Join us at the Explore Offsite Conference!

We are glad to announce that we will be exhibiting at the Explore Offsite North West, on 12th September 2018!

Explore Offsite is a series of one day conference and exhibitions creating a platform for construction clients and their professional advisers to explore the latest offsite construction solutions, providing a dynamic and interactive learning experience for all visitors.

As modular solutions are a fast developing trend in the residential building sector, we are looking forward to meeting with industry professionals to explore the latest offsite construction solutions.

Forward-thinking construction companies are now either investing in their own state-of-the-art offsite manufacturing or working with modular supply chain partners to provide safer, quicker and more efficient delivery with guaranteed quality and associated savings in time and cost.

What’s leading the trend?

There are a mixture of key industry factors including labour shortages, Brexit uncertainty and the skills shortage, efficiency and speed of build critical to tackling these constraints. Coupled with this is the Post-Grenfell industry recognition of tighter control of construction products throughout the specification and construction phases. Sapphire is at the forefront of this trend when it comes to offsite-manufactured balconies. Thanks to our commitment to product innovation we have developed pioneering balcony design and installation techniques for beautiful, high quality balconies that can be installed faster than any other on the market and with improved safety. Constructed offsite, Sapphire’s patentprotected Glide-On™ system is the first real alternative to traditional balcony design and construction, combining the benefits of pre-fabricated Cassette® balconies with rapid installation using our own innovative connectors.

Offsite in action

Sapphire’s Glide-On™Cassette® Balconies are well proven on modular construction projects, one of which is Pomona Wharf in Manchester. The development’s two high-rise buildings were constructed as complete precast concrete solutions, to enable a rapid modular construction concept. Working in tandem with the build programme, Sapphire manufactured over 100 balconies for the project in its lean production facility offsite and held them as fully assembled units in secure offsite storage until required. Sapphire began scheduled deliveries of balcony units to site. Individual balconies, including glass balustrades and sub-deck, were installed by lifting them into position and ‘Glide-On™ ’ to the arms – saving time and minimising crane hire and associated site costs.

After hitting the initial target of 23 balconies in one day, Sapphire’s installer partner at Pomona Wharf went on to install a further 34 balconies in just 6 hours and 13 minutes during another day. That’s an amazing install average of just 10.9 minutes per balcony – a new record for Sapphire’s offsite manufactured solution and beyond the possibilities of traditional bolt-on balconies. Sapphire’s fast-track install method, using its Glide-On™ balcony connector concept, made it possible to achieve this record with just three installers and one crane (in two set up positions).

If you haven’t booked

If you haven’t booked onto the conference, it’s not too late. You can book onto the conference – https://www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/book/

We look forward to seeing you on the 12th September at the University of Salford, Manchester.