Mark Farmer’s Cast consultancy and software platform KOPE have formally launched the offsite construction knowledge-sharing platform, MMC Market.
MMC Market aims to help the industry build its awareness and understanding of MMC solutions and applications across all seven categories of the government’s MMC Definition Framework.
Those seven categories are:
- volumetric systems;
- 2D structural systems;
- non-systemised structure;
- 3D-printed systems;
- assemblies;
- product-based improvements; and
- site-based improvements
The platform sets out the available supply chain options and their level of technical accreditation. It also showcases projects that use different types of MMC.
It provides guidance and support for clients, advisers, funders, insurers and contractors in evaluating options for embedding MMC into projects at an early stage. By doing so, they can harness the full benefits and design buildings for higher productivity and efficiency and lower carbon from the outset, claims Cast.
When BIMplus looked at the MMC Market website, its search function covered 169 manufacturing locations. There were 252 suppliers, 95 consultants operating from a total of 194 locations, and 159 projects.
Mark Farmer, founding director and CEO of Cast, said: “MMC Market is a vital new tool for creating a modernised and sustainable construction industry – something that we at Cast believe is key to the survival of our sector. We hope that by developing and curating this platform we can help push MMC into the mainstream of our industry, galvanising a technological revolution in construction that will help us meet the combined challenges of deepening labour shortages, insufficient quality and quantity of new housing and responding to the climate change agenda. ”
Mark Thorley, co-founder and CEO of KOPE, said: “We built MMC Market to connect the full range of stakeholders involved in the construction sector, while giving a forum to showcase the positive outcomes achieved by those leading MMC delivery. MMC Market aims to increase transparency and grow confidence in the sector’s ability to fund, develop and construct successful MMC projects. We hope this platform will become a self-sustaining repository of the most important data on our sector, helping to break down barriers to accessing the most exciting innovations in construction.”
Posting on LinkedIn, Farmer wrote: “We will look to build further functionality in due course.”
MMC Market is supported and endorsed by the National House-Building Council, the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme and the Offsite Alliance.
Don’t miss out on BIM and digital construction news: sign up to receive the BIMplus newsletter.
