WSU candidate for Prefab Innovation Lab

Penrith’s strength in the construction industry could be further bolstered by the establishment of a Prefab Innovation Lab within Western Sydney University (WSU).

WSU’s Centre for Smart Modern Construction (c4SMC), whose primary office is on the university’s Penrith campus, has been nominated as a candidate for one of five national labs as part of a push towards growing the prefabrication industry.

The nomination arose from the Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre’s (AMGC) Prefab Innovation Feasibility Study which was released last month. The goal of the Prefab Innovation Hub is to improve the global competitiveness of Australian prefabrication manufacturers by incorporating advanced technologies and processes, as well as enabling the construction industry to provide more affordable and sustainable products to Australians.

According to the feasibility study, the prefab industry has the potential to create 20,000 jobs and add $30 billion to the Australian economy by June 2025.

The Hub will deliver its program through five Innovation Labs, one in each of the five largest cities in Australia. These labs will have opportunities to tailer prefab programs to suit their expertise and to develop training solutions to meet local need.

WSU’s Centre for Smart Modern Construction seeks to collaborate with industry to deliver a modern construction industry that embraces smart technologies and processes. The feasibility study noted c4SMC’s work in "readying the construction industry for Industry 4.0" which is one of the growth drivers for the prefab industry.

If successful, c4SMC’s Innovation Lab would be in close proximity to the Western Sydney Construction Hub; a new $80 million facility that will deliver specialised training for in demand trades. The Construction Hub will be built on the TAFE NSW Nepean campus which is adjacent to WSU’s Penrith campus.

The construction industry is an important component of the Penrith economy, accounting for over 14,000 jobs and generating over $4 million in gross revenue each year.

To find out more about the Centre for Smart Modern Construction visit the WSU website.

For more information on the Prefab Innovation Hub visit the AMGC website.

Image: WSU's Centre for Smart Modern Construction, led by Professor Srinath Perera, covers a range of activities including industry engagements.