News & Insights
AMCF Groundbreaking Ceremony
Why this matters now
Infrastructure owners and agencies are under increasing pressure to do more with fewer resources while maintaining safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. Aging production methods, workforce challenges, and growing demands for resiliency are driving interest in automation across traditionally manual construction and manufacturing processes.
For river systems like the Mississippi, reliable erosion protection is essential. Modernizing the production of articulated concrete mattresses can help improve consistency, reduce risk, and support the long-term stewardship of one of the nation’s most important waterways.
What leaders are weighing
Organizations responsible for critical infrastructure are evaluating how to balance innovation with proven performance. Key considerations include:
- Improving worker safety by reducing repetitive and high-risk tasks
- Increasing production efficiency without sacrificing quality
- Integrating automation into long-established operational processes
- Designing facilities that can support future technological advancements
- Delivering projects faster while maintaining mission critical reliability
As automation becomes more prevalent across infrastructure and industrial sectors, leaders are looking for partners who understand both the technology and the operational realities of implementation.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
As the prime design-build contractor for this groundbreaking facility, Salas O’Brien is providing integrated design and construction leadership while leveraging its experience in robotics and automation. The team’s involvement in both the automated mat casting facility and the ARMOR 1 robotics initiative creates continuity between the production process and the equipment the facility is designed to support.
By combining expertise in design-build delivery, automation, and complex infrastructure projects, Salas O’Brien is helping clients modernize critical operations, improve safety, and develop enduring solutions for some of their toughest engineering challenges.
Harry Kleiser, PE
Harry Kleiser, PE leads Salas O’Brien’s federal group, driving strategic initiatives while fostering innovation and collaborative problem-solving. With 25+ years of experience alongside federal government agencies and working in the AEC industry, Harry is instrumental in developing and implementing project and program-specific solutions to address complex mission needs. Harry’s leadership is crucial in supporting growth and achieving excellence for both clients and Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected]
Charlie Gaines
Charlie Gaines is a highly experienced project manager with over ten years of expertise in Asset Management and Robotics & Automation consulting services within the federal sector. Charlie presently serves as Salas O’Brien Federal’s Robotics & Automation Sector Lead.