English company establishes factory in Brazil
UG Tecnologia de Construção, part of the British construction technology group, Ultra Green, is to build its first factory in Brazil, with an initial investment of US $24m. The unit should be ready in six months, generating 200 direct jobs within five years. In addition to this, 600 more jobs will be created within three years through the company’s construction projects. The first of these projects involves the construction of popular habitations in Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, using labour from the community.
The company’s executives promise to revolutionise civil construction methods in Brazil, utilizing technology that they affirm is unique worldwide. “We are going to change the way we build houses in this country,” says Pedro Leite, one of the partners in UGTC.
The company’s technology was first created in Germany in the 1970s, during the energy crisis. “It is a technology that has already existed for 40 years, and which has led to the development of 10-15 systems throughout the world. Our system has been continually developed over this period and has reached a standard which we consider to be the best of all,” says company President, Bill Shotton.
The technology is known as Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF). According to Shotton, this means construction of up to seven floors at a far higher speed than usual and high profits using unskilled labour. “The system can make a contribution to social programmes, in that it contributes to the local economy,” he said.
Training
According to the company’s business model for Brazil, after seven days’ training, unskilled workers will be hired. The executives state that ten people – men or women – plus a supervisor, can build 500 square metres of wall per day, and that two men can build up to 250 square metres during the same period.
The blocks used in the building process are made from a light, durable polystyrene, according to the company, which allows anyone to work with them. Almost 95% of the blocks is made up of fresh air and they are reinforced by galvanized steel ties. The system generates far less material wastage than normal. In Brazil, losses are reckoned to be around 15%-20%. According to Shotton, UGTC projects are completed with less than 2% wastage.
“Once the basic shell construction is built, we fill it with concrete and end up with an isolated construction, proof against noise, flooding and heat. In a hot country like Brasil, you can make savings of up to 70% on air conditioning and ventilation,” he said.
According to company director, Julian Beach, many of the homes in Santa Catarina which suffered so much damage at the hands of the recent storms, would have survived had they been built using the company’s technology.
The directors stated that the financial crisis has brought good investment opportunities for the company, but Pedro Leite drew attention to a moment in Brazilian history which constitutes an even more relevant factor for UGTC’s arrival in Brazil. “President Lula has introduced to Brazil a new willingness to invest in housing,” he said.
The executives are planning to site the new factory in the city of Três Rios, which will comprise eight machines, capable of producing 2 million square metres of blocks per year.
UGTC has donated material for the construction of a technical information and training centre for the Manguinhos site workers. The centre will be built in two months. Once the project is completed, the buildings will become a changing room for nearby sports fields.
Jornal do Comércio, Monday 9th January 2009