FBR Limited Partners with Industrial Robotics for Non-Exclusive Distribution of Mantis™ Welding Robots in US and Canada

FBR Advances North American Market Entry in Welding and Fabrication

FBR Limited’s Master Distribution Agreement with Industrial Robotics marks a pivotal step in the company’s international growth strategy. The partnership secures a distributor with established infrastructure, industry expertise, and operational capacity in key North American regions. Industrial Robotics, founded by Ed Renton and the team behind State Machinery & Equipment Sales, leverages existing relationships within the heavy equipment sector and specialized knowledge of the Mississippi River transportation market. This collaboration enables FBR to validate commercial demand for the Mantis™ welding platform without establishing its own North American operations or expanding headcount.

Focusing initially on Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida Panhandle, and Eastern Texas aligns with Industrial Robotics’ existing market presence and State Machinery’s leadership in construction equipment distribution. Utilizing an established dealer network accelerates market penetration while maintaining operational efficiency. The non-exclusive distribution model preserves FBR’s flexibility to engage additional partners across North America as opportunities arise, avoiding reliance on a single channel continent-wide.

Mantis™ Welding Robot Features and Industry Applications

The Mantis™ welding robot applies FBR’s proprietary Dynamic Stabilisation Technology (DST) to industrial welding and metal fabrication. It is a high deposition welding robot with an 8-metre reach, integrating advanced twin wire welding technology with DST. Designed for heavy fabrication, shipbuilding, and defence manufacturing, Mantis™ aims to deliver rapid, efficient production. Initial welding trials have been conducted using test rigs, with production-standard completion underway as specialist equipment arrives at FBR’s Western Australian facility.

FBR’s DST platform also powers other robotic solutions including Hadrian® (a bricklaying robot) and Firehawk™ (an autonomous refractory lining robot for steel production). The Mantis™ robot’s reach and deposition capabilities make it suitable for large-scale metal fabrication where precision, consistency, and speed are critical. The integration of twin wire welding with DST represents a differentiated automated welding approach tailored to shipbuilding and defence manufacturing requirements. Industrial Robotics’ plan to maintain local inventory for demonstrations indicates anticipated market demand across its territory.

Industrial Robotics’ Role in Operations and Customer Support

Under the Master Distribution Agreement, Industrial Robotics assumes comprehensive operational duties across the US and Canada, including marketing, sales, operator training, mechanical maintenance, installation, and customer satisfaction. This positions Industrial Robotics as FBR’s local service partner, ensuring North American customers receive timely support aligned with regional expectations. The agreement also covers distribution of spare and wear parts for Mantis™, Hadrian™, and Firehawk™ across the contiguous United States, signaling FBR’s intent to establish a multi-product aftermarket presence through this distributor.

Delegating training and maintenance to Industrial Robotics allows FBR to focus on product innovation and manufacturing at its Perth headquarters. This partnership model leverages Industrial Robotics’ existing expertise and infrastructure in industrial robotic and welding system support, avoiding the overhead of building a dedicated service network across multiple states and provinces. CEO Mark Pivac highlights this approach as a strategy to scale with partners possessing local knowledge and logistics capabilities.

Five-Year Agreement with Automatic Renewal Ensures Partnership Stability

The agreement’s initial five-year term with automatic rolling renewals offers medium-term stability for both FBR and Industrial Robotics, while allowing termination with appropriate notice. This structure reduces administrative burdens and reflects confidence in mutual benefits. The term provides Industrial Robotics with sufficient time to build customer relationships, establish Mantis™ market presence, and demonstrate service capabilities validating FBR’s investment in North America.

This duration aligns with industry norms where market development, customer training, and service infrastructure establishment require multiple years. The non-exclusive nature maintains strategic flexibility for FBR to explore additional partnerships or expand distribution. Specific performance targets or termination clauses were not disclosed.

State Machinery’s Pre-Purchase Confirms Market Demand

Industrial Robotics was founded by the team behind State Machinery & Equipment Sales, which purchased the first Mantis™ unit in January 2026. This early acquisition validates initial market interest in FBR’s welding technology. State Machinery’s established role as Louisiana’s heavy equipment leader and dealer for Liebherr and Hyundai Construction Equipment provides valuable distribution expertise and customer relationships for supporting industrial robotics sales and service.

The evolution from State Machinery’s purchase to forming Industrial Robotics as a dedicated distributor indicates promising early market traction. State Machinery’s strong customer service reputation and expertise in the Mississippi River transportation sector align with potential demand for high-deposition welding robots in barge construction and repair. The creation of Industrial Robotics reflects founder confidence in Mantis™’ commercial potential within their market.

