British Offsite worked with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to help scope out Horizon, with mapping exercises, layout advice and used the existing Skyline facility to help inform its decisions on the production line. When working at full capacity in 2025, the new factory will look to deliver 110,000 linear metres of its UNIsystem with an aim of creating 4,000 homes per year.
Over 50 visitors from all parts of the building industry were shown around the new 180,000sq ft factory as part of the Explore Offsite factory tour programme. Horizon is the second British Offsite factory and follows on from its Skyline facility - both based in Braintree, Essex.
After a company overview presentation, visitors were given a full tour of the production floor so they could see for themselves how British Offsite are approaching a fabric first approach to building design. Launched in 2020, British Offsite are developing both a product and process driven model - central to this being a manufacturing mindset and the adoption of robotic technology. The sensor-guided robots 'transport, grab, cut, drill, nail, screw, weld, glue, fill, spray-paint' and are developed specifically for the construction sector to make and assemble the light gauge steel panels.
British Offsite opened the doors to its new state-of-the-art Horizon factory recently, to show visitors first-hand, how they are bringing robotics and streamlined production processes to panelised light gauge steel design.
The robotics ensure precision cutting and assembly for every component plus they reduce waste and damage through poor handling. This process is helped with multi-skilled operatives across the different stations working on the panels and monitoring them through the production line. The 'semi-autonomous' approach guarantees that products being manufactured offer high quality, repeatability and a reliable standardised panel. All panels are subject to rigorous testing and quality control with a 'hospital lane' carrying out any remedial work before panels are stored, wrapped and prepared for transport.
"We want to speed up our client's construction phase and help them realise the 20-30% programme savings and quicker return on investment that offsite delivers," said Richard Bacon, Business Development Manager. "You can build in many efficiencies through the manufacturing environment. Doing it in the factory makes perfect sense - we know we can deliver what we are saying we can deliver."
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