Non-combustible insulation materials/systems for modular buildings
Portakabin, working with Innovate UK KTN, is looking to identify innovative ideas for more sustainable and non-combustible insulation in the offsite construction industry. Materials and systems must be fire-resistant, highly sustainable, and provide equal or better thermal resistance than conventional options like mineral wool or PU foam. Solutions are welcomed that address either the insulation material alone, or an insulation system of varying complementary component layers, or the overall structural panel as a system.
Opportunity
Challenge opens
24/07/2023
Challenge closes
01/09/2023
Benefit
The commercialisation route within the challenge capitalises on the leading position of Portakabin in the UK and European markets for modular buildings and portable cabins. Leveraging its growing fleet, with thousands of buildings deployed every year, the company aims to scale the deployment of innovative insulation materials to meet the demand for sustainable and fire-resistant solutions across thousands of buildings domestically and internationally.
Background
Portakabin is a market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of modular buildings, and a pioneer of advanced offsite construction, but it wasn’t always so. Founded in 1961 by Donald Shepherd, Portakabin was an immediate success due to the uniqueness and innovation of its products, and so began its UK footprint and expansion into Europe in the 1970s gathering many awards along the way.
As innovators in the modular world, Portakabin provides buildings for hire and sale, as well as supplying refurbished buildings and construction site accommodation. They deliver building solutions for organisations of any size, in sectors ranging from manufacturing, education and health to transport, utilities and construction.
Portakabin remains in the ownership of the York-based Shepherd family and now employs more than 2000 people across ten European countries.
To support the growth of their company and the move to reduce energy and carbon emissions whilst utilising more environment friendly and sustainable materials, Portakabin is looking to find organisations who can help it develop new thermal insulation materials/systems for use in the external surfaces (ground floor, walls and roofs) across their factory manufactured building modules.
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