VIEWPOINT
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT: THE FUTURE’S CONSTRUCTION
Nathan Garnett talks robot dogs, 3-D printing, virtual reality and what merchants could gain from heading to this year’s UK Construction Week.
W
hile the construction sector is well-known for its traditional techniques and tried and tested methods, a new dawn
is coming with a host of technologies taking the industry by storm. Offsite construction is marching into the mainstream while 3-D printing, virtual reality and augmented reality are being used by innovative companies for their building projects. But where will this lead the construction sector and what impact will this have on builders’ merchants in the longer term?
The robots are coming Boston Dynamics recently launched its robot dog, officially called SPOTmini, complete with cameras and sensors to carry out detailed construction site inspections. And with more construction taking place offsite in factories, other robots are increasingly capable of taking on some of the repetitive jobs that previously would have fallen to the trades.
While we’ve all been used to 3D modelling for some time, especially for kitchen and bathroom design, architects are now regularly embracing virtual reality and consumers are starting to expect it with the rise of popular TV shows such as the BBC’s virtual reality property show, Your Home Made Perfect. In addition, progressive businesses such as McAvoy Group, the offsite construction specialists, have also embraced virtual reality. McAvoy recently used a virtual reality model of Dublin Airport’s new passenger boarding zone to give a totally immersive experience to its stakeholders and to demonstrate the design of the building.
The human touch
This growth in construction sector technology is exciting; however, when it comes to business you can’t beat the personal touch and the depth and breadth of knowledge
that merchants can offer. Talking to your customers and giving them expert advice is a valuable part of the merchant experience. Keeping on top of the latest developments, tools and technologies that will help your customers in their everyday jobs will ensure you remain their first port of call for advice. With this in mind, UK Construction Week (UKCW), has added a new Innovation Station to this year’s show. This is a demonstration area specifically for power tools. Merchants will be able to see the latest biscuit jointers and heavy-duty bench grinders from top trade brands in action. You can also pick up tips from the experts on how to get the most from their range, and you can then pass this knowledge on to your customer base. Not only can you try out the latest products, but you can also cut a deal with the manufacturers as show discounts will apply. And if you really want to get under your customers’ skin, don’t miss Coventry University’s immersive construction site experience. This gives you first-hand experience of what your colleagues on site are experiencing when working on a busy building site. If you are feeling brave you can take on the role of the site manager and have real actors approach you as disgruntled members of the public.
People still do business with people and with 650 exhibitors UKCW is the ideal place to network. Last year the bulk of visitors were
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net August 2019
senior managers; 85% were authorised to spend, there were over 34,000 trade buyers working on more than 471,000 live projects. That is a £50 billion marketplace all under one roof.
UKCW is the ideal environment to brush up on new products and to forge new supplier relationships. Why not book meetings with key suppliers in advance so you can plan your day? Or if it is a new business you are thinking of trading with, now is the chance to have a chat and see how you can work together.
It doesn’t have to be in a formal setting either. Instead you could meet at the Fischer bar in hall 11 or the Rawlplug bar in hall 12. And don’t forget the Beer Festival and of course the Rockaoke on Wednesday night.
Join the future
To get ahead of the game, learn more about where the industry is heading and discover the impact new technologies will have on you and your customers, come along to UKCW, 8-10 October at NEC Birmingham. It is free to attend and includes multiple sections: Build, Building Tech, Civils, Energy and HVAC, Surface and Materials, and Timber. It also features the newly launched Concrete Expo (8-9 October only) and Grand Designs Live (9-10 October only).
Registration to UK Construction Week is now open. BMJ
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