FBR’s Diverse Robotics Portfolio and Dynamic Stabilisation Technology

FBR Limited develops dynamically stabilized robots addressing global challenges in safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Its core technology, Dynamic Stabilisation Technology (DST), enables robots to operate effectively in outdoor and demanding industrial environments. Beyond Mantis™, FBR’s portfolio includes Hadrian® (a bricklaying robot operating on a Wall as a Service model) and Firehawk™ (an autonomous refractory lining robot for steel production). This range demonstrates FBR’s ability to apply DST across construction, fabrication, and steel production sectors.

Headquartered at 88 Sultana Road West, High Wycombe, Western Australia, FBR is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The establishment of subsidiary Fastbrick Americas Engineering LLC as the contracting entity for the Industrial Robotics agreement aligns with standard international distribution practices. Inclusion of spare parts for Hadrian™ and Firehawk™ alongside Mantis™ suggests Industrial Robotics will serve as a multi-product distributor in North America, facilitating broader market access.

Efficient Scaling and Product Development Focus via Partnership Model

CEO Mark Pivac emphasizes that the distribution agreement confirms early commercial demand for Mantis™ "without expanding FBR's headcount." This reflects FBR’s strategic preference to grow internationally through partnerships rather than building internal sales and service teams abroad. By entrusting marketing, sales, installation, training, and maintenance to Industrial Robotics, FBR’s Perth team remains focused on manufacturing and innovation.

This model addresses challenges faced by technology companies seeking global expansion by enabling revenue growth and market presence without proportional increases in organizational complexity. It also allows FBR to gather market feedback and refine products based on real-world use while maintaining lean operations. Should demand exceed expectations, FBR can deepen involvement or add distributors; if slower, the partnership limits sunk costs. The announcement does not specify current or planned headcount changes.

Mantis™ Production Status and Commercial Launch Plans

FBR’s CEO reports that Mantis™ is nearing production readiness as specialist equipment arrives at its facility. Initial welding trials in test rigs confirm progression beyond prototype stages. The company anticipates delivering the first production units soon to commence customer demonstrations, sales, and mass production, though exact timelines are undisclosed.

This development path from testing to production setup is typical for industrial robots. The imminent start of customer demonstrations indicates identified prospects and market segments for validation and sales pipeline growth. The mention of mass production reflects confidence in demand sufficient to justify scaling manufacturing beyond initial units. Specific production targets or sales forecasts were not revealed.

Industrial Robotics to Showcase Mantis™ at 2026 Workboat Show

Industrial Robotics will exhibit at the Workboat Show in New Orleans from 2–4 December 2026, targeting maritime and waterborne transportation sectors. This event serves workboat, tugboat, barge, and offshore industries, aligning with Mantis™’ focus on heavy metal fabrication and shipbuilding. The timing positions Industrial Robotics and FBR to engage industry decision-makers near the Mississippi River transportation market where State Machinery has expertise.

Participation in industry-specific trade shows facilitates direct customer engagement, competitive visibility, and relationship building with specifiers and procurement professionals. The focus on the Workboat Show underscores a targeted strategy addressing shipbuilding and barge construction or repair markets where Mantis™ can improve labor safety, consistency, and production speed. Details on booth size or expected visitor engagement were not disclosed.

Alignment with FBR’s International Growth and Scaling Strategy

The Master Distribution Agreement with Industrial Robotics represents FBR’s inaugural international distribution partnership for the Mantis™ platform, reflecting its strategy to scale with partners possessing local expertise, field operations, and parts logistics. This contrasts with alternatives such as establishing direct subsidiaries, acquiring distributors, or joint ventures. Partnering with Industrial Robotics provides FBR access to a distributor with robotic equipment experience and early confidence in Mantis™’ commercial viability, evidenced by State Machinery’s prior purchase.

The geographic focus on Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida Panhandle, and Eastern Texas offers a concentrated initial footprint leveraging Industrial Robotics’ and State Machinery’s existing presence. This approach reduces complexity compared to nationwide rollout and allows focused market development. Success in this region may enable expansion through additional distributors or deeper engagement. The agreement’s non-exclusive nature preserves strategic flexibility and incentivizes performance-based growth.

Significant Market Potential in Shipbuilding, Defence, and Industrial Fabrication

FBR targets high deposition welding applications in shipbuilding, defence manufacturing, and large-scale metal fabrication with Mantis™. These sectors face labor intensity, safety risks, quality consistency demands, and throughput pressures. North America’s shipbuilding and defence industries include major commercial and government clients with established supply chains, presenting opportunities for automation solutions enhancing safety, quality, and efficiency. Industrial Robotics’ expertise in Mississippi River transportation and construction equipment markets positions it to engage shipyards, barge builders, and marine fabricators benefiting from Mantis™.

The defence sector represents a substantial addressable market with major primes, suppliers, and fabrication shops supporting programs. FBR’s focus on defence indicates awareness of regulatory and procurement considerations. The announcement does not disclose specific contracts, government relationships, or sales pipelines. Market sizing, competitive analysis, and revenue forecasts for North American welding robots remain undisclosed, highlighting both opportunities and execution risks from competition and customer acquisition challenges.