Munich, September 22, 2010 – The Foamed Plastics and Polyurethane Industry Association (FSK) chose KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH and LB Engineering GmbH to receive its Innovation Award 2010 in the category Company / Design. The specific project that attracted the attention of the jury panel was a completely new concept to produce components and build prefabricated homes using PUR sandwich panels.
A wealth of benefits with lightweight, but very stable PUR system elements
“Polyurethane (PUR) has been used for years to insulate homes and industrial premises, now for the first time we’re successfully using it, in combination with lightweight wood panels, as a structural element in prefabricated homes,” explains Jens Kompe, Sales Manager, Construction Business Area at KraussMaffei. The new concept sees the homes being constructed off-site using floor, wall and roofing elements produced continuously on an industrial scale. Sharply reducing the number of elements to a few, large system elements with standardized connectors has reduced the many steps necessary to erect the house on-site. This keeps the cost of on-site construction as low as possible. “This is a frameless construction based on lightweight, but very stable, PUR system elements with 150 mm insulation to ensure outstanding insulating properties. These prefab houses look very much like traditional prefabricated houses,” summed up Kompe. Manufacturing cost, production time and on-site construction time are all sharply reduced.
First production line operating in Eastern Europe
“The concept has already been put into practice; 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 the year,” says Kompe, who sees growing demand for this approach all over the world. Current figures for world population growth and increasing urbanization will result in escalating demand for adequate living accommodation in emerging economies and third world countries. “On the one hand, this system can be used to build low cost housing in urban slums, on the other hand in Eastern Europe an expanding middle class is interested in solid and affordable homes in standard designs. The new prefabricated house concept, which uses KraussMaffei’s innovative technology, can help to meet this demand.
Corporate profile Lasselsberger Engineering
LB Engineering GmbH, based in Pöchlarn, Austria, is a company in the Lasselsberger group. In recent years, LB Engineering has built a reputation as a development partner for companies in the ceramics, building materials, construction and raw materials industries, both within the Lasselsberger group and outside it. The company’s engineering services are focused on research and development for customer-specific needs and requirements. Its specialists generate ideas, optimize processes and develop technologies in order to realize projects meeting the highest technical criteria. The know-how of specialized and experienced employees drives the development and implementation of innovative ideas. For its customers, LB Engineering GmbH is a highly competent and reliable partner, offering engineering services for the ceramics, building materials, construction and raw materials industries.
Joint winner of the Innovation Award 2010
Award from FSK Industry Association
EPS-Download: Joint winner of the Innovation Award 2010
