Unlocking the potential growth of Australia’s prefabricated building industry.

The ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing is the centrepiece for collaborative, eco-friendly, prefabricated housing research in Australia, striving to deliver breakthrough product and process innovations that will enable the Australian housing industry to compete on a global stage.

The centre aims to unlock the potential growth of Australia’s prefabricated building industry by creating a co-operative training system between industry and universities leading to local employment growth and increased exports of prefabricated products and services.

Administered by the University of Melbourne, and led by Prof Priyan Mendis and Assoc Prof Tuan Ngo from Department of Infrastructure Engineering, the Centre brings together a highly collaborative venture involving four universities and twelve industry partners.

This initiative, which has attracted funding of $6M over four years, including significant investment from the Australian Research Council, is testament to the critical importance of this industry in Australia, and demonstrates the value that both industry and government place in collaborative, cross-disciplinary research.

Partners

Australian Research Council

The ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing acknowledges the generous support from the Australian Research Council through its Industrial Transformations Research Programme, which offers a suite of funding schemes attractive to both university-based researchers and industries.

TheARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing was awarded $4M in funding, under the Industrial Transformation Research scheme, which has the following objectives:

Encourage collaborative Research and Development projects to address challenging industry issues solved through innovative research relevant to the Industrial Transformation Priorities
Attract investment from the global and international business community by underpinning internationally-recognised excellence of Australian universities and their industry partners
Leverage private and international investment in targeted industry sectors

Find out more about the ARC and its programs

Collaborating organisations

Collaborating partners

PrefabAUS is the Peak Industry body for prefabrication in Australia. We are passionate about the role of prefabrication in transforming our built environment, such as decreasing construction time frames and construction waste while increasing quality, productivity and affordability. We believe there is an exciting future for Australia’s building prefabrication industry. Become a PrefabAUS member.

PrefabAUS

Prebuilt integrates efficient, economical, design-led architecture with Australian modular prefab construction. Whether we are creating a modest country weekender or a landmark home in an expensive street, each of our prefab homes is architect-designed, built undercover and transported in modules across Australia. Prebuilt will change your mind about prefabricated houses

PREBUILT

Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA) is a not-for-profit company that provides national, integrated research and development services to the Australian forest and wood products industry. FWPA supports research and development that promotes internationally competitive and environmentally sustainable practices.

Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA)

Habitech Systems is an Australian owned venture established in 2008, with headquarters in Melbourne. The company has invested in extensive research, development and testing of the Habitech modular building system, for the Australian market. Our innovative building design technology is driven by sustainability, taking advantage of environmentally-friendly materials and processes.

Habitech Systems

EnviroSIP — the strong, light-weight, fire resistant panels that deliver exceptional value and are available in sizes to meet almost any need. Designed and manufactured to the exacting demands of the Building Code of Australia, EnviroSIP products stand the test of time and look good too.

Enviro SIP

Timber Building Systems (TBS) is a unique and revolutionary post tensioned pre-manufactured building system. The technology provides our clients with a sustainable solution, fast turnaround, exceptional architectural design flexibility, high quality, unparalleled customer service, and lower overall costs. TBS’s patented building assembly system provides wood-based integrated flat pack panels that include structural as well as plumbing and electrical service elements.

Timber Building Systems (TBS)

The Australian Reinforcing Company (ARC) is one of Australia’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of steel reinforcing and fencing products and services. Our history virtually mirrors the growth of Australia since 1920, when The Australian Reinforced Concrete Engineering Company (ARC) was formed in Sunshine, Victoria. We have a diverse range of products and customers and value the relationships with our employees, customers and suppliers.

The Australian Reinforcing Company (ARC)

Formerly known as BHA Project Management, Sensum is a leader in modern construction project management, delivering bespoke services and cutting-edge solutions for our clients.

Our unique background in both project management and design qualifies us as an industry leader in modern construction solutions. We specialise in inherently complex infrastructure projects which include the diverse needs of multiple stakeholders, tight delivery time frames and/or budgetary constraints.

