Construction Giant Snaps up Innovaré

Belper-based construction heavyweight Bowmer + Kirkland has snapped up structural insulated panel manufacturer Innovaré Systems.

Innovaré, of Coventry, was part of the Osborne Construction Group. It develops “new materials, technologies and methods” for use in offsite building projects.

The company reported a turnover of £11.6m in its last available accounts.

Osborne Group chairman Andrew Osborne said the deal would

“ensure [Osborne’s] core business can be successful in the years ahead.”

“Everyone at Osborne is proud of Innovaré’s growth to date and I know the company will continue to thrive under its new ownership”, he added.

The deal follows a pair of lucrative Framework successes for Bowmer + Kirkland. The Derbyshire firm was awarded a place on the £10bn Crown Commercial Services Offsite Framework last month and revealed it had been appointed to the prestigious Ministry of Justice Constructor Services Framework earlier this week.

 

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

 

Source: The Business Desk

/0 Comments/by

GROUND-BREAKING DEVELOPMENT RECEIVES FIRST FACTORY-BUILT HOMES

The first factory-built homes at a housing association’s ground-breaking development in Gloucestershire have been craned into place.

Bromford is building 28 new homes at Stockwells in Moreton-in-Marsh, all of which are being built in sections by leading modular housebuilder ilke Homes. Now the first modules have been transported from ilke’s Yorkshire factory to Gloucestershire and representatives from Bromford, ilke Homes and Cotswold District Council were in attendance to watch them arrive and be craned into place. A total of 10 homes have been delivered to the site so far, with the remaining 18 due to arrive in the month ahead.

Millie Nicholls, regeneration project manager at Bromford said:

“It’s been so exciting to see the first of these modular homes being lowered into place here in Moreton-in-Marsh.

“With high energy prices continuing to fuel the cost-of-living crisis, it’s never been more important to build energy efficient affordable housing. Not only will customers benefit from living in A-rated homes which require less energy to run, it is another step for us to making sure all of our homes have at least a C Energy Performance Certificate rating by 2028.

“This is the first development of its kind for us in the Cotswolds and our first project with ilke Homes. We can’t wait to see the rest of the homes arrive on site in the weeks ahead so we can put the finishing touches to them and make them ready for customers to move in. We hope to work with them on further sites in the next few years to deliver more affordable, energy efficient homes for our customers.”

Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, added:

“This site milestone demonstrates offsite manufacturing’s ability to speed up the delivery of highly energy-efficient, affordable homes,

“ilke Homes is increasingly becoming a partner of choice for housing associations looking to scale up the delivery of much-needed housing. Much like many councils and housing associations across the country, Bromford and Cotswold District Council understand the role modular housing has to play in enhancing the build quality of homes and their ability to speed up construction programmes.

“We look forward to working closely with all delivery partners to bring this scheme forward.”

Thanks to £550,000 of funding from Cotswold District Council, the finished homes will also boast additional sustainable features such as solar panels, battery storage and air source heat pumps, making them some of the most energy efficient homes in the country.

Leader of Cotswold District Council, Cllr Joe Harris, said:

“It was great to watch this development take shape. This is an innovative zero-carbon housing scheme and the first modular build of its kind anywhere in the Cotswolds.

“Our housing teams have worked incredibly hard to build a strong relationship with Bromford and I would like to thank them for all their efforts in bringing about this fantastic scheme for the Cotswolds.

“This is the standard we expect of affordable housing here in the Cotswolds. Not only do we want housing to be zero carbon, we want it to be genuinely affordable. This development is set to make Stockwells of the best parts of Moreton and we’re confident these exemplar modern homes will do just that.”

The new homes Bromford is building at Stockwells replace a street of 24 non-traditional properties that had been built as a quick-build solution to the housing shortage in the 1950s. But over the years their condition had deteriorated and they were experiencing issues with damp and draughts. The former properties were demolished in the summer of 2022 and the groundwork prepared for the arrival of the new homes. The finished two- and three- bedroom homes will all be available at social rents to let when completed later this year.

