HD Hyundai XiteSolution (HDX), the parent company of HD Hyundai Infracore and the Develon equipment brand, has entered a strategic alliance with Swiss robotics firm Gravis Robotics AG and global construction materials giant Holcim Inc. to advance the development and real-world deployment of autonomous heavy equipment technologies in quarrying and materials handling environments.
Announced during Bauma 2025, the partnership is positioned to revolutionise productivity and safety standards in off-highway machinery through the commercialisation of smart, autonomous equipment – particularly in quarry operations and other confined job sites.
Delivering Autonomy in High-Impact Use Cases
The core objective of the collaboration is the integration of autonomous technology into Develon machines that can perform repetitive and potentially hazardous tasks at Holcim’s global network of quarry and material handling sites. Early operational targets include: Automated truck loading of blasted rock for streamlined transport; Autonomous feeding of mobile crushers and screeners; Confined material handling at aggregate and asphalt facilities, and Smart stockyard management for optimised material flow and space use.
By leveraging automation, the three companies aim to eliminate operational inefficiencies, lower emissions, and significantly reduce risks associated with high-exposure tasks. Holcim will serve as both a proving ground and strategic integrator, deploying Develon autonomous machines in live operations and helping to develop the commercial and operational blueprint for scaling the technology globally.
A Platform for Scaled Innovation
Holcim’s global footprint and process expertise provide a unique sandbox for real-world validation and development. According to the agreement, Gravis Robotics will lead the AI and autonomy systems development, while HDX and Develon will oversee mechanical and systems integration within their latest equipment platforms.
“Autonomous machinery holds enormous potential for increasing consistency and output, reducing operator exposure, and optimising resource use across quarrying and material handling,” said a Holcim spokesperson. “This partnership allows us to shape the future of sustainable site operations at scale.”
Real X: Develon’s Next Leap in Autonomy
For HDX and Develon, this partnership marks the latest chapter in a years-long push to pioneer autonomous construction technology. The journey began with the launch of the Concept-X platform in 2019, which demonstrated early machine automation concepts. That was followed by Concept-X2, an advanced cabless machine showcased at CONEXPO 2023, capable of both remote and autonomous operation.
Bauma 2025 saw the unveiling of Real X, the most sophisticated autonomous system yet from Develon. Built for deployment in commercial environments, Real X enables next-gen crawler excavators to perform complex tasks such as trenching, truck loading, and bulk earthmoving entirely autonomously or via remote control. A key differentiator is Real X’s hybrid functionality – operators can switch between manual, remote, and autonomous modes, ensuring flexibility without sacrificing performance.
Real X leverages Develon’s AI-driven decision-making engine, which utilises real-time environmental perception, machine learning, and task optimisation to execute safe and efficient operations without the need for continuous human input.
From Lab to Quarry: Gravis and HDX Combine Forces
Gravis Robotics, a university spin-off based in Switzerland, brings over a decade of research into construction automation. Its collaboration with HDX aims to marry academic innovation with real-world machine engineering and market access.
“By working together with HDX and Holcim, we can bridge the gap between advanced research and commercial application,” said a Gravis Robotics spokesperson. “This is about delivering tangible, scalable value – not just prototypes.”
The combined effort will fast-track the release of autonomous excavators and material handlers by pairing Gravis’s AI and control systems with Develon’s proven mechanical platforms. With development rooted in Europe and deployment anchored in Holcim’s global network, the programme benefits from both agility and reach.
A Commercially Viable Vision
Unlike many conceptual technology partnerships, the HDX-Gravis-Holcim initiative is focused squarely on commercialisation. By leveraging Holcim’s global quarry network as a test and scale environment, the companies aim to validate autonomous machinery performance in the toughest operating conditions.
Key deliverables from the collaboration include reducing human presence on hazardous job sites, improving machine uptime through predictive autonomy, and delivering consistent material handling performance – all contributing to Holcim’s broader goals of sustainability and digital transformation.
Pioneering the Future of Quarrying
As the heavy equipment sector continues to adopt AI, electrification and autonomy, the HDX partnership is a clear signal that real-world deployment is no longer a distant ambition but a near-term reality.
By combining Develon’s hardware expertise, Gravis’s AI innovation, and Holcim’s operational scale, this trio is positioning itself at the forefront of a new industrial era in construction.