Sensum consists of an agile team of highly motivated and experienced staff dedicated to providing a unique and personalised project management service to our clients. Our collaborative team brings a wealth of varied perspectives and construction knowledge from trade, commercial construction, property development, public sector and business administration backgrounds.

Sensum

Rockend is a Property Software Solutions Provider. They provide innovative, reliable and easy to use property management software, strata management software, document management software and real estate trust accounting software. Their 35 years in business confirms that reliable, functionally rich software is important for any business, however of greater significance is choosing a partner committed to the industry, support, education and the ongoing development of the solution.

Rockend

Fleetwood is a market leader throughout Australia in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of permanent modular buildings with manufacturing operations in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Fleetwood work off a volumetric system that allows for greater economies of scale to be achieved along with providing clients with speed of delivery plus an environmentally friendly and flexible solution.

Fleetwood

XLam offer a ‘total building solutions’ package including design/engineering, manufacture/supply and construction/project management and installation services. XLam realise that the most important component of any project is the management of ‘risk’, specifically deadline management – managing a task or an activity that needs to be accomplished within a defined period of time (or by a deadline).

XLam

Bondor® is Australia’s leader in complete thermal building solutions and lightweight architectural panels. More than just the leading manufacturer of insulated panels, Bondor® has unrivaled experience in design assistance and construction.

Bondor

Research

Research Programs

Innovation in design and enhanced end user experience
Advanced building systems and assembly
Novel materials and composite structures
Supply chain and financing innovation

People

News and events

21 June 2018

National Association of Steel-Framed Housing

Ken Watson, Executive Director of NASH presented to the Centre group on NASH’s activities, the benefits of building with steel, current innovations, NASH’s contributions to the steel industry including NASH design standards, research activities undertaken in partnership with universities and other research organisations, and a series of case studies. This event also provided the opportunity for the CAMPH research team to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities for light-gauge steel in prefabricated construction that affect designers, fabricators, builders and suppliers.

21 June 2018

Growing an idea into a multimillion dollar business

Neil Despotellis is an innovator, builder and small business entrepreneur, as well as Founder and Inventor of Surefoot Footings. Neil provided a presentation to the Centre on the many lessons learned from his involvement in Surefoot. This included a discussion about inventing, patenting, running and selling Surefoot which has become an international venture operating in Europe, China, New Zealand and Oceania. Central to Neil’s presentation was the close collaboration with research organisations including the University of Melbourne. The presentation included not only Neil’s experience in developing a highly successful business, but also a technical discussion covering a disruptive footing technology including efficiency, speed of installation, price, among others.

21 June 2018

Seismic performance of steel structures

Mr Keunwoo Lee, PhD student visiting from the University of Sydney, provided a presentation to the technical group on his two Master degrees that investigated the seismic performance of steel structures. His presentation included a discussion on mid-rise modular structures including cyclic testing for connections, as well as numerical investigations of the seismic behaviour of steel haunch joint. The feedback received from the Centre is helping to shape Keunwoo’s research topic for his PhD.

10 May 2018

Patently Creating Value

The Centre technical group received a presentation from Ruth Feltoe—Specialist Lawyer, Legal Services at the University of Melbourne. The presentation explored the pathway to commercialisation, different forms of Project IP and information relating to patents. This presentation was relevant to many research projects in CAMPH that seek impact through real world application.

21 March 2018

Seminars on: Growing Chile’s prefab industry and Blockchain

The CAMPH team has regular fortnightly meetings at the University of Melbourne. At the last meeting, presentations were provided by:
Ms Alejandra Cortes on the energy context of building and construction and public policies, programs and prefab initiatives in Chile. Alejandra is a Lecturer and Researcher at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning in the University of Chile.
Dr Bill Humphries on Blockchain: enabling BIM, IoT and supply chain transparency in the prefabrication construction sector.

8 March 2018

Seminar on ‘Strategies to progress in academia’

Prof Jamie Evans, Deputy Dean (Academic) in the Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne provided an inspiring and entertaining presentation to CAMPH early career researchers, post docs and PhD students on ‘Strategies to progress in academia.’