/0 Comments/by
,

First Step towards Using Fossil-Free Steel

Swegon takes its first step towards using fossil-free steel

This week, Swegon presented its first product made from carbon dioxide-reduced steel – a GOLD RX – at the ISH trade fair in Frankfurt. The manufacture of steel consumes large amounts of both resources and energy. As ventilation units are primarily made of steel, there is considerable potential to reduce the carbon footprint of embodied carbon in production, by replacing traditional steel with steel that has a lower climate footprint.

In January, the first delivery of XCarb® RRP (recycled and renewably produced) Magnelis from thesteel manufacturer ArcelorMittal was received at Swegon’s Kvänum factory, where the companymanufactures ventilation units. According to ArcelorMittal, XCarb® RRP Magnelis has anapproximately 70% lower CO2 footprint than traditionally manufactured steel. XCarb® RRP ismainly produced from recycled steel and uses 100% renewable energy in the manufacturing process.

The first concept air handling unit has now been produced, and the plan is to gradually introducecarbon dioxide-reduced steel into ongoing production, starting during the second quarter of this year.

“We are delighted to now be phasing in carbon dioxide-reduced steel in our large ventilation units.We all have to contribute and reduce our climate footprint, and this transition is enabling us toreduce not only our own, but also our customers’ footprint,” says Robert Siverby, Supply ChainDirector at Swegon Group.

Swegon has, for a long time, focused on sustainability and on reducing the climate footprint in theproduction as well as the use phase of its products. Swegon was among the first in the industry todevelop EPDs (Environmental Product Declaration) for its products, and has a significant amount ofEPDs in its portfolio.

Based on the existing EPD for GOLD RX, size 12, the total Global Warming Potential (GWP) isexpected to be reduced by approximately 20% with the transition to XCarb® RRP Magnelis steel,given that all the steel is replaced. The introduction of XCarb® RRP is a first step in the company’sjourney towards fossil-free steel.

www.swegon.com/UK

 

/0 Comments/by

CHILE: Modular Prototype to Address Housing Crisis

Ignacio Rojas Hirigoyen develops modular building system to address housing crisis

Ignacio Rojas Hirigoyen Architects and The Andes House have designed a modular prototype that can be configured to construct low-cost housing.

The Industrialized Building System Prototype was designed by Ignacio Rojas Hirigoyen Architects and The Andes House and fabricated by Cromolux in Santiago, before being assembled in the nearby town of Casablanca, Chile.

“The prototype was conceived to give an answer to the urgent global dwelling crisis,” architect Ignacio Rojas Hirigoyen told Dezeen.

“We decided to build a house as a first prototype of the Building System but with these parts and pieces that work as a ‘LEGO,’ you can design and build any other typologies.”

Drawing on innovations by Walter Gropius and other Bauhaus designers, the prototype consists of a thick, layered recycled wood fiber panel framed by “wooden sub-modules that link together by a system of locks and wedges” to form building blocks for walls, floors and ceilings.

“All of this creates the modular coordination of steel and wood carpentry with no surplus material, and where every part has its own place and function,” Hirigoyen said, explaining that the layered assembly provides thermal and acoustic comfort for the home.

The panels are installed within a lightweight, anti-seismic, recycled steel structure measuring 5 metres by 18 metres (16 feet by 60 feet) to create an 80-square-metre (860-square-foot) house.

The exterior of the panels is layered with a vapor barrier and corrugated metal plates that allow the facade to ventilate.

A gabled metal roof – held off the box profile by angled webs forming a triangular truss – tops the house and displays the location’s accelerated desertification process.

“Under its wide eaves, air flow is achieved to deliver fresh air to the interior through the windows below them,” Hirigoyen explained.

“It also serves as a fog catcher by condensation, which allows water collection and provides support for solar panels for a 100 per cent off-grid electrical scheme.”

The prototype system can also function without a roof structure.

The house assembly is set off the ground by tripod foundations and is arranged with an inset, dogtrot-style porch accessed by a metal grating ramp.

The interior of the housing unit – consisting of two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open living, dining and kitchen space – is finished with laminated wood boards.

In addition to the passive sustainable strategies, the project includes a wastewater treatment system.

The construction was efficient, requiring only four onsite crew members, a crane truck and a set of wrenches and screwdrivers.

Hirigoyen referenced the efficiency and standardization of prefabricated modules as a key component of the system’s application and flexibility – as well as the prototype’s ability to be used both horizontally and vertically.

