"The motivation of Cementos Argos to present this innovation of concrete modules to the market lies in seeking, together with the builders, processes of improvement in productivity and greater efficiency. In addition, thanks to the geometry and finishing with which the elements remain, the houses are more comfortable and the Colombians who access this type of construction enjoy better homes, thus creating social value", said Tomás Restrepo, Vice President of the Colombian Region.
With this alternative, the company expands its portfolio of products and services with a solution of modular design, production, transportation, and on-site assembly of concrete modules for buildings. In this way, its customers can focus their efforts on other relevant aspects of the construction process, while Argos provides its experience and technical advice throughout the whole cycle of the building structure.
One of the main differences with the traditional system is that the manufacturing of the building is moved to a production plant and, with this, the risks and the number of externalities to which a construction project is subject, such as climatic conditions, are reduced.
Being able to move construction into the controlled environment of a production plant allows the amount of waste to be reduced, sustainability practices to be improved, material inventories to be minimised, and administrative processes to be alleviated. Among others, these are the benefits of using the modular system of ready-mix panels:
- Time: greater efficiency during the production process.
- Reduction of costs.
- Logistics: ease of delivery planning and reduction of unforeseen events
- Health and Safety: greater process security
- Labour: higher productivity during construction
- Finishes: production-controlled elements with more versatility
- Cleaning: cleaner works and less waste
- Inventories: reduction of raw materials on site
- Quality assured from the production plant
The countries that have managed to break the productivity barrier in construction have done so through off-site construction processes, as is the case in Japan, China, or the Scandinavian countries. In addition, in countries such as Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States, public policies have been implemented to favour these construction systems so that households have access to higher quality housing. This constructive practice, more industrialised, efficient, and technological, may be applied in all segments of buildings and infrastructure. However, this new line of business is initially focused on the construction of social interest housing.
