Research and Development

Cellate's history is embedded in the development of concrete technology. The continued success of Cellate, is through Research and Development of construction materials, technologies and processes. The "nucleus" of the Centre of Excellence will be our Research and Development programmes focusing on innovative concrete technologies in sustainability, prefabrication housing, floating homes and communities, and automated construction technologies. Development of the new technologies and processes will increase Cellate's ability to deliver challenging projects and solving the global challenge of adequate housing and infrastructure using engineering and working within stringent environmental boundaries and controls.

Development of concrete sustainability and its reduction of carbon emissions during manufacture, whilst maintaining its properties is a key focus of Cellate. Cellate sees "green" concrete as a real benefit to not only the company and its projects but the broader community and planet.  In addition, further development of concrete using fibre steel technology to withstand corrosive environments and protection of the community against the elements will also see greater use in marine environments.

Cellate has perfected the construction of precast concrete panels, however our technology is required to develop into prefabrication of apartment modules completely built in a factory environment and transported to site for erection. This process is being used by Unitized Building Systems but in a structural steel format. Cellate is proposing to develop complete concrete modules. Prefabrication of full apartment/ housing modules will not only speed up delivery and handover of the units but also allow Cellate to have more control of the construction process in a factory environment and not on a construction site whereby health, safety and quality can be compromised.

With the ever increasing risk of sea levels rising and low lying areas being inundated with flood waters and king tides, the anti-corrosive properties of Cellate Fibre Steel Concrete will be used in the development of floating structures, homes and communities, and can be the solution housing the nations facing these risks today. Cellate's fibre steel concrete, with is substantial properties suitable for marine environments, will facilitate construction of structures that float, large concrete pontoons with protection against corrosion, that will provide the platform for any structure that is required ie housing, schooling, commercial, medical etc. These modules can be produced in a central location and moved to the location where the need arises. The modules that can be all interconnected to form a localise community.

Automation in the construction industry has been lacking for decades, The construction industry has had little development in this field compared to that of the manufacturing industry. The Japanese developed the idea in the 1990's using computers and automated robotic systems to assist in construction of buildings, reducing the dependency on skilled labour and shielding the project from severe weather. Obayashi's developed the "Big Canopy" and "ABCS", systems used in Japan and Singapore on a number of towers. Cellate is proposing to develop similar systems that will erect the prefabricated apartment modules into place, allowing the project to operate all days of the year. This will assist in the faster delivery of housing units, and creating a safer and healthier workplace for the employees.

Digital Engineering and the use of Building Information Modelling improves the way we can predict and effectively plan the project delivery in terms of safety, design, cost, programme and quality.

Building Information Modelling allows Cellate to accurately procure and construct the project reducing the overall risk on the project, wastage, rework and defective materials, ultimately reducing the overall cost and time on the project whilst increasing the quality of the final product. Cellate believes that substantial use of BIM software through the design and construction process will increase our ability to design and deliver complex buildings and developments, reducing and eliminating project risk whilst improving quality, cost and time for delivery. BIM also substantially reduces building waste and un-necessary rework encountered on most projects.

Cellate, with its high use of prefabrication components in the project delivery cycle, takes full advantage of the accurate up front design and planning activities facilitated through BIM software and technology. Accuarate design and planning of structural members, connection designs, services and architectural elements are all required up front as part of the Cellate process and prefabrication of precast.

Cellate sees future development in this field as the backbone to out future performance and client satisfaction. We see integrating this technology with Augmented Reality software and Vision to further enhance the design development and interface with our clients to ensure that we meet there needs and expectations.