“Our system allows solving other typologies such as buildings for collective housing, health, education and various types of equipment,” he said.

The studio is now working on the next version of the prototype with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Architecture School.

 

 

In a similar concept for a different terrain, Danish studio MAST is developing a modular prototype system for constructing floating buildings that will be presented at the UIS World Congress of Architects in July.

The system designed by Copenhagen-based MAST consists of modular containers that can be filled with various floatation elements, similar to how gabion cages are used in the construction industry.

Made from recycled reinforced plastic, these flat-pack modules could be easily transported around the world and assembled in different configurations to suit a range of building types.

Source: Dezeen

/0 Comments/by

Driving the Development of Fusion Technology

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Sheffield have entered a partnership that is set to drive the development of fusion technology and the UK’s future fusion industry.

The collaboration, announced on March 9th, will see Sheffield appoint two Chairs in fusion research and development. Both roles will establish new research programmes to address global fusion challenges.

The position of Chair in Qualification for Fusion will address fundamental engineering challenges in the qualification of components, fabricated assemblies and systems for use within future fusion powerplants.

The position of Chair in Fusion Materials will focus on innovation in materials design and processing to improve powerplant performance and the decommissioning and recycling of new materials developed.

Both Chairs will work closely with UKAEA staff and the University of Sheffield Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) in Rotherham, part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult, which helps to move cutting-edge research from universities into the commercial market.

The University’s Faculty of Engineering will host the two Chairs. UKAEA has chosen to work with the University because of its expertise and strong track record in materials science, engineering and manufacturing research, which are crucial for developing new low-carbon technologies.

As part of the partnership, UKAEA will also collaborate with the University’s UK-leading research in thermal hydraulics – a key research area in the development of fusion as an energy source.

Dr Amanda Quadling, Director of Materials Research at UKAEA, said:

“We are pleased to partner with the University of Sheffield. Their Department of Materials Science and Engineering has a combination of process innovation capabilities, metals performance testing and high calibre microscopy skills which will complement our post-irradiation activities.

“This partnership will help to address intrinsic engineering and materials challenges in order to make fusion energy commercially viable. It will also develop a pipeline of talent for the future of our thriving fusion industry.”

Professor Jim Litster, Vice-President for Engineering at the University of Sheffield, said:

“Here at Sheffield we have a long track record of world-leading research excellence across materials science, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and low-carbon energy research. This is coupled with successful translation into industry and UK government policy.

“Developing strong external partnerships is a key part of our Faculty of Engineering’s strategy. With the University, UKAEA’s Fusion Technology Facility in Rotherham and the STEP prototype fusion powerplant site at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, all in relatively close proximity to one another, the partnership will develop a strong regional focus on fusion excellence in South Yorkshire and surrounding regions. Harnessing the research strength of northern universities, such as ours at Sheffield, is crucial if the UK is going to transition to low-carbon energy sources and protect its energy supply over the long-term.”

It is expected the two positions will attract collaborations from a wider range of industrial partners who will be able to sponsor students and work in partnership with them on research projects.

Stephen Wheeler, Director of Fusion Technology, UKAEA, said:

“The challenge of how we test and qualify components for future use in a fusion environment is critical for the delivery of a fusion powerplant.  Partnering with the University of Sheffield to launch a new Chair in this field will accelerate the application of cutting edge techniques from across all sectors of engineering and the development of new experimental and digital techniques specific to fusion.

“The UKAEA’s Fusion Technology Facility based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, South Yorkshire, is enabling us to access and grow regional capabilities to support the delivery of fusion. This includes local skills development from schools to universities and also the world class capabilities within the local manufacturing supply chain. We look forward to accessing the University of Sheffield’s expertise in engineering testing and qualification to enhance our national programme.”

Along with many other framework agreements with universities and industry partners, the agreement aims to bolster the UK’s strong position in commercialising fusion energy as a major source of low carbon electricity for the second half of this century.

Fusion is the process which occurs at the centre of stars; it is the source of light and heat emitted by the Sun.

Finance invested in fusion energy enables new materials and technologies to be developed that can benefit not just fusion energy, but also a wide range of industries including space, healthcare and decommissioning.

