Supporting Timberless Construction through Design for Manufacture and Assembly (“DfMA”)

Timber is a material commonly used for temporary formwork on construction sites. However, given the limited durability of the timber, it cannot be reused many times and will eventually become waste. In view of this, the Group has developed our own patented DfMA approach to achieve the goal of timberless construction in our projects. This involves prefabricating modular units off-site in factories and replacing on-site timber usage with aluminium formwork. Furthermore, through the implementation of DfMA, we are able to avoid piecemeal tasks and reduce potential hazards involved in traditional construction, significantly improving the productivity and safety of our construction process.

In 2020, the precast components used in construction increased up to 80% of floor area and resulted in a reduction of on-site waste generation and improved efficiency of site works. In addition, staircases are designed as a precast component to achieve a better aesthetic value while reducing the plastering work required for the smooth finishing of surfaces. We will continue to adopt the self-developed and patented DfMA approach and target to reduce by at least 70% of the timber formwork used during construction for 80% of new developments handled by our internal construction team.