Australian developer Lendlease has opened a division that aims to combine smart design and advanced manufacturing systems to create building components for use in its projects.
According to the company, DesignMake will provide high-quality, innovative and sustainable products that respond to market demand.
Tarun Gupta, Lendlease’s chief executive for property, said there was a push in the property industry for safer, more sustainable and more efficient forms of construction. Â
He said: "Like other sectors, the construction and property industry is changing, mainly driven by technology, urbanisation, the need for greater sustainability and the increasing complexity and size of projects. Innovative technologies, such as design for manufacture and assembly, can drive improvements in each of these areas, while delivering a high quality product for the end user.
"With a shift to smart design and advanced manufacturing processes, we are enhancing safety by taking high-risk activities into a controlled factory setting, and improving logistics at building sites with fewer vehicles movements and a reduced disruption to surrounding communities."
DesignMake’s 15,000 square metre factory will be built in western Sydney and be operational in late 2016. It will focus on engineered timber products, such as cross-laminated timber, with the intention of using them instead of concrete, masonry or steel.
It will feature several production lines adaptable to other materials and products such as wall, floor components and full modular designs.
In May this year Lendlease rebranded.
