Modular construction is by no means a new concept, but does the combination of a housing shortage, the construction industry’s lagging productivity, growing skills gaps and advances in technology such as BIM present an opportunity for offsite to step up into a more widespread and sustainable role in the housing sector?
In this ebook, Nick Johns, head of digital manufacturing – UK at Graitec, examines the case for modular construction as a game-changer that will shift many aspects of building activity away from traditional projects to offsite, precision manufacturing-led production.
He looks at the prefabricated and modular construction process, as well as the benefits of standardising construction processes and assets within controlled factory settings. These can range from reduced material waste and damage to time savings, increased safety and smarter construction.
In addition, he discusses how offsite construction can pave the way for a more progressive, data-driven and predictive industry, harnessing BIM to detail each building component for precise manufacturing.
A new generation of modular construction
Nick highlights research from the McKinsey Global Institute forecasting the modular construction market in Europe and the US could be worth $130bn by 2030 and makes the argument for the advantages of optimised, efficiently delivered offsite construction over traditional building methods in terms of reduced build and lifetime costs, accelerate build schedules, greater certainty of build times and improved quality.
Decades after the prefab boom post-WWII, a new generation of modular construction, coupled with digitisation and the latest construction technology, looks set to disrupt the sector. Nick explains why everyone in the industry should ensure they best placed to take advantage of change rather than risk being left behind.
