by Web Editor | Jun 29, 2018 | News
Offsite design-build company Katerra and India-based manufacturing technology company KEF Infra have announced a merger that will see the newly formed KEF Katerra begin conducting operations in India and the Middle East. KEF Katerra, according to MEP Middle East, already has $3.7 billion in bookings.
Both companies use offsite manufacturing and technology as part of the “end-to-end” building services they provide. KEF Infra also uses robotics and automation in its manufacturing business and produces items like pre-cast concrete, prefabricated bathroom pods and aluminum and glazing facades. Katerra said it will also employ KEF Infra’s pre-cast technology in the U.S. market.
In addition to housing, the company will focus on building community infrastructure assets like hospitals and schools. Post-merger Katerra will have a total of 20 offices and 3,400 employees around the world.
Earlier this month, Katerra sealed the second of two acquisition deals in as many weeks. Those transactions, intended to increase the companies’ design capabilities in the U.S., saw the company enter into agreements with Portland, Oregon-based Michael Green Architecture and Lord Aeck Sargent in Atlanta. After those deals were complete, Katerra had 31 U.S. state architecture licenses plus credentials in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, and saw its staff size double. Green’s area of expertise is in the use of mass timber, and it designed the T3 mass timber office building in Minneapolis. One of Lord’s focuses is sustainable, urban projects.
In addition to its plans for growth through mergers and acquisitions, Katerra also said it would open six manufacturing plants by March 2019, including a Spokane, Washington, facility that will produce mass timber. The 250,000-square-foot plant is expected to generate 4.6 million cubic feet of cross-laminated timber annually. The five other Katerra plants will manufacture standard wood panels and trusses.
From Construction Dive: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/katerras-new-company-with-indian-manufacturer-kef-already-has-37-billion/526840/
by Web Editor | May 19, 2017 | News
The global plywood market is expected to expand by the end of 2017, according to Research Nester. Plywood will see increased demand from the construction of houses and other activities. Moreover, the economical price of the plywood will further drive the market.
The North American region has been consistently dominating the market globally, in terms of the market demand for plywood. This has been primarily due to high plywood consumption by the construction sector. It will be followed by North America and Europe occupying the second position in the market. Asia Pacific is anticipated to showcase robust growth in the next few years. Moreover, plywood market in Asia Pacific will further increase due to the massive growth in construction sector.
Apart from this, the countries with rich forests and woods such as India, Brazil and South Asian countries have the potential to be the key suppliers of plywood in the near future. Further, the growing indigenous demand for plywood in India as a result of rising disposable income among the growing middle and affluent class and the growing infrastructure in recent times is expected to make India an important consumer of plywood in the near future.
The growing demand for the plywood is driven by rising construction activities (both for residential and commercial purposes) and growing preferences for well-designed floors, home ceilings and walls. Robust population growth coupled with rising disposable income as well as rising preferences for branded plywood has expanded the plywood market at a global level.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/north-american-construction-drives-plywood-market-growth
by Web Editor | Oct 9, 2015 | News
Plyboo bamboo architectural plywood and paneling products manufacturer Smith & Fong Co. has launched a full line of high-end architectural bamboo and palm panel products for the India market, according to company founder Dan Smith.
“India has a rich history in design and architecture and the level of sophistication and appreciation is there,” Smith said. “We believe that our panel offerings will appeal to both contemporary and traditional tastes and also strike a chord with India’s growing awareness of sustainable and renewable design materials.”
Smith & Fong’s India launch includes its Plyboo, bamboo and Durapalm palm branded lines of decorative panels. The company chose Bangalore as its home base, with offices there through an exclusive representation agreement with ASA Global Enterprises to market and distribute the lines in India.
Included in the offerings are the Reveal, PlybooSound and Linear Line Collections in bamboo. The Reveal Collection represents panels that are richly carved and textured and the PlybooSound Collection offers aesthetics along with noise reduction components. The Linear Line Collection offers patterns from contemporary architectural lines to looks that resemble a multi-colored, hand-woven textile.
The palm collection under the Durapalm brand includes PalmWoven, a traditional woven motif and DecoPalm, a contemporary blocked, linear pattern with flat panel looks that express the rich warmth and beauty of the natural material.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/plywood-plyboo-maker-enters-india-market?ss=wood,wood,wood_of_the_month,wood,pricing_supply,wood,components_sourcing,wood,panel_supply,wood,wood_veneer,wood,lumber_quotes_charts
