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The Rise of Shippable Microfactories
Can microfactories solve prefab's economic problem by inverting the factory model?
But those centralized models, made infamous by companies like Katerra, General Modular Homes, and Skender, have faced challenges due to large up-front capex requirements and the hefty cost of shipping fabricated products to construction sites. By making factories shippable and goods more locally produced, microfactories aim to capture the benefits of off-site fabrication (automation, efficiency, indoor conditions) without the drawbacks of centralized production. AUAR’s shippable microfactory (essentially an ABB robotic arm with specialized tooling, housed in a container) fabricated all the structural components of the building: timber wall panels, floor cassettes, roof elements, etc.
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