Architects, construction contractors and specifiers looking for innovative solutions to boost their environmental efforts can explore a mix of products at this year’s UK Construction Week Innovation Zone.
Held at London’s ExCel from 3-5 May, the area will shine a light on the sector’s green change-makers, demonstrating construction innovations including advanced sensors for buildings to improve air quality, antibacterial technologies, multi award-winning tapes for insulation boards for improving thermal performance, an energy and chemical-free water purification system, and a timber pallet recycling scheme.
Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director says: “As part of our theme of culture change, we want to encourage new ways of thinking across all key areas of construction, to challenge and inspire others to drive the future of the industry forward. There is an abundance of new technology at our disposal – they are crucial to help us achieve net zero carbon and improve building safety.
“Just one small change in a process can completely transform the way a business operates and its outcomes, and we want to open doors to innovative solutions that will better serve companies, end users, and the environment. That’s why we’ll be showcasing some of the best products and innovators out there.”
Some of the game-changing developments demonstrated at the Innovation Zone include:
- Aico's Environment Sensors are designed to improve home life safety. Easy to install and manage, the Ei1025 sensor can monitor temperature, humidity, and Carbon Dioxide, providing actionable insights to enable healthier, energy efficient, safer homes. This helps homes to overcome challenges from compliance and carbon footprint to mould risk and fuel poverty.
- Copptech’s antimicrobial technology Microparticle can be added to polymers, textiles and building materials to make them up to 99.9% antimicrobial preventing bacteria, viruses, and termites.
- EASYClickBase - a strong, light weight and flexible sub-base made from 100% recycled plastic that can halve traditional preparation time of laying paving and driveways. It significantly reduces labour by reducing excavation by up to 80% and lessens the environmental impact of hard landscaping, as well as the cost of installation. The only synthetic sub-base made from 100% recycled plastic, it reduces excavation by up to 80% and replacement aggregate by 75%.
- Gapotape is a multi-award winning, simple, and unique combination of foil and foam tape specifically designed for use in conjunction with rigid insulation board. It is the first product proven by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) to eradicate air leakage and thermal bridging.
- Halcyan Water Conditioners - a sustainable solution for the prevention of mineral scale accumulation and removal of existing mineral deposits in hard water areas, improving energy efficiency and equipment lifespan, while decreasing maintenance energy bills and system unreliability. Halcyan’s unique alloy core achieves results without any power, salts, or chemicals, and no effluent. Each unit lasts over 30 years and saves 0.5 tonne Co2e per annum per home.
- IPM Group’s Intelipod is the world’s first touchless, fully automated and self-contained access control unit for the construction sector. It uses anti-contamination technology with touchless facial and body temperature scanning to ensure an individual is approved to enter site, that their body temperature is at a safe level and that they are wearing the appropriate PPE.
- Pallet LOOP, a circular economy pallet reuse scheme aiming to replace a significant quantity of the circa 18 million single use pallets currently used in UK construction each year, while eliminating avoidable pallet waste and helping meet carbon net zero targets. The deposit-based scheme provides multi-use, distinctive green pallets that last and can make numerous trips through supply chains.
The Innovation Zone will also offer visitors the opportunity to network, learn, and explore new ideas with a range of specialist seminars including presentations from MOBIE with architect George Clarke, plus a case study on 3D printing from Cucinella Architects on the TECLA building. There will be sessions from UK Research and Innovation and the Construction Innovation Hub.
Sponsor, Construction Industry Solutions (COINS), will hold its COINS Grand Challenge 2022, which is free to enter and now open, aimed at kickstarting innovative ideas which could improve construction and the built environment.
The challenge helps innovators grow their ideas, win cash prizes and business investment of up to £100k. The deadline for entries is 31 May, and the COINS stand will be holding a drop in Q&A every day of the show between 10-11am.
UKCW London will host more than 300 exhibitors (600 including co-located shows), 10,000 products, 300 expert speakers, seven theatre stages, multiple specialist hubs, and 150 hours of CPD content.
Free registration is now open with one entry badge providing access to co-located shows Concrete Expo (3-4 May), the Offsite Show (3-5 May), and Grand Designs Live (30 April-8 May). Industry conferences the Future of Work in Construction (4 May) and REA’s Heating Conference: Decarbonising Buildings (5 May) will also be running alongside the event.
Download the free UKCW app from both iOS and Android app stores to book one-to-one appointments with delegates and exhibitors.
To get regular updates follow UKCW on social media using the hashtags #UKCW2022 and #UKCWLDN.
