The 165-unit development at Tile Hill in Coventry, England, is touted as the first and largest modular project undertaken in that city.
WITH a track record of some 30 years in manufacturing and delivering modular projects globally, homegrown company Petra Modular will be taking the leap to start manufacturing operations in the United Kingdom with sustainability at the forefront.
The UK government announced recently that the Petra Group will invest £30mil (RM171.2mil) in establishing the Petra Modular business in the UK for the production of sustainable modular homes.
Having already established a footprint there, Petra Modular UK production facilities will begin operations by year end with the aim to reduce its carbon footprint by 85% as shipping finished products would no longer be required.
‘We want to develop net-zero carbon homes which eradicate fuel poverty by introducing some of the most energy-efficient homes in the UK,’ says Rick Singh.
According to Petra Modular managing director Rick Singh, the move is key in ensuring the most energy- efficient build process and also supports growth to areas in which the company operates.
“We want to develop net-zero carbon homes which eradicate fuel poverty by introducing some of the most energy-efficient homes in the UK.”
He opines that acceptance plays a key role in its expansion plans.
“The reception for modern methods of construction in the UK differs significantly compared to the Asian market.
“While we are still in the awareness stage in Asia, modern methods of construction such as modular are actually the preferred method in the UK.
“There is no learning curve or awareness-building activities that need to be undertaken and the market there will vouch for modular technology as they have experienced the benefits firsthand,” he adds.
When it comes to bringing sustainability overseas, Rick shares that consistency is key.
“Consistency equates to credibility. One thing about Petra Modular is that we always make sure that our buildings are of the same build quality wherever in the world we erect them.
“Our customers in Malaysia must experience the same quality and bang for their buck as our customers in Australia or the UK. That is only possible through stringent yet agile processes that Petra Modular implements throughout our projects,” he says.
Global Petra
Petra Modular, a wholly-owned subsidiary under Petra Eco Build, is one of the largest modular building companies in the Asia Pacific outside China.
It builds modular homes that are affordable, versatile and are of the highest quality that are environmentally sound using intellectual proprietary (IP) technologies which originated from Japan.
Modular building technology has evolved in its focus on sustainability and energy-efficient homes.
Through its parent company which believes strongly in environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles, it has gained a presence all around the world, with manufacturing facilities located in Malaysia, the UK and Australia.
“The modular construction method for houses is fast becoming the preferred method of construction as it is up to 50% more efficient (with savings on energy and resources), compared to the conventional construction method.
“Building offsite in a factory-disciplined environment ensures controlled construction and quality management with less pollution compared to onsite construction,” Rick says.
While the initial perception of modular buildings worldwide was not the preferred method, he says, this perception has changed with improved technology.
“At Petra Modular we have been able to develop robust buildings that have been tested to withstand earthquakes and cyclonic winds of over 200km/hr,” he adds.
The need for modular
Modular building technology has evolved in its focus on sustainability and energy-efficient homes and is touted as more robust and comparable to conventionally-built structures.
“Also, the availability and use of recycled materials for buildings have improved tremendously. We now have greater options in terms of ‘look and design’ and the finishing options available as well as the technology to convert them into modern smart homes,” he says.
Extolling the many benefits of modular technology, Rick also shares that modular construction is on a fixed timeline and all costs are accounted for upfront in a controlled environment.
“Some may say that this is also applicable to conventional methods of construction, yet we have seen many delayed or unfinished projects in our lifetime.
“With modular, the precise constituent parts-led nature of the process of assembling a modular structure can set realistic expectations for construction timelines.
“Accounting for materials down to the precise number of steel beams and other requisite materials, all measured and cut in-house, also ensures that the owner is not confronted with surprise costs.”
He adds that precision engineering is possible in a controlled factory environment and ensures that all inconsistencies are identified and rectified before units leave the factory floor.
Furthermore, preparing the site and building individual modules can occur simultaneously, requiring less personnel, less site traffic, and fewer accidents incurred by too many people and too much heavy machinery during the building process which can be seen often in conventional construction, he adds.
“In an age of increased consciousness surrounding the environmental impacts of industrial activity and needless resource depletion in the notoriously energy-intensive construction sector, modular construction has the capacity to reduce waste, energy and water throughout the building process as well as utilise less carbon-intensive materials,” he says.
Petra looking forward
Rick believes that Petra Modular has always positioned itself with a global presence.
“We have a genuine and a healthy obsession to bring this technology to the world because we know the benefits and we know how much it can change the world for the better.
“Besides Asia and our current expansion into Europe, we have an expansion plan into North America and Oceania,” he says.
Aside from the upcoming manufacturing plant in Birmingham UK, the company also has a manufacturing facility in Western Australia and New South Wales.
“Now, orders from around the world need not be fulfilled solely from our facility in Teluk Gong, Klang, but can be serviced from other facilities as well.
“Best practices are not just the hallmarks of modular technology but of business operations as well,” he says.
Community engagement
The company aims to be an active participant in the markets it operates in through community engagement, by providing affordable and sustainable housing and also local job opportunities.
“This includes tie-ups with vocational and technical colleges near the manufacturing facilities to provide skill development programmes for the youth.
“Ultimately, we want to develop local talent to be able to manage all our manufacturing businesses independently and also provide long-term employment opportunities within the group,” he adds.
For more information on Petra Modular and its upcoming projects, visit petramodular.com.