27 February 2018

CAMPH acoustics presentations

The CAMPH team has regular fortnightly meetings at the University of Melbourne. During the latest meeting there were a series of presentations on the theme of “acoustics”. Presentations were provided by Dr Phil Christopher and PhD candidate Sareh Naji on acoustic modelling. A presentation on in-situ acoustic testing was provided by Dr Amitha Jayalath, and PhD candidate Bernie Gibson presented on a novel approach to attenuate sound in multi-storey timber buildings.

14 February 2018

Building the Prefab schools of the future

Prefab technology is driving the development of new classrooms in Australia that are a world away from the old “portables” you may remember.

Read the full article on the Pursuit website …

9 January 2018

The future is prefabricated

Commonly used in much of Europe, prefabrication is a more environmentally sustainable and socially beneficial way to build, and it’s taking off in Australia too.

Read the full article on the Pursuit website …

26 September 2017

CAMPH workshop 2017

CAMPH ran a highly successful workshop on the 14th of September at the University of Melbourne which was an opportunity for CAMPH Chief Investigators, Partner Investigators, Partner representatives, postdoctoral research fellows and PhD students to come together to discuss research in progress, explore opportunities for collaboration, and to plan the future of CAMPH.

An update on activities during the first 12-months of the Centre was provided, followed by guest presentations by Dr Kirsi Jarnerö and Dr Mikael Ludvigsson (Smart Housing – Sweden), Ms Joyce Ferng (Associate Director ANZ Modular Lead – AECOM), and a round table discussion including Dr John Stehle (Director of Advanced Science and Engineering, KPMG), Ms Joyce Ferng and Dr Jonathan Barnett (Technical Director, RED Fire Engineers). The afternoon session included 20 presentations by CAMPH postdoc research fellows and PhD candidates, including video presentations from interstate and Sweden.

The workshop improved collaboration among the large CAMPH team and strengthened research in the many projects being run within the Centre.

31 August 2017

Professor Priyan Mendis and Dr Kate Nguyen invited onto leading international tall building working group

Professor Priyan Mendis and Dr Kate Nguyen from the Department of Infrastructure Engineering have been invited to join the special working group on Fire and Facades with the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). They are the only Australian representatives on this Working Group.

Read the full article …

4 July 2017

Symposium: Aftermath of Grenfell Tower Fire: Are Australian Buildings safe?

4.30–6.30pm 4 July 2017

The Grenfell tower event one of the worst disasters in the world, which has touched many lives. Australian cities will especially be affected as our population is concentrated in urban cities and many medium-rise and high-rise buildings have been constructed with non-compliant products.

In London, lives have been lost and many people have been hospitalised, and the burnt blackened tower has left an important question mark on fire safety and fire protection systems in buildings. It is assured that help is being given to all the homeless survivors, but this catastrophic fire is a tragic warning for the occupants, developers, architects, engineers and all people involved in the construction industry in Australia and around the world. Unfortunately, the Grenfell Tower fire is very severe as the combined effects of many critical factors of fire safety amplified the damage.

20 December 2016

Built Offsite: a new publication for the prefab construction industry

Australia’s building industry is on the precipice of deep structural change and offsite construction is at the very heart of that process. Prefabrication or offsite construction is changing the way buildings are designed and built. By 2020 the offsite building sector is forecast to account for 10% of all GDP construction; a figure in today’s statistics that represents $3.2 billion. Built Offsite magazine gives process a voice and will bind the industry together in a sharp, well-written and researched voice that is published to be used.

Built Offsite is published bi-monthly six times per year, and is available in one and two year subscriptions.

10 November 2016

ARC CAMPH officially launched

Senator Scott Ryan officially launched the ARC Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing (CAMPH) on 4 November at The University of Melbourne. Attended by around 130 representatives from industry and research, the proceedings also included presentations by Centre Director Prof Priyan Mendis, Research Director Assoc Prof Tuan Ngo, University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Prof Davis, ARC Executive Director Dr Cameron, Partner Investigator Tom Vassos and Centre Chief Investigator Prof Colin Duffield. Following the official proceedings, the Centre’s postdoc and PhD students provided displays showcasing the research and training activities currently in progress.

