Offsite construction is hailed as the quick solution to the housing crisis. And that is why is it is causing quite a stir at UK Construction Week (UKCW). Offsite construction takes over Birmingham's NEC between 9 - 11 October, with more than 10,000 products and 650 exhibitors, seminars, CPD sessions and networking opportunities across nine shows: Build Show, Energy 2018, Timber Expo, Surface and Materials Show, Building Tech Live, HVAC 2018, Civils Expo, Plant and Machinery Live and Grand Designs Live.
Are PODs the future?
With an increasing demand for bathroom and kitchen PODs, visitors won't want to miss out on Michael Dall from Barbour ABI's talk, delving deeper into the market, where he looks at the key sectors for offsite, how it will develop and grow in the next few years and which sectors it appeals to most.
Stephen Wade-Palmer from Offsite Solutions will talk about specifying factory-built bathrooms, looking at the critical considerations needed to optimise efficiency in using bathroom PODs. An elegant bathroom POD, which is earmarked for luxury Canary Wharf hotel, will be on display in the Offsite section.
UK Construction Week brings offsite onsite
Offsite construction is really embracing new technologies that will enable faster, more efficient and better-quality builds. With a wide and varied range of offsite exhibitors on hand there is a plethora of products to discover.
The Elliott Group will be available to discuss everything from telecoms packages through to fire equipment thanks to their 360 degree service package for offsite construction. Containex will be showcasing its new self-contained staircase modules, which are easy to transport and install, with strong and flexible guardrails that can be repositioned anywhere. While REM will be showing its unique approach by using living containers to build schools, offices and showrooms.
Other exhibitors include: Kerkstoel the precast concrete experts; Extenda Line with portable flat packed storage units; KC Cabin Solutions offering personalised modular and portable buildings; and Morland will be displaying its new Forever FirecheckTM fire door frame and its brand-new Water Vapour Barrier tongue and groove panels.
Learn more
Modular building specialist, Vision Built, is installing a two-storey house and student apartment for all to experience at the Offsite Theatre, sponsored by the MPBA and Structural Timber Association. Following the event, the construction will be whisked off to its final location in Suffolk.
For visitors who want to learn as much as possible about the speed of modular construction, you won't want to miss out on the following seminars:
· Building more homes, with the Central Housing Investment Consortium;
· Developing your offsite strategy, with Action Sustainability; and
· Flexible and high-rise modular constructions, with MJH Structural Engineers.
Other essential seminars include:
· New assessment methodology and certification scheme for modular homes presented by David Gall, associate director, BRE;
· Digitising offsite construction by David Clark, head of manufacturing and innovation, The McAvoy Group; and
· Routes to market for modular and volumetric housing delivered by Joanne Booth, construction business manager, Lucideon;
The future of offsite construction
With this year's 'Future of Construction' theme, there is plenty to discover for the future of offsite.
The Future of Construction Hub, in collaboration with Birmingham City University, provides an immersive opportunity to discover pioneering techniques such as digital construction, 3D printing, robotics, AI and AR and modern methods of construction. Visitors will be able to try out these new technologies first hand and learn how they will shape the built environment in years to come.
An Innovation Trail uncovers innovating products from Danosa, Hekim Yapi, Max, SFL Mobile Radio, and Velux. Plus Carwyn Lloyd Jones will be building a tiny timber home at Timber Expo, where he will deliver lessons on natural construction techniques too.
This year also sees the launch of the UKCW Role Models Campaign to champion the existing talent in the industry and to inspire the next generation.
36 inspiring men and women have recently been shortlisted for this campaign, and the overall Role Model of the Year will be announced on 10 October.
Debates on major national and international construction issues will take place on the UKCW Stage. Speakers already confirmed include: Barbara Res, project manager behind Trump Tower, engineer and lawyer; Lord David Blunkett, Heathrow Skills taskforce chair; Phil Wilbraham, expansion programme director at Heathrow; Bridget Rosewell OBE, commissioner at the National Infrastructure Commission; Ben Derbyshire, RIBA president; and Ruth Davidson, National Housing Federation executive director.
Celebrations will be in order at the Construction Enquirer Awards, Structural Timber Awards and Voltimum Smart Solutions Awards, all taking place throughout UKCW.
And relax
Once inspired by the exhibitors and seminars it's time to unwind at the Beer Festival, sponsored by Velux, with street food, rockaoke, and a gin and fizz bar. FIX Radio will be broadcasting from here throughout the event. You can also visit the Central Bar in Hall 11 sponsored by Elliott Group and the Timber Bar in Hall 9 sponsored by Germany Trade & Invest.
Get free visitor tickets now from www.ukconstructionweek.com
Keep up to date via www.ukconstructionweek.com and Twitter at @UK_CW or using the hashtag #UKCW2018.
Original Link - UKCW
