A 3-day exhibition and seminar of Australia’s
prefabricated home construction technology will be organised by the
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) in conjunction with the Faculty of
Architecture, Chulalongkorn University. Some eleven Australian companies
will participate in the display at the Faculty’s grounds from May 22-24.
The seminar, featuring Thai and Australian guest
speakers will discuss three major topics, namely ‘The Building Industry
in Thailand’, ‘Australian Companies’ Capabilities’ and
‘Prefabricated Structural Design’. Seminar organisers said it would
benefit members of the academia and students of architecture and was the
first step in building up the knowledge of Australia’s construction
technology among local vocational and universities in Thailand.
The exhibition will coincide with activities organised
to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the Faculty of Architecture on 23
May.
Kirsten Sayers, Trade Commissioner at Austrade said the
exhibition would give Australian and Thai building and design communities
an opportunity to start a long-term commercial partnership.
The exposition will showcase Australian building
material and construction capability, whilst injecting fresh ideas
regarding design, construction and choice of material to the Thai building
industry. The target audience includes Members of the Association of
Siamese Architects, Thailand Interior Designer’s Association, Thai
Contractors Association and the Engineering Institute of Thailand.
“It is part of a campaign to raise awareness among
Thai specifiers and distributors of Australian building products and
technology. The opportunity will assist Australian building industry to
identify and pursue more efficiently their market niche in Thailand,” Ms
Sayers said.
Joining the exhibition hall at the faculty will be
Comix International, Solahart Industries, IMVA, Auseal, BHP Steel Building
Product, Metro Brick, Amplelite Fibreglass and Svenic Australia. There are
also companies that present their capabilities and offer insight to the
industries such as Mandis International, Bovis Lend Lease and Hexamo.
Products and services to put on display include fibreglass roof, aluminium
windows and doors, building material and fittings, stamped concrete and
surface decoration, bricks and pavers, solar power system, sealant and
adhesive tools and equipment.
She said in the wake of the financial crisis, most Thai
property developers were facing lower demands with no viable solution in
sight. The inaugural “Aust-Built 1999”, featuring Australia’s
prefabricated home technology and materials, received much attention from
the Thai public. In just a few days, cash strapped first home buyers and
people looking for their second home crowded a mock-up Australian-style
home, erected in the grounds of the Australian Embassy.
Ms Sayers said the introduction of Australia’s
prefabricated home construction technology and materials immediately
struck a chord with local homebuyers looking for quality and satisfaction
due to lower labour costs and short building time.
A local builder of Australian prefabricated homes
reported some 4,000 inquires from potential buyers.
This year Austrade is shifting its attention elsewhere
and setting an ambitious target of creating awareness among Thai property
development companies, project developers in both the government and
private sector.
Says Ms Sayers, “We set our sight to build on the
success of last year and are pushing ourselves to achieve the same feat.
The prefabricated technology is friendly in terms of pricing and building
time. It is growing in both recognition and popularity here. We believe we
are offering the right product and service which is clearly a win-win
situation for buyers and builders.”
Australian Ambassador HE William Fisher and Associate Professor Decha
Boonkum, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University
will officiate the opening of the exposition and seminar at Building II,
Faculty of Architecture, at 11.30 am on Monday 22 May.