UKAEA’s mission is to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy and maximise scientific and economic benefit.

 

Website

/0 Comments/by

PLANNING NEEDS TO CONSIDER CLIMATE CHANGE

Planning overhaul needed for climate change ‘resilience’, think tank says

Successfully adapting to climate change will need an overhaul of the planning system to create measurable local targets, according to researchers.

The think-tank Localis is calling for a nationally accepted definition of ‘resilience’ to enable local authorities to defend their communities from climate change.

Analysis of 88 English local plans by Localis found that more than half of local plans emphasise ‘water stress’ including flooding as a potential pressure.

Its report, entitled Climate resilience in Local Plans, says two in every five of the plans surveyed consider the use of building regulations as potential solutions to climate change.

Localis head of research Joe Fyans said:

‘Given what we know from Met Office climate projection about best case scenarios for the probable damage likely to be wrought by increased flooding and the impact of heatwaves, what is worrying here is that current legislation comes nowhere close enough to covering the risk impact.

‘Where rules are not in place, appropriate measures are not provided by all local plans.

‘On the ground, this means there is a great deal of variability in local government preparations for climate change.

‘Suitable resilience is needed for all areas, and a place-based approach that accounts for levels of vulnerability will be the appropriate remedy for many of the country’s upcoming climate problems.’

Source: LocalGov

/0 Comments/by

GERMANY: SERIAL MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

SEMODU and HAUBNER GROUP want to join forces in modular construction

Most modern modular production plant in Europe planned

In view of the German government’s goal of building 400,000 apartments per year, the HAUBNER GROUP and SEMODU AG intend to build Europe’s most modern manufacturing plant for modular housing. The plan is to build a production facility of up to 40,000 square meters at the existing production site of the HAUBNER GROUP in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz.

At this site a production line for series modules is to be built, which is oriented towards the production processes of the automotive industry. This is intended to create a technological platform to initiate the next industrialization phase of residential construction. The housing modules are to be characterized by a high degree of prefabrication and will be produced in a highly automated manner with the predominant use of robotics. Annually, up to 180,000 square meters of living space could thus be manufactured at the site.

“We are convinced that serial modular construction is a decisive factor in the fight against the housing shortage in Germany,” says Frank Talmon l’Armée, CEO of SEMODU AG. “With the planned manufacturing plant, we want to set standards in Germany when it comes to the production and provision of state-of-the-art living space.” By bundling competencies, he said, the disruptive potential can be leveraged and the expertise from the SEMODU methodology can be rolled out across the board.

Wolfgang Haubner, Managing Director of HAUBNER GROUP, says:

“We are planning a level of automation that should be unique for a manufacturing plant in Europe. Our app-based software for the transparent production process also provides customers with real-time transparency and traceability of the production steps.”

Production is to follow a clear and stringent mathematical logic for module sizes in order to be able to produce highly efficiently and economically, while at the same time delivering the most variable contemporary homes possible with high architectural standards. The preferred construction method will be the wood frame construction as well as the CLT construction, whereby the production in hybrid construction (wood and concrete) should also remain possible. In accordance with the philosophy of the two companies, the products will be built and later operated in a CO2-neutral manner.

The partners intend to involve the Bavarian state government as well as the government of the Upper Palatinate in the planning as soon as possible. During this year’s international real estate trade fair MIPIM in Cannes, talks with investors are also already planned.

SEMODU will contribute the experience gained from its own development and its manufacturing method, while HAUBNER will contribute its competence in production gained over decades.

 

Further information: www.haubner-group.de

Further information: www.semodu.com

/0 Comments/by

TIMBER GIANT REVEALS PLANS

Hundreds of jobs on the way as timber frame giant reveals plans for £45m HQ

 

One of the UK’s largest timber frame manufacturers has chosen Derby as the location for its new headquarters.

Oregon Timber Frame will relocate from its current HQ in Burton to a recently-completed 186,000 sq ft facility at Infinity Park Derby this summer, with the move expected to create around 200 jobs.

Housebuilding giant Barratt Developments, which owns the company, is understood to have invested £45m in the new site.

