In recent years, the engineering sector has witnessed a significant transformation driven by technological advancements and evolving industry needs. One of the most profound shifts has been the rise of off-site construction, a method that is revolutionising how systems and facilities are built and deployed. This trend aligns with global movements towards sustainability, efficiency, and innovation, making it a crucial area of focus for engineering firms worldwide.

The Rise of Off-Site Construction

Off-site construction, also known as prefabrication or modular construction, involves manufacturing building components in a controlled factory environment before transporting and assembling them on-site. This approach offers several advantages over traditional construction methods, including improved quality control, reduced construction time, and enhanced safety.

In the context of global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of off-site construction was underscored. The pandemic disrupted supply chains and on-site labor availability, highlighting the need for more resilient and adaptable construction methods. Off-site construction emerged as a viable solution, allowing projects to continue with minimal disruption and adherence to safety protocols.

Colloide’s Off-Site Build Expertise

At Colloide, we have embraced off-site construction as a core component of our service offering. Our modern facilities and advanced manufacturing techniques allow us to build and test a wide range of technologies off-site, ensuring the highest standards of quality and performance before deployment. Some of the key technologies we develop off-site include:

Bridge Scrapers: Our bridge scrapers are built off-site to exact specifications, ensuring durability and efficiency in their operation. These scrapers are critical for maintaining clean and operational water and wastewater treatment facilities.

Chemical Dosing Systems: Colloide specialises in Plug and Play’ skid-mounted chemical dosing systems. These units are prefabricated and tested off-site to guarantee that they are fully operational upon arrival at the project site, simplifying installation and reducing commissioning time.

Filtration Systems: Our filtration systems are offered as proven and standard designs, fully developed to minimise on-site issues. These prefabricated filters are manufactured off-site as stainless steel vessels with stainless steel internals. Workshop fabrication, assembly, and testing, coupled with our job-specific Quality Plan, ensure high quality.

Interconnecting Pipework, Access Platforms, and Stairs: Designed specifically for each project using 3D SolidWorks, these components are bolted together in our workshop for pre-assembly before site delivery.

Control Panels: Designed and manufactured off-site, our PLC and SCADA systems are developed and tested off-site to ensure everything communicates and controls correctly.

Our strategy includes modular standardisation of off-site built systems often to facilitate bulk advance procurement. Each site is treated differently, and we work closely with clients on design development, site visits, and project management to ensure smooth project delivery.

Colloides Technologies cover water treatment, energy solutions and facilities engineering. There is a lot of scope within this area and Colloide invest heavily on this method within their full range of products.

The Benefits of Pre-assembled Systems

Off-site assemble is used in many of Colloide’s projects and offers huge benefits to our clients. Our systems are rigorously tested, and any M&E assemblies and modules are built in a clean and protected manufacturing facility. The system is then assembled on-site in modular sections, reducing build time, errors, and costs. This method also leads to a reduction of waste and a significant improvement in quality. One of the most important aspects of this approach is its sustainability, due to the reduction in carbon footprint and minimised impact on local environments. This approach also helps us achieve a more efficient manufacturing process in our workshops.

On projects like the Viking Energy Network in Jarrow, we focused on the off-site pre-assembly of key items such as CHP boilers, and pontoon equipment. This significantly reduced our carbon footprint, ensured a more seamless operation and provided greater protection to the surrounding environment and eco-systems.

Conclusion: The Future of Off-Site Construction

The benefits of off-site construction extend beyond efficiency and quality control. This approach contributes significantly to sustainability, a key consideration in today’s engineering landscape. By manufacturing building components in a factory setting, waste is minimised, and materials can be used more efficiently. Additionally, the controlled environment allows for the incorporation of sustainable materials and construction practices, further reducing the environmental impact.

Off-site construction also addresses the issue of labour shortages, a challenge faced by the construction industry globally. By shifting much of the construction work to a factory setting, the reliance on skilled on-site labour is reduced. This not only helps mitigate labour shortages but also opens up opportunities for employing a more diverse workforce, including those who may not be able to work on traditional construction sites.

At Colloide, we are committed to leveraging off-site build to deliver high-quality, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for our clients. Our approach ensures that projects are completed efficiently, with minimal environmental impact and maximum benefit to the communities we serve. As the engineering sector continues to evolve, we remain at the forefront of innovation, driving progress through our expertise in off-site construction.