How to Build Houses Faster, with 30% Less Material

Precast technology is a highly cost-efficient construction solution.

Updated on

August 20, 2023

Hollow core slab production | CK — Hollow core slab production. (Photo: Elematic)

The reality facing most developing cities is rapid population growth which makes it a big challenge to keep up with the huge demand for good quality housing.

Typical demands set for builders in rapidly expanding cities are manifold:

Cost pressure, need for affordable housing
Pressure to use local raw materials
Constant, controlled quality
Safety at work sites

In addition to these, demands for sustainable, environmentally friendly ways of working are increasing. So, traditional building methods no longer provide a cost-efficient and fast enough solution to meet the needs. The solution is prefabrication.

Yes, it is possible: Building lively neighborhoods with affordable, comfortable homes while still fulfilling quality, cost and safety requirements set for the construction.

With prefabrication, it is possible to build an apartment building, city block or entire neighborhood in a third of the time needed with traditional methods.

You can use local raw materials and workers but save a lot in material consumption because up to 30% less steel, cement and concrete are needed.

Delivery of hollow core slab on site. (Photo: Elematic)

Prefabrication does not mean you need to forget design, aesthetics and structural stability. On the contrary, prefabricated structures can be used even in seismic areas.

Concrete facades allow for a gamut of surface treatments and can be coated with plaster or paint, brick, ceramic tiles, or natural stone.

Design possibilities are multiple with openings, balconies and filigree elements, which, by the way, also provide ventilation in hot areas.

Precast technology makes it possible to manage even mega-housing projects with highly competitive costs and schedules.

With precast building and design, expanding cities can provide people with affordable housing where they can learn, live, and grow in a healthy community.

How to establish a precast concrete plant

Ismo Kallio, VP of Sales at Elematic, a world-leading precast concrete production tech supplier, gives the following advice to anyone starting in the precast concrete business.

1.) Define the present and future needs for the production: the slab types, volume, and capacity.

Will you be producing precast wall elements, floors, piles, or non-load-bearing partition walls? Will the focus be on one specific slab type or will the plant provide a wider selection? These factors will affect the optimal factory layout, machinery, and floor area needed.

2.) Define plant capacity.

It is important to define this carefully as capacity affects the machinery, storage and logistics needed. It is also wise to think about future needs for capacity expansion and include them in the factory layout.

Wall panel installation. (Photo: Elematic)

When the need for higher volume capacity emerges, the machinery can be updated and more production lines can be added quickly and efficiently.

3.) Get to know the local laws, regulations, fees, documents and processes.

Some country-dependent recommendations and restrictions may concern the end use of the product, the construction processes, or environmental issues.

4.) Consider recruitment

What is the employee situation in the location? If the man-hour cost is reasonable and skilled personnel are available, a high level of automation may not be needed. If the man-hour cost is high or the plant is large, a high level of automation is often the most cost-efficient choice.

Watch testimonial from BSBK, India

Elematic precast plants enable high-quality production regardless of the automation level.

For example, the SEMI wall and floor lines with low levels of automation offer great value for money for start-up factories, with a capacity of up to 600 square metres per day.

For more information, please contact: marketing@elematic.com