US-based prefabrication manufacturer Clayton Homes commits to affordable home ownership solutions
Launched in 1956, the Clayton family began its journey when founder Jim Clayton (prefabrication manufacturer) sold his first home and launched the company philosophy of making home ownership financially achievable, and that philosophy has resonated through the decades. Based in... READ MORE
Taskforce established to elevate Australia’s prefab heritage to UNESCO World Heritage list.
An assembly of eminent heritage professionals have collated a list of 104 19th century prefabricated buildings (prefab heritage), and lobbying for them to placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. When the first European settlers sailed to Australia, they brought... READ MORE
There’s a debate about the use of the word ‘disruption’ to describe the radical changes that have leveraged new technologies throughout history, from the invention of the printing press to the emergence of the shared economy. The argument goes like this: the reality of disruption is that, while it appears to happen overnight, it remains gradual and unseen, often for years, before it surfaces.
Offsite construction methods are incrementally re-shaping the construction delivery model in Australia. But while that process unfolds, Fleetwood since its inception in 1964 have successfully integrated their manufacturing methodologies, focused their accumulated expertise, and in doing so have risen to... READ MORE
Volumetric Building Companies (VBC) given the green light from the United States Bankruptcy Court to purchase Katerra, Inc. assets.
The resuscitation of Katerra’s plant and equipment by VBC seeks to address the disconnect between the market and the failed volumetric manufacturer. The company announced last week it had received approval from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern... READ MORE
Additional US$30 million funding secured for modular home builder from global investors.
The Series B equity round for the modular home builder, was co-led by Japanese home builder heavyweight, Asahi Kasei Corporation and Paris Ventures, the corporate venture capital program of Brazilian steel producer Gerdau. Backing up the team was returning investor,... READ MORE
An engineer was entrenched in the auto industry, takes the off-ramp and heads for housing industry, the result? A mechanical and cultural shift (Prefabricated Houses).
Owned by Great Gulf, H+ME Technology in Toronto, Canada, is home to a highly automated manufacturing plant that produces proprietary designed floor, wall and roof assemblies to be built as integrated panels (Prefabricated Houses). The venture, whose VP and General... READ MORE
One of the UK’s newest modular builders officially opened its first manufacturing plant in North East England.
Mark Farmer (modular builder) is the author of the hugely influential Modernise or Die report, CEO of Cast Consultancy, and a government-appointed champion of modern methods of construction (MMC) in modular building, and he appeared at the official launch of the CoreHaus... READ MORE
Legal & General and NatWest Group Pension Fund form JV to deliver £500m modular built retirement communities.
UK financial giant, Legal & General announced last week that it has entered into a 15-year joint venture partnership with NatWest Pension Trustee Limited to invest £500m of equity for modular built later-living communities. The deal supports Inspired Villages’ next... READ MORE
Launch of Sydney-based Viridi Group offers innovative prefabricated timber structural solutions for builders and developers.
Backed by the collaborative smarts by some of Australia’s most progressive and seasoned construction professionals, the advanced timber prefabrication and modular solution manufacturer is well positioned to drive sustainability, efficiency and quality outcomes for the Australian building sector.They’ve positioned themselves... READ MORE
Dr Theo Dounas leads a research team at Robert Gordon University’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, Scotland. They presented their “groundbreaking” project, Archchain, at the EU Blockchain (NFT) Observatory & Forum recently.
Interestingly, their research may well have significant implications for financing of offsite construction.
Dr Dounas writes:
Non-fungible tokens – or NFTs – have been around for a while, however their use remains untapped in the construction and architectural sector. Most people will have heard of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, as they continue to grow... READ MORE
