In the early 1990s, a completely new sub-segment of the concrete industry came about, namely the method for grinding and polishing concrete surfaces. This was invented by Söderköping-based HTC Sweden, which became part of Husqvarna Construction in 2017. Husqvarna’s DNA contains several industry-development-related milestones, including both the revolutionary planetary grinding system and remote-controlled grinding. Now the company is ready to take a new, revolutionary step with a self-operating floor grinder, a major paradigm shift.

Autogrinder 8 D – a loyal workmate

PDi Magazine is delighted and proud to be the first trade magazine in the world to announce that Husqvarna Construction will launch Autogrinder 8 D at Bauma 2025. “There are years of development work and rigorous field tests behind this new product, and now we are ready to release it to the world,” says Stijn Verherstraeten, senior vice president at Husqvarna Construction. The self-operating Autogrinder 8 D floor grinder has been developed to free up the operator, and by pressing a few buttons, it performs grinding or polishing on both small and large concrete surfaces.

“With this machine, we say that the operator gets ‘two workdays in one,” says Gustav Berggren, global product manager for floor grinders at Husqvarna Construction, when PDi Magazine visited the company’s development centre for surface preparation equipment in Söderköping. “The machine spends its working day performing its task, while the operator can spend his working day doing other tasks.” The new model has been developed to eliminate the impact of short breaks and offer a continuous workflow that relieves the operator from the most monotonous tasks. When the machine is in Auto mode, its light shines turquoise, the universal colour for automation. “It’s a loyal workmate that stays the course, doesn’t take shortcuts, and does exactly as it’s told,” says Gustav Berggren. “It gives the operator a more rewarding workday.”

Focus on ease of use

When Autogrinder 8 D starts work, LiDAR scans the room and keeps track of the position of the machine. The operator sets the working area on the touch screen and then sets grinding parameters such as speed and rpm on the remote control. Autogrinder then starts working, freeing up the operator to do other things, such as grinding edges, vacuuming floors, applying chemicals and keeping an eye on the dust extractor. It is also possible to control and fine-tune the floor grinder’s ongoing work using a remote control. “For example, if there is a pillar in the middle of the working area, the operator can easily take control and navigate around the obstacle. The machine then returns to the defined route,” says Gustav Berggren.

During the development process, the focus was on making a machine that is easy to use and can be put to work quickly. “Autogrinder has a short learning curve. Even a completely new user can get up and running in just a few minutes,” says Gustav Berggren. “An experienced operator usually sets up the area within seconds to begin the work process. There may be a perception that Autogrinder will require a degree of technical know-how, but it really doesn’t. With Autogrinder, the grinding work becomes so much easier, and the operator will have time to do so much more.”

The new model is based on Husqvarna’s largest machine, PG 8 DR, which has a grinding width of 800 mm. “This is the most common size, which allows you to get through most doors,” says Gustav Berggren. “Thanks to the integrated battery, it is also easy to move the machine into a van or onto a trailer.” After the grinding work is completed, the user has the option of using the same defined route to polish the floor surface; all the operator needs to do is change the tools and keep track of related equipment such as the dust extractor and cables.

Navigation and safety in cooperation

Autogrinder 8 D has a navigation system and safety system that work together to enable self-operation. “We have worked a lot on these two systems, and they are the brain of Autogrinder 8 D,” says Stijn Verherstraeten. “This makes Autogrinder 8 D a real ‘game changer’.” Gustav Berggren adds: “The fact that they work so well together is what gives the operator confidence.” 

The development process has consisted of a thorough testing period where customers have been able to try the product and provide feedback. “It is very important to have the customers involved and test the machines for different applications,” says Gustav Berggren. “Here in the test centre, everything is controlled. To validate that Autogrinder will perform in the real world, customers have taken it to different work sites and tested it on the full spectrum of grinding and polishing jobs.”

Even though the machine is self-operating, the operator ultimately has responsibility for the grinding process. It is important that the cord and hose to the dust extractor are long enough. It is also the operator’s responsibility to ensure that the right tools are used. “The quality of the floor finish still depends on the operator’s skill and expertise, and they must remain onsite while Autogrinder is operating,” says Gustav Berggren. For safety reasons, the machine stops if the remote control goes out of range.

Launch at Bauma

Husqvarna Construction believes they are at the start of something big, and hopes are high about how Autogrinder will affect the industry. “I think it will be a revolution,” says Gustav Berggren. “It started with planetary grinding systems, then remote control, and now this. We want to create value for the customer. In construction there is not much automation so far, so many of the most important innovations in the machine are patent pending.”

In addition to offering operators a smoother workday, Husqvarna Construction also hopes to be able to address the scarcity of skilled labour in the industry. “We have heard that it is difficult for companies to attract and retain staff,” says Gustav Berggren. “With our machine, we hope to lessen the impact of that.” Caroline Thorell, global marketing manager at Husqvarna Construction added: “We see great potential for this product all over the world, but especially in Europe, the USA and Australia where labour costs are high. It will be easy to calculate the return on investment in Autogrinder because it automates time-consuming jobs.”

Husqvarna Autogrinder 8 D will go on sale in Europe at the end of the year. In 2026, it will be available in North America and Australia. During Bauma, Husqvarna Construction will be happy to take pre-orders and see how the model is received by the market. At Bauma, Autogrinder 8 D will be launched at Husqvarna Construction’s Booth A1.137 and will be demonstrated at the outdoor booth A01.A01.3 outside Hall A1.