Swiss based building industry giant Holcim plans to import and distribute lower carbon cement replacement products from a new Low Carbon Cement Replacement Facility currently under construction in Auckland echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The initiative was started well before the New Zealand government released an Emissions Reduction Plan in mid-May this year. Continue →

While digitalisation in the construction sector helps with the challenges of an increasingly competitive market, a by-product of this is attracting tech-savvy talent, Rob Bryant from InEight says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Historically, the construction industry has been slow to keep up with the pace of an advancing digital world. Continue →

While New Zealand construction companies are more likely to embrace technology and sustainability than their Australian counterparts, they are spending more time on rework or fixing defects, a Procore report reveals echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Procore’s How We Build Now report found that one in every six hours (16% of project time) is spent on rework – a clear sign of lost productivity in an industry facing challenging market conditions. Continue →

The addition of a cycleway to a 177 metre long bridge was the top project among 15 finalists at the SCNZ Excellence in Steel Awards echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The winners of the 2021 Steel Construction New Zealand (SCNZ) Excellence in Steel Awards were announced on 3 June at the Hilton Auckland, after an earlier postponement due to Covid-19. Continue →

Giving construction workers access to technology such as augmented reality (AR) will not only combat soaring resource costs, but help attract young people to construction roles, says GlobalData. Continue →

A revolutionary new plasterboard design incorporating seaweed could reduce the carbon footprint of building materials thanks to the work of a Canterbury student echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 21-year-old Bachelor of Product Design student Andy (Minhong) Park has developed a biocomposite wall panel that uses algae – or seaweed – as a bio-filler to help the building and construction industries become greener. Continue →

A builder walks into a room full of big-name property developers and asks them to stump up millions of dollars so his company can finish their projects. Continue →

Supply chain disruption and rising material costs are putting additional pressure on construction firms already stretched thin, with many now turning to digital solutions, says Payapps Chief Operating Officer Tony Simonsen echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); According to the latest New Zealand Core Logic data, construction costs in New Zealand have increased by 6.2 percent last year, largely due to rising commodity and raw material prices. Continue →

A government-funded initiative aims to create a future where timber is used more widely in mid to high rise buildings and contributes to carbon neutral targets echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service deputy director general Jason Wilson announced the launch at the WoodWorks conference, explaining that the Timber Design Centre aims to increase the use of timber, particularly in structures such as offices, hotels and multi-storey apartments. Continue →

The collapse of Australian construction firm Probuild is unfortunately just one of the many detrimental outcomes we can expect to see unless more is done to effectively manage risks, Felix Chief Executive Mike Davis says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Probuild will likely remain stalled for now, leading to more delays and cost overruns, compounding the adverse outcomes for owners, subcontractors, staff and significant ripple effects throughout the industry and wider community. Continue →

Organisations in construction are operating blindly against an evolving backdrop of supply chain risks and changing business landscape, due to a staggering lack of transparency, procurement platform Felix reveals in its Building in the Dark report echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The report, developed in collaboration with industry consultancy Entwine, uncovers critical industry need for more supply chain transparency and effective risk management. Continue →

The cost of both residential and non-residential construction rose more than 10% last year and similar forecasts are expected for 2022 according to the NZ Infrastructure Commission’s Quarterly report echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); “Infrastructure providers, property developers, and households are trying to build more than ever, but labour shortages, material supply chain bottlenecks, and Covid-induced slowdowns have gotten in the way,” says Commission Director of Economics, Peter Nunns. Continue →

Construction in most of New Zealand has been operating under the Orange setting of the Covid-19 protection framework – SiteSafe and CHASNZ have worked with the industry to develop protocols for operating under the Red setting echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Site Entry Keep a record of who is on site, and when, every day as you may be required to track back for contact tracing. Continue →

The Construction Sector Accord has published new guidance to support government buyers and industry suppliers in applying broader outcomes in construction procurement echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Broader outcomes are the additional benefits that can be achieved by the way a service, project or goods are produced or delivered. Continue →

We may have moved away from major lockdowns, but that doesn’t mean we are home free when it comes to avoiding the pandemic’s impact on construction projects, Civil Contractors New Zealand reports echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); There is still potential for Covid-19 cases to force mandatory site shutdowns. Continue →

Construction insolvencies made up a quarter of all business insolvencies in the country, spurred further by construction cost rises due to increased demand and supply shortages, the Australian Constructors Association finds Renee Mckeown – The Urban Developer echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); More needs to be done to increase productivity and reduce insolvencies before Australia’s infrastructure activity doubles to the projected $52 billion in 2023. Continue →

The adoption of 4.0 technologies in the construction industry will boost productivity and increase wages by billions, BERL research finds Dr Troy Coyle, HERA Chief Executive echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Construction 4.0 is the name applied to the technologies that are driving the next great industrial revolution, as applied to the construction sector. Continue →

CHASNZ has released a set of new protocols for the construction industry once New Zealand enters the new Covid-19 Protection Framework on December 3 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); A construction industry advisory group revised the previous COVID-19 Alert Level system construction protocols in response to the Government’s recently announced COVID-19 Protection Framework – also known as the Traffic Light system. Continue →

For over eighteen months, the construction sector has experienced unprecedented project delays, budget blowouts, and shortages of labour, says InEight EVP of APAC Rob Bryant echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); In Australia, construction site closures in New South Wales have contributed to timeline overruns, in addition to costing the building sector a conservative estimate of $1 billion per week in that state alone.    Continue →

A new study highlights the challenges we currently face around construction material supply and what needs to be done to overcome these challenges, says New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Chief Executive Ross Copland echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); New Zealand faces challenges in meeting demands for key construction materials for infrastructure, with a risk of delays to major projects. Continue →