Brick by Brick, FBR Builds Its Board for Global Ambitions

FBR Limited (ASX:FBR), the robotic construction innovator behind the Hadrian® bricklaying system, has bolstered its board with the appointment of construction heavyweight Lindsay Partridge AM as an independent Non-Executive Director. The move signals a clear intent to elevate the company’s strategic capabilities as it transitions from development to global commercialisation.

Partridge, best known for transforming Brickworks Limited into a $6 billion diversified multinational over a 25-year tenure as CEO, brings more than four decades of commercial and operational nous to FBR’s table.

Industry Heavyweight With Manufacturing Cred

With a background in ceramic engineering and a leadership career that spans market cycles and cross-border growth, Partridge’s credentials tick multiple boxes for a company like FBR that sits at the intersection of industrial automation, manufacturing, and construction.

His achievements at Brickworks - taking it from a domestic building materials supplier to a global manufacturing force - resonate with FBR’s ambitions to scale its Hadrian® and Mantis™ technologies across international markets. Notably, he led Brickworks’ asset base growth from $500 million to over $6 billion by his retirement in 2024.

Partridge was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2012 for services to the building industry and received the Sir Phillip Lynch Award of Excellence from the HIA in 2018.

Alignment with Scale-Up Strategy

FBR Chair Shannon Robinson framed the appointment as a major endorsement of the company’s next phase:

“Lindsay’s experience in building an Australian manufacturing company into a world-renowned organisation will be invaluable as we execute our strategic vision,” she said.

The company plans to issue Partridge 12.5 million shares at a deemed issue price of 0.4 cents (subject to shareholder approval) in lieu of cash director fees during his first year - a move that ties his remuneration directly to shareholder value creation.

Partridge himself acknowledged the company's strong platform and future-facing tech:

“The technology sector is driving significant change across the global economy, and FBR has established a strong foundation for future success with Hadrian, Mantis and all the other opportunities created by the core technology the team has developed,” he said.

Focused on Commercial Execution

FBR has made steady technical strides with its Hadrian® robotic bricklaying system and Mantis™ welding platform, both underpinned by its proprietary Dynamic Stabilisation Technology® (DST®). The Hadrian® is now offered via its unique “Wall as a Service®” model or direct purchase, targeting both residential and industrial builders seeking automation gains.

The addition of Partridge provides FBR with a depth of expertise in scaling manufacturing operations and navigating global commercial pathways - precisely the terrain it is now entering.

With demand for faster, safer, and more sustainable construction mounting globally, particularly in housing-starved markets, FBR is poised to capitalise. The question has always been execution - and Partridge’s appointment appears to be a calculated answer to that.

For investors, the signal is clear: FBR is building not just walls, but a leadership team capable of delivering scale.