Australia’s housing crisis is predicted to continue towards 2030, and prefabricated housing may hold the key. However, this presents another question: How best to handle such unusual loads across the supply chain?
Combilift has served Australia for over 20 years and its many innovations have benefited a range of industries. Now, as the cost of living rises, and housing becomes increasingly unaffordable, Combilift can help with the handling of prefabricated housing. Australia’s National Housing Supply and Affordability Council has predicted a total shortfall in housing supply of more than 39,000 dwellings by 2030. This has been influenced by factors such as skills shortages, lack of diversity in construction, climate, policy, interest rate rises, and lagging building approvals. Fortunately, prefabricated housing – the concept of constructing larger pieces like walls and roofing offsite for completion onsite – has the potential to mitigate several of these issues.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne have weighed in on this game-changing construction method. “Due to the diminishing availability of skilled labour and the demand for quicker construction, prefab is fast becoming a necessity more than an option,” says Dr Tharaka Gunawardena, a Principal Coordinator for the University’s Department of Infrastructure Engineering. “It can allow construction with minimum on-site congestion, waste generation and pollution by moving away from a labour-oriented onsite operation to a more process-oriented offsite manufacturing and assembly process.” However, the concept of prefabrication comes with its own issues, like the handling of significantly larger loads. This is where Combilift’s range can greatly benefit the construction industry. In fact, Combilift is already working with partners that provide modular housing solutions in Australia including Fleetwood in New South Wales, the Queensland government’s QBuild Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) program, and Offsite® in Western Australia. “We’ve been working with organisations in the modular housing space for several years already in Australia,” says Combilift Country Manager, Chris Littlewood.
“We make customised machines that can handle all types of loads, including bulky and oversized loads, and in many cases that has been key for those who need to move pre-fabricated, modular components.”
Combilift straddle carriers
The Combi-SC range has been specifically designed to handle modular components. This cost-effective and flexible large load handling solution enables fast return on investment for construction companies that are feeling the pinch. This model can handle entire portables, if need be, making the handling of single walls or roofing a relatively simple job. Whether moving about the warehouse or loading trucks outside, the Combi-SC can be easily manoeuvred to suit a range of applications. It’s lighter unladen weight of just 17-tonne make it extremely fuel efficient, contributing to the sustainable benefits of prefabrication mentioned above.
This machine is also well capable of handling precast concrete – the foundations of any home, prefabricated or not. Whether a business works with hollow core, concrete slabs, beams or pipes, the Combi-SC has the flexibility to accommodate the job. Get in touch with Combilift to customise your next straddle carrier for prefabricated construction.
