Eco Buildings Group PLC (AIM:ECOB, FRA:9ZL0) founder and executive vice chairman Dr Etrur Albani joined Proactive this week to explain how the company's new AI-powered manufacturing platform aims to reduce waste, cut downtime and improve housing production efficiency.
Following a £2.35 million fundraising, Eco Buildings is targeting global growth through scalable manufacturing technology rather than traditional labour-intensive construction methods.
See the video and transcript below.
Proactive
I'm joined by Dr Etrur Albani, Eco Buildings founder and executive vice chairman. You've moved straight from your £2.35 million fundraising into the construction of a second-generation manufacturing platform. Why was this a priority investment and what makes this generation fundamentally different from your existing line?
Dr Etrur Albani
We moved there because that's where we believe the future value of Eco will be created. Our first production line proved the technology works. The second-generation platform introduces AI into its core for predictive maintenance, automated quality control and intelligent manufacturing systems. We are no longer simply adding capacity. We are building a platform that becomes smarter and collects data from real-world operations.
Proactive
What did you learn from your first production line that has shaped the design of this one?
Dr Etrur Albani
Like every R&D project and startup, the biggest lessons come from real-world production. The data is extremely valuable. We now understand where efficiencies can be gained, how capacity can be increased, where downtime may occur and how product consistency can be improved. The first line proved the concept. The second line improves production economics and reduces labour costs.
Proactive
You mentioned AI. In practical terms, how does AI translate into faster, cheaper homes on the ground?
Dr Etrur Albani
If we reduce downtime, we produce more. If we reduce waste, costs come down. If we improve quality control, we improve consistency. We optimise production and improve output significantly. Housing needs better manufacturing, and that's where AI helps.
Proactive
You talk about scaling to 50 or 100 production lines. What needs to happen to get there?
Dr Etrur Albani
The most important thing in any business is successful execution. Traditional construction increases capacity through labour, but Eco scales manufacturing capacity. Once a production line is proven to work, future growth becomes a question of replication and execution.
Proactive
Why do you see Eco as a housing technology company rather than a traditional construction business?
Dr Etrur Albani
The core of Eco is technology. We have moved away from a traditional construction industry model. We put technology at the heart of the business. Everything is controlled and data driven. We combine advanced materials, automation and manufacturing systems, and add artificial intelligence to predict machine performance, product quality and ways to reduce time and cost. We are manufacturing platform providers.
Proactive
What are your geographical ambitions?
Dr Etrur Albani
According to United Nations data, around 96,000 homes a day are needed to house nearly two billion people. We are targeting global opportunities, particularly in the Western world. We are active in Latin America, Central America and parts of Africa, and we are now expanding strongly into Europe. Everyone needs homes, and we provide healthier homes at a fraction of the price.
Proactive
Congratulations on the fundraising and the latest development. Thanks for your time today.
Dr Etrur Albani
Thank you very much.
