Cross Laminated Offsite Solutions (CLOS) will primarily process CLT among other timber materials and provide manufacturing services for the housing, industrial and commercial building sectors. The plant will prefabricate engineered timber products into walls, floors, roofs and other building components, and will also have the capacity to add cladding, insulation and plasterboard.
CLOS Managing Director John Fitzgibbon said he sees CLOS as an opportunity to complement and enhance the existing supply chain for timber offsite solutions.
“I’ve spent a lot of my career working in the tier 1 construction space, particularly working on high rise developments and I see an opportunity to collaborate with other players in the nascent offsite supply chain for timber products. I think there’s a real opportunity to value add, not just for CLT but also across other product types including LVL or Glulam.”
“We know builders appreciate working with a company that can deliver solutions to clients’ requirements and have the skills to ensure that each project is delivered effectively on site. That’s the kind of comprehensive service we will be offering.”
CLOS already has Victorian projects in the low- and mid-rise space set to go live in March. “We’re currently working with operations and project management staff and we’ll be adding to our team once those projects get underway,” said Fitzgibbon.
“We’re also engaged in Early Contractor Involvement with developers and architects to maximise build-ability and conversion rates.”
Initially employing about 25 people, the company looks set to grow its offsite manufacturing production to levels equating to around 100 direct local jobs over the next five years.
Fitzgibbon indicated the CLOS plant in Geelong will adopt an automated approach, with the company currently in discussions with a number of equipment suppliers and local fibre supply chain.■
