A joint venture of FRAMECAD and NZ Transportable Units has been awarded a major tender issued by the New Zealand Department of Building and Housing. The tender requires the construction of 300 temporary accommodation units for those affected by the Christchurch earthquake of 22nd February this year.

Out of 226 tender submissions, FRAMECAD’s joint venture with NZ Transportable Units Limited was one of the three successful proposals.

FRAMECAD CEO, Mark Taylor, said: “We are both proud and pleased we can assist directly and tangibly in Christchurch’s recovery. It’s a terrible situation clearly requiring immediate attention to what remains still very desperate need.

“Importantly though for the people of Christchurch and the NZ Government, FRAMECAD allow the quickest possible construction of dwellings.

“Our technology creates light-weight steel frames on-site: for immediate use. They are made rapidly and precisely to spec meaning this temporary housing is completed and available for occupancy as quickly as possible for Christchurch residents in need.”

FRAMECAD and the joint venture will deliver in Christchurch:

• a construction system that is fast and flexible
• units that can be readily placed on existing house sites allowing home owners to live ‘on-site’ in comfort while their homes are being re-constructed
• accommodation that is well built, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable: ready to ‘plug and play’ quickly after they arrive on site
• housing that is durable, safe and an environmentally responsible choice
• a cost effective housing solution: important for the Government and tax payers.

Local Benefits

Mark Taylor underlined that, through the joint venture, FRAMECAD was keenly looking to ‘put back’ as much into the ‘distressed’ local community and economy as we possibly can. “We know that recovery requires a breadth of support. So, while completing this tender FRAMECAD will also be focused on bringing about other local benefits where we can. For example via:

• use of local suppliers and employees wherever practical
• training or up-skilling local trades people to work with the joint venture in manufacturing, assembling and erecting the new temporary housing units
• seeking to set up operations in Christchurch in association with local businesses.”

As part of the joint venture, FRAMECAD will provide:

• estimating, detailing and engineering services
• a 12.2 m (40 foot) FIAC (Mobile Factory) F300i stand-alone roll-forming machine which delivers high quality, high volume output of light-weight steel trusses and frames ready for assembly on site
• a machine operator to be located in Christchurch

Tags : accommodation, Christchurch, earthquake, Government