The winning project uses a novel concept to produce structural components for prefabricated homes using polyurethane sandwich panels.
Polyurethane (PUR) has been used for many years to insulate homes and industrial premises; now, for the first time, we re using it in combination with lightweight wood panels as a structural element in prefabricated homes, explained Jens Kompe, sales manager for construction at KraussMaffei.
Floor, wall and roofing elements are produced continuously on an industrial scale. Drastically reducing the number of elements to a few large components with standardised connectors has reduced the many steps necessary to erect the house on-site, claims KraussMaffei, keeping the cost of on-site construction as low as possible.
This is a frameless construction based on lightweight but very stable PUR elements with 150 mm insulation, added Kompe.
Manufacturing cost, production time and on-site construction time are all sharply reduced. The concept has already been implemented in Eastern Europe, where a line with two double-belt presses is producing sandwich panels 3,200 mm wide.
The first prefabricated houses are due to be delivered towards the end of 2010.
China Chemical Weekly: http://news.chemnet.com/en/detail-1411716.html
