Portable Drilling Device for High-Ceiling Installation Works Without Lifting Equipment

Automation & Robotics for Construction

Challenge Statement Owner

Established in July 2009, DiMeLED is a provider of special lighting features. They design, implement, and maintain facade lighting solutions, operating on subcontract or turnkey contracts. Notable projects include Millenia Tower and Centennial Tower in Singapore. Dimeled also owns MBA Enterprise Pte Ltd, an electrical contractor specialising in installation of electrical systems.

Background

Construction projects frequently involve extensive M&E installation at ceiling heights between 5 and 15 metres. Subcontractors installing electrical conduits, cable trays, and pipe brackets must frequently perform ceiling drilling and fastening. They rely heavily on scissor lifts and scaffolding, which are costly to rent and maintain and are often impractical in tight or congested spaces such as riser rooms and narrow corridors. These methods increase project costs and safety risks, and can delay project timelines due to coordination and set-up requirements.

DiMeLED envisions a lightweight, ground-operated device that enables teams to perform drilling operations at height safely, without lifts. The ability to operate such a system would streamline workflows, allowing one crew to do preparations from the ground while another installs containment at height, thus optimising manpower, reducing downtime, and improving site safety by minimising exposure to risk. It would be a bonus if the machine can perform other simple tasks like fastening a screw or nut, or hold small lightweight objects like threaded rods and channels.

exposure to risk. It would be a bonus if the machine can perform other simple tasks like fastening a screw or nut, or hold small lightweight objects like threaded rods and channels.

The Challenge

How might we develop a portable, accurate, and cost-effective device that allows workers to perform drilling and basic installation tasks at ceiling height without using scaffolding or lifting equipment?

Requirements

Functional Requirements

Enable drilling at ceiling heights of at least 5 metres, with an ideal maximum reach of 5-15 metres to accommodate commercial and warehouse environments
Allow safe, ground-level operation, ideally by a single worker without the need for scaffolding or scissor lifts
Deliver consistent drilling accuracy with minimal alignment error
Be compatible with standard commercial drill heads (e.g., Makita and DeWalt) to allow subcontractors to use existing tools

Technical Requirements

Core Requirements:

Mechanically or electrically extendable shaft capable of stable vertical reach up to 5-15 metres
Stable base with wheels to enable smooth positioning on flat surfaces
Battery-powered operation with compatibility for standard hand drill mounts
Integrated laser pointer or similar vertical alignment system for precise hole positioning
Adjustable or rotary head to allow angled drilling into ceilings, walls, and tight corner area

Additional Preferences

Modular attachments or extensions to support related installation tasks, such as anchoring threaded rods, self-tapping bolts, or support brackets
Design flexibility to support either semi-automated or fully manual operation, depending on use case and cost constraints

Expected Outcomes

Significant reduction or elimination of the use of scissor lifts and associated monthly rental costs
Up to 50% time savings and 75% labour cost reduction for high-ceiling drilling and installation tasks
Return on investment (ROI) in under 14 months (the equivalent to less than four typical project deployments)
Improvement in jobsite safety by removing the need for workers to perform drilling tasks at height, reducing exposure to fall-related risks

Deployment Environment and Constraints

The device must function effectively in typical commercial and industrial project sites with floor-to-ceiling heights of between 5m and 15m. Sites may include mechanical rooms, risers, corridors, and open-plan ceiling spaces with variable floor conditions (e.g., concrete, tiles, and raised platforms). The solution must be operable by a single worker in confined or cluttered conditions and must allow for easy transport between work zones.

Proof-of-concept (POC)/Pilot Support

DiMeLED will conduct the POC across several active M&E installation projects, providing access to ceiling areas for real-world testing. The POC will assess the solution’s functional performance, including vertical reach, structural stability, drilling accuracy, and ease of operation. DiMeLED’s warehouse will serve as a controlled environment for equipment assembly, iteration, and early-stage trials.

Subcontractors currently engaged on-site will trial the device under actual working conditions. They will offer structured feedback on ergonomic design, productivity gains, and safety improvements. Comparative evaluations will be conducted against conventional scissor lift methods to quantify potential savings in time, cost, and manpower.

DiMeLED will provide:

Live project sites for deployment and on-site validation
R&D space within its warehouse for prototyping and iterative testing
Access to a network of subcontractors for practical testing and user feedback
Operational insights and data related to ceiling-level installation workflows

‍Commercialisation and Scaling

Once validated, the solution will be offered for both purchase and rental by subcontractors across Singapore and Southeast Asia. The device should be priced affordably in the range of S$5,000–$10,000 to ensure accessibility for SME subcontractors.

DiMeLED will market the product through trade partners and industry associations. The company projects demand among the vast majority of subcontractors engaged in high-ceiling works, estimating 3-4 devices per subcontractor across multiple concurrent projects.