Workshop
Made by Hand in Bristol
Every ELM is knitted, framed and put together in our Bristol workshop. It is slow work, done at benches rather than on a line, by people who know each robot by its seams.
Where ELM Is Made
The workshop sits in an old print hall, with tall windows and a floor that creaks in places. Knitting machines run at one end. At the other, each ELM is assembled, then checked by the person who built it.
01
Knit the Shell
Yarn in Oat, Stone or Charcoal is knitted into fitted panels, then washed and left to rest overnight.
02
Build the Frame
Each joint is strung with cables and tuned at the bench until it moves freely and yields under a push.
03
Pad and Dress
Printed lattice cushioning goes over the frame, then the knit shell is eased on and fastened.
04
Listen Closely
Each ELM spends a quiet day in our practice rooms while we listen for any creak or catch.
Yarn cones in the knitting room
Materials
Warm to the Touch
We tried leather, foam and moulded rubber before settling on knit. It is warm to the touch, it forgives a bump, and it can be taken off and washed. The shell comes in Oat, Stone and Charcoal, colours chosen to sit quietly in a hallway rather than stand out in one.
Weight
Light Enough to Live With
ELM stands about 165 cm tall and weighs around 28 kg, roughly the same as a large dog. Keeping it that light has meant a long run of small decisions: hollow parts where we can, cables rather than bulky gearboxes at the joints, and a frame that carries nothing it doesn’t need.
“You get to know a shell as you knit it. By the time it goes on the frame, I can tell you which row gave me trouble.”
Senior Knitter, Hearthwork Workshop
Join the Workshop
We’re hiring in the workshop and beyond, from knitting to engineering. Some roles need no robotics background at all, just care and a steady pair of hands.