Preparations for Berkeley Modular commencing manufacture are continuing apace, with the announcement that the company has invested in highly-specialised steel cold-forming machinery supplied by global leading manufacturer Howick.
New Zealand-based Howick will supply Berkeley Modular with two FRAMA 6800™ machines; these being dedicated to the manufacture of floor/ceiling channel and wall C channel. These Howick machines were selected as they offer unrivalled production and installation efficiency.
Both machines have been specified as per Berkeley Modular's requirements and have been designed to produce the floor/ceiling and wall C channel cassettes for incorporation in volumetric modular housing product, which will ultimately be supplied to schemes across the Berkeley Group.
Berkeley Modular selected Howick as a vendor due to the company's reputation for building machines with exceptional reliability and durability, but primarily because of guaranteed dimensional accuracy of parts - a crucial factor in Berkeley Modular's plan to produce a volumetric modular product solution that can be deployed to twenty storeys.
In addition to the quality of the machines themselves, Berkeley Modular was keen to ensure value for money and select a vendor who could provide excellent ongoing support and flexibility as an integral part of its offering as this will be key to the company's future success.
Unlike some steel cold-forming machinery suppliers, Howick's machinery can be used with any software system capable of generating a simple output file which was important to Berkeley Modular as it has been developing its own model-to-machine conversion rules. The machines can also be adapted as the manufacturing facility's needs change, with the option to further customise new tooling and develop software throughout their life cycle.
Howick's unparalleled service and support team will provide training to Berkeley Modular's operatives to ensure they're capable of undertaking the required maintenance to keep the machinery working to the highest possible standard. Howick also offers real-time and remote support, further reducing the likelihood of any production delays.
Dylan Kirschberg, Howick's regional manager UK & Europe, commented: "We're proud and excited to have been chosen as such a critical machinery supplier in Berkeley Modular's production chain. Berkeley's proposed approach to off-site manufacturing is both progressive and innovative, and we look forward to building a successful and prosperous working relationship together over many years to come."
Howick's machines are due to be delivered to Berkeley Modular's manufacturing facility in Northfleet, Kent later this year, ahead of manufacturing commencing in 2020.