Our DfMA expertise is 18 years in the making.
This depth of experience means we understand the suitability of different systems for your specific project, without bias to one particular type.
Why choose DfMA?
Quality: Factory conditions impose greater quality control.
Accuracy: What you see on the drawings is what you get.
Safety: Safer and less disruptive construction sites.
Sustainability: Less waste. Greater efficiency in site logistics.
Speed: Shorter assembly time. Reduced programmes. Increased programme certainty.
Lower assembly cost: Fewer parts. Decreased onsite labour.
Inclusivity: Factory employment creates a more diverse workforce.
What is DfMA?
Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is an approach that focusses on the ease of manufacture and efficient assembly of buildings and their parts.
Design for Manufacture
Volumetric Modular
Definition
3D modules creating a whole room are manufactured in factory conditions with finished walls, floors, ceilings, fittings and services. They are then transported and assembled on site in completed form.
Construction methods
Timber Frame Volumetric Modules, Light Weight Steel Frame Volumetric Modules, Precast Concrete Volumetric Modules, Hollow Section Volumetric Modules, CLT Volumetric Modules
Other industry terminology
MMC Type 1, Modular, Containerised, Recycled shipping container, Portable accommodation, Industrialised building
Panelised Systems
Definition
Flat panels are produced in factory and assembled on site to produce a 3D structure.
Construction methods
Light Gauge Steel Frame (LGSF), Pre-cast Concrete Panel, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), Open (Cell) Panel Timber Frame, Closed Panel Timber Frame, Glulam, SIPs, Curtain Walling
Other industry terminology
MMC Type 2, Non volumetric pre-assembly, System build, Stick build system, Flat pack assemblies, Frame systems
Prefab Frames & Cassettes
Definition
Approaches that fall short of being classified as offsite but utilise factory fabricated innovative sub-assemblies or components in with traditional or MMC structural fabric.
Construction methods
Prefabricated foundations, Floors cassettes, Roof cassettes, Pre-assembled roof
Other industry terminology
MMC Type 3, Pre-assembled component, Modular component, Prefabricated component
Pods & Assemblies
Definition
Volumetric pods and assemblies are typically the highly serviced areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, M&E cupboards and risers. They are volumetric but not load-bearing.
Construction methods
Light Steel Frame Pods, Hollow Section Steel Pods, Timber Frame Pods, Pre-cast Concrete Pods, GRP Pods
Other industry terminology
MMC Type 5, Volumetric pre-assembly, Pods, Semi volumetric, Serviced room pods, Prefabricated pods.
Design for Assembly
3D Printing
Definition
Computer controlled sequential layering of materials to create 3D shapes and structures.
Construction methods
Robotic printed concrete wales, Printed steel structure nodes, 3D printed bricks
Other industry terminology
MMC Type 4, Construction 3D printing, Contour crafting, Additive manufacture
Components & Products
Definition
The advancement of traditional building products into system based manufacture and installation. The innovations must lead to improved site quality and reduced labour requirements.
Construction methods
Brick slip systems, Thin joint blockwork, Wiring looms, Permanent insulated concrete formwork, Smart lighting systems
Other industry terminology
MMC Type 6, Product led innovation, Component manufacture, Material innovation, Product systems
Site Processes
Definition
The innovation of the site processes that lead to improved quality, reduced labour requirements and efficiency in productivity. Usually achieved through digital innovation, collaboration and investment in new styles of machinery.
Construction methods
Flying or pop-up factories, 3D point clouds, Digital twinning, Site robotics, Drone surveys + photography, Drone assembly, Augmented Reality, 4D (time)
Other industry terminology
MMC Type 7, Smart construction, Agile construction, Digital construction
Our DfMA timeline
We’ve done it all.
2004
Alexandra Works
Student Living
Plymouth
Modular Volumetric
Unite Modular Systems
2007
Phoenix Court
Student Living
Bristol
Modular Volumetric
Unite Modular Systems
2010
Treglown Court
Stride Treglown Office
Cardiff
Panelised Glulam, SIP
BREEAM ‘Excellent’
2010
Holloway Road
Student Living
London
Modular Volumetric
Unite Modular Systems
2012
Dorset House
Student Living
Oxford
Modular Volumetric
Berkeley Homes
2012
Brunswick House
Student Living
Cambridge
Modular Volumetric
McLaren Construction
2014
The Quads
Student Living
Bath
Precast concrete
University of Bath
2015
Royal College of Music
Student Living
London
Modular Volumetric
Balfour Beatty
2015
Locking Parklands
Residential
Weston-super-Mare
SIP
St Modwen
2016
Sainsbury’s Weymouth
Retail
Weymouth
Glulam, SIP
Sainsbury’s
2016
Green Park House
Student Living
Bath
Modular Volumetric
Berkeley Homes
2017
Hampton by Hilton
Hotel
Excel Docklands
Container Volumetric
CIMC
2018
Hampton by Hilton
Hotel
Bristol
Container Volumetric
CIMC
2018
The Boiler House
Residential
Hayes
CLT
Squarestone Hub
2019
Long Street
Student Living
Shoreditch
Unitised Cladding
BlackRock
2020
King’s Cross Sports Hall
Civic
London
CLT
Argent, BAM Construction
2020
Nightingale Hospital
Healthcare
Exeter
Modular Volumetric
RDE NHS Foundation
2021
The Horizon Terminal
Infrastructure
Southampton
Glulam
ABP
DfMA Projects
Meet your experts
Our clients
| McAvoy | Modular volumetric |
|---|---|
| Elements-Europe | Modular volumetric |
| Berkeley Homes | Modular volumetric |
| Unite Modular Systems | Modular volumetric |
| CIMC | Container volumetric |
| Premier Modular | Modular volumetric |
| Lamboo | Modular volumetric |
| ModuleCo | Modular volumetric |
| Space4 | Modular volumetric |
| Baudet UK | Pre-assembly volumetric |
| Walker Modular | Pre-assembly volumetric |
|---|---|
| Eurban | Pre-assembly volumetric |
| Bowmer + Kirkland | Panelised |
| Fusion Building Systems | Panelised, Cross Laminated Timber |
| Metsec | Panelised, Cross Laminated Timber |
| Metek | Panelised, Cross Laminated Timber |
| Knauf | Offsite supply chain |
| Siniat | Offsite supply chain |
| Gebrik | Offsite supply chain |
| Corium | Offsite supply chain |
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