The overwhelming message was that Australia’s building industry needs to innovate, collaborate and transform to meet the demands on the 21st Century including the growing need for affordable housing. The Centre is working with industry to develop innovative solutions for a broad spectrum of projects to promote prefabricated construction.

10 November 2016

ARC CAMPH Research and Training Committee workshop

The Centre’s Research and Training Committee assembled on 4 November following the official Centre launch. Collaborating Organisations include The University of Melbourne, The University of Sydney, Monash University and Curtin University. Collaborating Partners include prefabAUS, Amoveo, ARC Reinforcing Co, CIMC, EnviroSIP, FWPA, Habitech, Kirk Architect, Modulum Homes, Prebuilt, Tektum and Timber Building Systems.

An afternoon workshop for the Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators of the Centre’s Research and Training Committee explored opportunities for collaboration and strategies to advance the Australian prefab industry. The discussion covered the many innovative research projects being undertaken by the postdoc and PhD students.

20 October 2016

ARC-CAMPH at prefabAUS 2016 conference

The ARC Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing is proud to have been a part of the prefabAUS 2016 conference. Hosted by the University of Sydney (Collaborating Organisation to the ARC Centre) the conference was an opportunity for leading minds from Australia and abroad to come together to share insights and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The conference included presentations by Centre Research Director Assoc Prof Tuan Ngo, Centre Industry Engagement representative and prefabAUS Chairman Damien Crough, and PhD candidate Mr Tharindu Samarasinghe.

The ARC Centre congratulates prefabAUS (Collaborating Partner to the Centre) on this year’s highly successful event and looks forward to participating in future conferences.

22 September 2016

Research Director presenting at 2016 prefabAUS conference

Research Director Associate Professor Tuan Ngo will be presenting at the upcoming prefabAUS conference on the topic of “Latest innovations and R&D activities in prefabricated building construction”. The 2016 prefabAUS conference is exploring the theme of ‘Delivering next generation buildings’ and is being held at The University of Sydney from 10–12 October.

22 September 2016

Modular and Offsite Construction Summit, 29 September – 1 October, Canada

The Industry Engagement Manager of the ARC-CAMPH Training Centre and Founding Director and Board Chair of PrefabAUS, Mr Damien Crough, will be providing a keynote speech at the Modular and Offsite Construction Summit in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The title of Damien’s keynote speech is “Changing perceptions of prefabrication through research and collaboration”. The presentation will examine how prefab has evolved, including via technologies borrowed from the automotive and aerospace industries, to build modern building systems.

30 March 2016

Presentations at Modular Construction & Prefabricated Construction ANZ 2016

The ARC-CAMPH was well represented at the 2016 Modular Construction & Prefabricated Construction ANZ conference held between 30–31 March in Sydney. Research Director, Assoc Prof Tuan Ngo provided a keynote address on “Challenges and innovations in designing for resilient and sustainable prefabricated modular buildings”. Industry Engagement Manager, Mr Damien Crough provided a presentation titled “Research and collaboration as the key enabler to industry growth”. Warren McGregor, CEO of prefabAUS also provided a keynote address on “Offsite construction isn’t waiting for you — so you’d better be ready”. The conference provided an opportunity for focused discussions on how modern methods of construction can achieve productivity breakthroughs and accelerate delivery.

15 August 2016

PrefabAUS and ARC-CAMPH welcomes BCA Singapore

prefabAUS and the ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing (CAMPH) welcomed a large delegation of representatives from Singapore’s Building & Construction Authority. An afternoon workshop and evening networking event provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the latest technologies and strategies to boost productivity, improve quality and safety in the construction industry through modular construction. The discussion provided a tremendous knowledge-sharing opportunity and helped establish a commitment to ongoing international collaboration.

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