Arrow Metal attended the 2022 Sydney Build Expo to get some of the latest industry news and updates affecting our customers and sectors.

Here are some of our top takeaways from the Expo, which was attended by over 17,000 people and featured 400 key speakers and presentations across eight stages from Government, contractors, architects, developers, and industry experts.

What are the current industry challenges?

According to an Asia-Pacific industry survey from Procore, Australia’s construction decision-makers say that dealing with the increasing cost of raw materials and equipment is their greatest challenge over the next 12 months (63%), followed by hiring and retaining skilled staff (37%), and winning tenders and bids at a sustainable margin (36%). The outlook is positive, however – 85% of Australian firms surveyed felt confident about the future.

Highlights from the Sydney Build Expo floor:

Sustainability & Safety Stage

How do we build long-term energy-efficient buildings and homes? And will the Government introduce energy rating regulations?

Green technologies and tackling the energy crisis were top of the agenda in the Climate Emergency panel, covering learnings from the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference. Speakers included the Green Building Council of Australia and the Australian Local Government Association.

Key highlights included:

At the present rate global warming will increase by 1.5 degrees by 2040 (IPCC report)
We need to have standards, regulations, and government legislation – energy rating regulations and building certification so we build energy-efficient green homes and buildings
Some architecture firms are now actively quizzing suppliers on their sustainability policies
‘Nature-positive’ developments and bringing nature back into cities are set to be big trends to help tackle climate change and energy efficiency
Companies can get involved with MECLA – the Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance – which aims to reduce embodied carbon in the building & construction industry
At a local government level, as well as federal, there is a drive to take action
How ethical energy-efficient local businesses must be able to participate in the procurement process for large-scale jobs
It is an exciting future for sustainability with many advances in green technology in building and construction.

If you want to know more about Arrow Metal’s sustainable manufacturing approach, take a look at our environmental policy here.

You can also learn more about the environmental benefits of using perforated metal for sustainable and green building here – we’ve manufactured perforated metal for many environmental projects, including the 5-Green Star rated and award-winning NUspace development at the University of Newcastle.

Highlights from the Main Stage

We headed to the Future of Construction session, which included speakers from AECOM, Lendlease, Fulton Hogan, and Cox Architecture:

The industry had to be dynamic because of the pandemic – however, moving forward we now have better platforms and foundations for the future
Using technology can prevent overestimation and optimise project planning – many Australian firms are relying on outdated technology; modern tools can help to reduce cost estimates by up to 20%
We need to be smarter as an industry – integration between design and cost, for instance, needs to be more transparent; use of collaborative contracts etc.

Highlights from the Skills, Wellbeing & Mental Health Stage

We heard from Vanessa Trower from the Institute of Learning & Performance:

Current situation in the industry – supply chain disruptions and the chronic shortage of skilled labour
Our three biggest challenges: Rising cost of key building materials, supply bottlenecks, and labour shortages
Training is key in Australia to address skills shortage – not just skills development but safety, digital literacy, workplace culture, leadership skills, sustainability, and diversity
Companies need to bring everyone on board for sustainability – educate everyone within a company on it, not just leaders and board members.

Sydney Build Expo – what’s ahead for 2023

Sydney Build Expo will be returning to the ICC from 6-7 March 2023.

We manufacture and supply perforated metal to architects and builders for projects across Australia, from transport hubs, schools, and commercial offices to residential developments, retail stores, and shopping centres.

Explore our custom perforation capabilities and range of patterns.

You can also browse our latest Projects for more inspiration.

Architecture & Design Team

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