabbing stories of 3D printing in construction have largely focused on extruded concrete homes, a quieter but perhaps more revolutionary shift is occurring in the sector. High-performance materials—specifically fiberglass composites, carbon fiber, and printed metals—are moving from aerospace and automotive labs onto the job site, promising structures that are lighter, stronger, and far more geometrically complex than their concrete counterparts.

The Canvas drywall robot is gaining attention across the construction industry as a practical response to one of the most labor intensive and schedule sensitive scopes on interior projects. Drywall finishing has long depended on skilled labor, repetitive manual work, and tight sequencing with other trades. Canvas is applying robotics and automation to this phase of construction with a system designed to perform drywall finishing tasks on site with consistency and precision.

JLG is introducing a new generation of elevated work platforms that blend traditional access equipment with advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. The company’s latest concept uses an electric EC600AJ boom lift outfitted with a robotic end effector capable of performing complex tasks at height, including AI-assisted automated welding, precision inspection and installation work. This system represents a significant leap toward autonomous elevated operations on construction sites.

In the world of construction, repetitive overhead tasks are common and they take a toll on crews. Installing drywall, running conduit, hanging sprinklers, sanding ceilings and setting metal framing all require workers to hold their arms above shoulder level for long periods. To address fatigue and strain in these scenarios, Hilti’s EXO-S Shoulder Exoskeleton is gaining attention on jobsites as a wearable support solution that helps reduce shoulder and neck load while crews work above shoulder height.