From craftsmanship to automation: Ler & Liv discovers new opportunities in sustainable building material production
For Ler & Liv, automation was never the goal in itself.
The company specializes in clay-based building materials for historic building restorations, low-carbon construction projects, and self-builders looking for sustainable alternatives. As demand for their products has grown, so has the need to scale production without compromising quality or working conditions.
Through an SMV:Digital project and in collaboration with PPS, Ler & Liv took its first steps into automation – and gained far more than a robot gripper.
A physically demanding process
Ler & Liv produces pressed clay bricks using locally sourced clay. Until recently, the palletizing process was carried out entirely by hand.
As each brick came out of the pressing machine, it was manually lifted and stacked onto pallets.
“We were handling around a ton of bricks by hand for every pallet. After a few hours, you could really feel the strain on your body,” explains Martins Ozols, Building Constructor and Production Developer at Ler & Liv.
While the manual process worked for smaller projects, increasing demand made it clear that a new approach was needed.
First steps into automation
Through the SMV:Digital program, “Lån og afprøv en robot”, Ler & Liv partnered with PPS to investigate how automation could support their production.
The project focused on developing a prototype solution where a robot equipped with a specially designed gripper picks up eight clay bricks at a time and places them on a pallet.
The initial objective was straightforward: reduce heavy and repetitive manual work.
However, the project quickly became about much more than that.
Finding the right starting point
For Ler & Liv, one of the biggest challenges was not choosing a robot solution; it was knowing where to begin.
With limited experience in automation, the company used the funds from the SMV:Digital program to explore which parts of the production process offered the greatest potential for improvement.
They chose PPS as integrator, who quickly visited the company to better understand the production setup, the challenges involved in handling the clay bricks, and where automation could create the greatest value.
According to Martins Ozols, the dialogue with PPS played an important role in identifying the right starting point.
“We had very little knowledge about automation when we started. Through the discussions with PPS, we were able to identify where it made the most sense to focus our efforts and begin the development work.”
Because the project was developed as a prototype and Ler & Liv had limited experience with automation, close communication throughout the process was essential. Through regular discussions and knowledge sharing, PPS helped the company identify relevant focus areas and gradually build confidence in how automation could support the business.
New knowledge creates new opportunities
As a company with limited prior experience in automation, one of the biggest gains has been the knowledge acquired throughout the process.
“The biggest benefit has been the knowledge we’ve gained. The project has shown us where automation can support our production and what our next steps should be,” says Martins Ozols.
The prototype has helped Ler & Liv identify where automation can create the greatest value in their production and how future investments can be targeted to match the company’s scale and ambitions.
Rather than adopting a larger industrial solution, the company has been able to explore automation in a way that fits its own production setup.
Better working conditions and better quality
Although the solution is still being refined, Ler & Liv has already identified several benefits.
Reducing heavy lifting remains a key objective, but the company has also discovered that automation can contribute to more consistent production processes.
Martins Ozols explains:
“We started by looking at automation to reduce heavy manual work, but we also discovered that it can improve the quality and consistency of our products.”
The increased precision required by automated processes has led to a more structured approach to production, which in turn supports higher product quality.
A valuable starting point for smaller companies
For Ler & Liv, the project demonstrates that automation is not reserved for large industrial manufacturers.
By starting with a focused prototype project, the company has gained valuable insight into how technology can support future growth while preserving its commitment to sustainable materials and craftsmanship.
For companies considering their first automation project, Ler & Liv’s experience shows that even a relatively small initiative can open the door to significant opportunities.
The project has shown that automation can create value even in small-scale production.
Could automation create value in your business?
Ler & Liv’s experience shows that even a small prototype project can be the first step towards a more efficient production, better working conditions, and valuable insights into where automation can create the greatest value.
Would you like to explore more automation solutions or learn how prototype projects and Proof of Concept can help you get started?
👉 Explore our automation solutions
A new SMV funding round opens in August. If you’re considering applying for funding for a prototype project or testing a robot in your production, you can learn more about the program here.
👉 Learn more about the SMV program
Not sure where to start?
At PPS, we help companies identify where automation can create the greatest value; from the first ideas and prototype projects to fully implemented automation solutions.