M&E and components targeted for demo projects

by Kathy Watson

Projects involving mechanical and electrical and building component innovations are to be the targets of the next wave of demonstration projects by the Movement for Innovation (M4I).

They are also seeking to plug the gaps in the 84 projects currently under scrutiny by getting new demonstration projects in the North of England and Scotland. Innovations in contracts valued at under half a million pounds are also being sought.

Thus far the total value of demonstration projects now underway exceeds £3 billion, six times the amount envisaged by Sir John Egan when he launched his report "Rethinking Construction" last year, which spawned M4I. Almost a quarter are in the transport sector (54 per cent by value) with a fifth from the water industry (20 per cent by value) and one in ten in the retail sector (2 per cent).

Most demonstration projects are in the South with 22 per cent in London, and 18 per cent in the Southern Home Counties and the South. The North-east and East Midlands accounted for 16 per cent and South Wales and the West Country (13 per cent).

They were selected because of their focus on four key areas for improvement: product development, project implementation, partnering the supply chain, production of components.

"The projects already involved are reaping enormous benefits from their involvement," said Ian Huntingdon, M4I director. "The real innovation is coming from the way the industry is starting to talk to each other and share knowledge."

Terrapin has scored an early success in its off site prefabrication demonstration project involving a new way of crimping steel joints so that they lie flush with the surface. The new method was used on a five storey hospital block in Kingston, Surrey and will now be used by German car maker, Audi.