Prefabricated construction trendsetters Impresa House, operating in Melbourne for only seven months, has already taken out a prestigious manufacturing award, and chief executive Sean Morley will be at Frame Australia to explain how it was achieved. Source: Timberbiz
The Australian company, using technology that over decades has transformed panelised construction in Europe, won an award for excellence in construction technologies at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards in May.
Mr Morley will be a panel member in Frame Australia’s discussion forum on construction that will focus on building system options and timber projects.
Prefabrication in Australia has traditionally been associated with cheap, unimaginative housing, but Impresa is using German Weinmann technology that manufactures millimetre-perfect housing that can deliver 8-star energy ratings.
According to Mr Morley, the main benefit of the technology is the time savings, with Impresa’s manufacturing and install process achieving a 50% reduction in build time by eliminating delays in construction and facilitating trade sequencing.
“People get into homes more quickly,” Mr Morley said. “Documentation – design and preparation – takes about four weeks; manufacturing three to five days; and site assembly three to four weeks.
Mr Morley said the investment of time spent in the documentation phase creates bigger savings in manufacturing.
“Our team handles a lot of the issues and problems clients would have to deal with going back and forth with the architect or engineer,” he said.
“All the selections need to be done in advance. It forces everyone to think ahead and streamline the entire process.”
Mr Morley said there are no limitations in the design of the house in the manufacturing process.
“It can adapt to just about anything,” he said.
Impresa House focuses on timber construction, with large section timber frames braced both sides with oriented strand board (OSB), which allows internal and external walls to be load-bearing.
“We use engineered timber components in floor and roof cassettes, and in some cases, utilise LVL and Glulam in the frames to avoid steel beams.” Mr Morley said.
Frame 2017 titled ‘Timber Offsite Construction’ will be held on Monday and Tuesday 19-20 June 2017 at Park Hyatt Melbourne, and for event details visit the website www.frameaustralia.com
