DEWALT Releases Downward Drilling Robot to Commercial Market
DEWALT has announced the commercial launch of its first fleet-capable, downward drilling robot, DALE, developed in collaboration with August Robotics.
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The robot made its public debut at World of Concrete 2026.
The robot drives cost-efficiency through fleet-capable, autonomous drilling that unlocks greater drilling capacity, redefining data center construction with unmatched speed, safety and efficiency.
As a crucial stage of the construction workflow, the robotic solution drills thousands of holes for installation of server rack stops and structural legs that support overhead mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
“The downward drilling robot’s year-long pilot with one of the world’s most influential technology leaders powerfully demonstrated its ability to accelerate schedules, reduce costs, enhance precision, and elevate safety in downward drilling applications,” said Bill Beck, president, tools and outdoor, Stanley Black & Decker. “Now, we’re advancing to the next phase: delivering this breakthrough technology to a broader market and empowering customers to achieve unparalleled speed, efficiency, and results on their most demanding projects.”
He said the robotic drilling solution meets the need head-on through schedule acceleration, cost savings, near-perfect accuracy and enhanced jobsite safety.
Amidst an unprecedented wave of data center construction, speed has become the defining competitive advantage for hyperscalers racing to deliver computing capacity.
Throughout the pilot program, the downward drilling robot drilled at speeds up to 10 times faster than traditional methods, reduced project timelines by a total of 190 weeks across 26 data center construction phases, and achieved 99.97% accuracy drilling more than 230,000 holes, setting a new standard for productivity and precision in the industry.
Equipped with fast-swap batteries and remote monitoring, DALE maximizes time on-site to support around-the-clock drilling operations. Integrated automatic dust extraction and AI-enhanced quality assurance ensure sites are clean and prepped for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) installation workflows immediately after drilling, shaving weeks from schedules.
Powered by August Robotics’ advanced autonomous, fleet-capable platform, DALE enables cost-efficient, high-capacity drilling for installation of server rack stops and supports for MEP systems.
The addition of the robot strengthens DEWALT's data center ecosystem encompassing PERFORM AND PROTECT tools and technology that mitigate vibration and dust and enhance user control, as well as DEWALT's ICC anchoring solutions.
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