World´s Largest Fully Integrated Offsite Manufacturing Park, Now in India

01 Feb 2017 CW Team

´Columns, beams and slabs form the skeleton of a building,´ says Sumesh Sachar, CEO, KEF Infra, adding, ´These will be manufactured in our precast facility under a factory controlled environment.´ As soon as the drawing arrives and the details are fed into the machine, shuttering is done using robotics, and the pouring and curing are done at a controlled temperature. All information is further stored using Internet of Things (IoT) in order to be able to track everything about the build element. Also, KEF Infra opts for building information modelling (BIM) as a measuring and management system, and Sachar refers to it as a ´common lingo´ along all its factories. The offsite manufacturing technique is majorly robotic in nature, involving skilled workforce and state-of-the-art technology. And, adding to the advantage KEF will offer through this park, Sachar says, ´Everything is made to order. Once the design is approved, it gets into production, then transportation and finally assembly and installation.´

Undoubtedly, from an overall RoI perspective, the offsite manufacturing technique is cost effective and can reduce construction time by almost half. ´First, through our manufacturing facility, owing to our automation and pre-planning, I am able to produce a column faster. Also, the batching plant has the ability to deliver 6 million sq ft a year´ explains Sachar.

´I am also able to produce the beams and aluminium glazing windows faster owing to automation. Second, while concrete conventionally takes 21 days to cure, our process brings the curing period down to 12 hours. Third, the BIM and 3D modelling make work more efficient and faster.´

The park will have 10 manufacturing lines within five distinct units. To date, Rs 430 crore has been invested in its development; work on the stone factory is pending, which is expected to be completed by Q2FY17-18.

- SHRIYAL SETHUMADHAVAN

To share your views, write in at feedback@ConstructionWorld.in

One million sq ft and an investment of Rs 650 crore is what it will take to develop what is slated to be the world´s largest fully integrated offsite manufacturing park: KEF Infra One Industrial Park at Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu. ´Columns, beams and slabs form the skeleton of a building,´ says Sumesh Sachar, CEO, KEF Infra, adding, ´These will be manufactured in our precast facility under a factory controlled environment.´ As soon as the drawing arrives and the details are fed into the machine, shuttering is done using robotics, and the pouring and curing are done at a controlled temperature. All information is further stored using Internet of Things (IoT) in order to be able to track everything about the build element. Also, KEF Infra opts for building information modelling (BIM) as a measuring and management system, and Sachar refers to it as a ´common lingo´ along all its factories. The offsite manufacturing technique is majorly robotic in nature, involving skilled workforce and state-of-the-art technology. And, adding to the advantage KEF will offer through this park, Sachar says, ´Everything is made to order. Once the design is approved, it gets into production, then transportation and finally assembly and installation.´ Undoubtedly, from an overall RoI perspective, the offsite manufacturing technique is cost effective and can reduce construction time by almost half. ´First, through our manufacturing facility, owing to our automation and pre-planning, I am able to produce a column faster. Also, the batching plant has the ability to deliver 6 million sq ft a year´ explains Sachar. ´I am also able to produce the beams and aluminium glazing windows faster owing to automation. Second, while concrete conventionally takes 21 days to cure, our process brings the curing period down to 12 hours. Third, the BIM and 3D modelling make work more efficient and faster.´ The park will have 10 manufacturing lines within five distinct units. To date, Rs 430 crore has been invested in its development; work on the stone factory is pending, which is expected to be completed by Q2FY17-18. - SHRIYAL SETHUMADHAVAN To share your views, write in at feedback@ConstructionWorld.in