The facility is located off Junction 3 of the A50 and boasts a BREEAM “Very Good” rating and an EPC rating of “A.” It was built by Bowmer + Kirkland.

Barratt acquired Oregon Timber Frame in 2019 to support its off-site production operations.

Peter Wade, joint managing director of Oregon, said:

“Infinity Park Derby will ultimately become our new base to support Barratt’s move to modern methods of construction, and so it was imperative that the building’s sustainable credentials were in line with those of our business. This new state-of-the-art facility will support our long-term goals to increase our use of modern methods of construction off-site and reduce our carbon footprint.”

 

Source: Buisness Desk

/0 Comments/by

Asbestos: The Ongoing Danger

Young tradespeople need to know the risk

Millennials, gen Z workers and other younger people who work as plumbers, electricians, and in other trades need to take the risk of asbestos much more seriously.

That’s the message from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The workplace regulator has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with the dangerous substance.

The campaign, called Asbestos and You, will target all tradespeople with a focus on younger workers in trades such as plastering and joinery. HSE wants to reach construction workers who started their careers after the use of asbestos was banned in 1999.

The regulator is concerned the length of time it takes for symptoms to develop after asbestos exposure could lead to a perception among today’s younger workers that it is something that only impacts older people who were working before the ban.

Five thousand people a year still die from asbestos related illnesses and asbestos can still be found in buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000.

Asbestos containing materials were used extensively in the construction and maintenance of buildings in Great Britain from the 1950s until the ban. That means construction workers of all ages could still be exposed to asbestos fibres today.

HSE’s chief executive Sarah Albon said: “Asbestos exposure in Great Britain is still the single greatest cause of work-related deaths.  We are committed to protecting people in the workplace and reducing future work-related ill health.

“Everyone working in construction today, of any age, must take the risk from asbestos seriously.

“Asbestos is dangerous when not maintained in a safe condition or if physically disturbed without the right measures in place to avoid fibres being released into the air.”

If asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestos related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural thickening. Construction tradespeople of any age are at significant risk if they disturb materials containing asbestos during repairs and refurbishment.

HSE’s head of health and work policy Mike Calcutt said: “These diseases often take a long time to develop, and it can take 20 to 30 years for symptoms to appear.

“It is crucial that all workers know how to recognise the dangers and take the right actions to protect themselves and those around them from being exposed to asbestos fibres.”

 

Find out more about the Asbestos and You campaign, and visit HSE’s website for further guidance on asbestos.

 

 

/0 Comments/by

Off-site brings Old Properties Back to Life

A Hull housing charity has joined forces with a digital manufacturing firm to explore new ways of bringing run-down properties back to life using ‘Lego-like’ blocks.

The joint pilot project between Giroscope and Blokbuild will see the construction and installation of a modular extension to two adjoining houses currently being renovated by the charity. The two properties off Hessle Road have been empty for nearly 20 years.

Under the initiative, the new kitchen extensions are being built using BlokBuild’s cutting-edge off-site construction system, where parts are created on a digital model, cut with pin-point accuracy using automated technology and then assembled at the company’s factory in Hedon Road. The BlokBuild system is manufactured entirely from timber and insulated off-site, making it a higher quality and more sustainable alternative to traditional construction.

During the project, Giroscope volunteers will receive training in the construction technology being used in the process. They will also work as a team to assemble the modules at the factory on before installing the Lego-like blocks on-site.

Following on form the pilot, both Blokbuild and Giroscope are hoping to collaborate on a much larger project to build new affordable social housing from scratch on a small site in the city of Hull.

Giroscope’s co-ordinator Martin Newman said:

 

“We are really excited for the opportunity to work with Blokbuild who are a really innovative Hull company. We hope we can develop this partnership to a point where we can begin to deliver much-needed affordable and very energy efficient housing together.”

 

He said volunteers taking part in the project would gain valuable gain work experience on their journey into employment or training. When completed, the two houses will be brought back into use as social housing for people in housing need.

Tom Sander, communications and engagement lead for BlokBuild, said:

 

“This is a unique project that combines Giroscope’s pioneering work in self-help housing with BlokBuild’s innovative approach to off-site construction. While we are still a relatively small company, our timber building system is one the most advanced in Europe.

Source: Hull Live
/0 Comments/by