Stanley Black & Decker’s DEWALT brand, in partnership with August Robotics, unveiled the world’s first fleet-capable, downward drilling robot designed specifically for large-scale data center construction. The autonomous machine, currently in pilot with a leading hyperscaler, has completed over 10 project phases, drilling more than 90,000 holes with 99.97% accuracy. It operates at up to 10× the speed of conventional crews and has shaved 80 weeks off schedules across those engagements. Powered by August Robotics’ orchestration platform, the solution enhances safety by reducing manual labor in concrete drilling and delivers unit-cost savings through centralized fleet management. Commercial rollout is slated for mid-2026, with live demonstrations scheduled at the World of Concrete trade show in January.

Stanley Black & Decker, the 183-year-old parent of DEWALT, offers a 3.9% dividend yield—nearly double the S&P 500’s average of roughly 2%. As a Dividend King with 58 consecutive years of annual payout increases, the company has built a reputation for consistent cash returns. While organic revenue growth has remained flat over recent quarters and share price performance has been modest, management cites ongoing cost-containment initiatives and margin expansion targets to support free cash flow. For income-focused portfolios, SWK’s high yield and long track record of dividend growth counterbalance the current top-line challenges, positioning the stock as a defensive income play within industrials.