Opportunity

Three distinct supply-chain opportunities exist for manufacturing innovation to support the multiple product opportunities under consideration through Nodes – Performance of Building Components, Building Performance for Occupants and Design for Extended Building Life:

1. Building on ARC Future Timber Hub recommendations, continued refinement of EWP manufacturing techniques will yield reductions in the cost and complexity of processing required to reduce the capital intensity of new manufacturing facilities.
2. Extend the techniques developed for modular housing prefabrication by the ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing to the suite of EWP products suitable for mid-rise building
3. Couple recent advances in the design of autonomous robots for onsite construction activities, with the shift to onsite assembly made possible through large-scale utilisation of customised, lightweight

Outcomes

Proof that innovation can drive down manufacturing and construction costs, supporting the case for investment into manufacturing of innovative end-products that will stimulate future demand for using EWPs in mid- rise buildings. Findings will both inform and reflect the recommendations of Nodes – Performance of Building Components, Building Performance for Occupants and Design for Extended Building Life, with the implications of process efficiency gains influencing the systems analysis of Nodes – Towards a Low Carbon & Circular Economy, Socio-Economic Opportunity and Value-Chain Innovation.