MEDIA RELEASE
13 April 2010
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Australian Government funds Steel Frame Housing Project:
Aims to Improve Jobs and Housing.
Mobile Steel Framing Factory Meets Demand On-site.
The Australian Commonwealth Government has just funded the purchase by the Batchelor
Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in the Northern Territory of a FrameMaster
F300i: dubbed the Mobile Factory in a Can.
The mobile steel framing factory was purchased from its manufacturer FRAMECAD Building
Solutions.
Job Opportunities
Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib and Member for Lingiari Warren
Snowdon announced the funding which is under the Get Communities Working stream, part of
the Australian Government’s Jobs Fund.
The Batchelor Institute aims to provide disadvantaged job seekers with training and
opportunities for employment: notably rehabilitating low security inmates with skills to enter
the workforce.
Rehabilitation will be promoted by developing skills in steel frame fabrication and
construction.
Six jobs and 100 work experience placements will be created with the purchase of the
FrameMaster F300i Mobile Factory and operating equipment.
These skills could be readily taken up in a market desperately in need of housing.
Housing Crisis & Skills Crisis
FRAMECAD’s Australian Sales Manager, Peter Blythe, notes that across Australia demand
for housing is outstripping supply at an increasing rate (see note below). “This is aggravated
by a lack of skilled workers and geographic disparities in the availability of such skills,” he
said.
“This initiative in the Northern Territory by the Batchelor Institute and the Commonwealth
is great news for jobs and housing. And because the FrameMaster F300i is mobile it can be
easily transported to where training is required rather than transporting trainees long
distances in the Northern Territory.”
Mr Blythe added: “FRAMECAD Building Solutions can help address the nation’s housing
shortage and building skills deficiency. Other reasons why government departments are
attracted to our steel framing system are speed, efficiency and a reduced need for skilled
labour required on site. This delivers a high quality building at lower cost.
“The mobility of the “Factory in a can system” means this building solution can be deployed
wherever the housing need is located.
“Our framing is ‘Meccano-like’ in its simplicity of assembly due to the precise computer
controlled production of every piece of framing. This means we can construct almost any
building - from a low cost disaster-relief building to resource-based outback housing to the
suburban family home exclusive luxury designer homes.
MEDIA RELEASE
13 April 2010
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“In all cases FRAMECAD will save total construction time, improve quality and reduce cost.”
The precise steel frame fabrication system uses low skilled labour for low cost, faster, safer
construction. The accuracy is controlled by the computerised machine, irrespective of the
skill level of the labour force. Further, the FrameMaster F300i Mobile Factory can be rapidly
and cost-effectively transported to remote areas.
The FRAMECAD “Factory in a Can” F300i is a self-contained roll forming machine housed in
a 6.1m or 12.2m (20 or 40ft) shipping container. The mobile factory can be trucked into any
location and made operational within 24 hours of being sited.
Note on Australia’s Housing Crisis
Official forecasts for the nation's housing shortage are worsening.
Media reports recently (‘Housing shortfall likely to worsen.’ George Megalogenis: ?The
Australian. March 29, 2010) note that more than 100,000 prospective home buyers were
locked out of the market by June 30 last year.
“The ongoing gap between demand and supply will be greater than previously feared, as all
levels of government and the building industry struggle to keep up with Australia's world-
beating population growth.
“By 2029, the combined shortfall could reach 500,000 homes and apartments.”
Underlining this concern, the Bureau of Statistics, in recent weeks, confirmed that Australia’s
population grew 2.1 per cent last year: almost double the world average of 1.1 per cent.
On present trends, Australia's population of 22 million would rise to 34 million by 2050.
This prompted the Prime Minister to suggest federal intervention in planning cities and the
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh to stage a population summit in Brisbane in late March.
This all points to housing continuing as a major national issue of concern: especially as
interest rates increase. The recent Housing Industry Association’s National Outlook
released in March highlights “Australia’s acute shortage of shelter,” as stated by HIA Chief
Economist Dr Harley Dale.
According to the HIA, lack of affordable land, a shortage of skilled labour and limited access
to finance are the obstacles to achieving sustainable recovery in the housing market.
In the 2008 HIA National Outlook similar issues surrounding the need for skilled labour
were highlighted.
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Ends -
Background:
Further information:
FRAMECAD:
Peter Blythe. 0419 101 639 or peterb@framecad.com
Media:
David Park: parkyoung.
0418 159 231 or media@parkyoung.com.au
NEWS 
