A self-contained mobile factory that produces steel frames for construction has been launched in Dubai by New Zealand company Framecad.

The Framecad Mobile Factory, dubbed ‘The Factory in a Can’, is housed in a modified 20ft shipping container, meaning it can be shipped, trucked or airlifted into any location and made operational within 24 hours of delivery.

With its own diesel generator and computer-operated production, the factory manufactures steel frames at the rate of 700 metres per hour.

“One major benefit is the manufacturing of pre-engineered structures that can be produced, assembled and maintained by a local labour force, even where skill levels are low and there is no reliable infrastructure,” said Mark Taylor, chairman of Framecad.

“Also, production is computer controlled so every piece of framing produced is numbered and coded so it can be easily assembled. “

“Another significant advantage is the mobile factory helps reduce construction costs because the framing is produced on site instead of having to be transported from a fixed facility.

“Transportation costs can also be a big factor when large projects are being developed in remote areas. With the mobile factory, you can get in and get the project started very quickly and of course, once the project is completed, the factory can be relocated to another site.

The mobile factory was originally designed for commercial building companies wanting to build multiple homes in large-scale developments. It has increasingly been used in disaster relief situations.

Tags : mobile factory, steel frame machines