With the construction industry predicted to undergo a huge turnaround over the next decade, the annual Ecobuild trade show continues to attract the country’s top talent to shape the future of UK building. Here’s what we learned from the three-day event.
With more than 800 exhibitors showcasing innovative products and solutions to the problems posed by sustainable building, Ecobuild is a vital date in the diary every March. As the focus sharpens on producing buildings and spaces that are sustainably sourced and efficiently built, the world’s leading experts gathered at Excel London for three days of discussions, seminars and workshops.
Aside from the well-attended speaking engagements, there was the chance for visitors to walk the floor and meet representatives from the UK’s best and brightest construction firms.
More than ever, at this event we were keen to demonstrate our expertise and knowledge of going above and beyond on the project management side of things, which is why we brought along our brand new natural stone brochure.
Adding value
Within the pages of ‘Adding Value to Natural Stone Specification’, we argue that there’s more to Marshalls than simply providing a few slabs of Yorkstone for a new project. By engaging with project managers and decision makers at every level of the build, we’re well-placed to give advice on most aspects of it from start to finish, as seen in the brochure’s accompanying case studies.
Concept and design – In Chepstow, an ambitious project was under way to create a new focal point for the town square. We put together a 3D model of the design, taking stock of the requirements and producing drawings to establish changes in topography.
Cost-saving measures – An important quality to any project, which we were able to demonstrate on the Pier Head project in Liverpool. Our suggested amends to the construction and supply of the stones used in creating this magnificent piece resulted in the project’s demands being simplified, leading to a saving on costs as a result.
The logistics of storage and delivery – In Liverpool, the focus of our work with Balfour Beatty on Church Street was in helping to minimise disruption to local businesses and the public. With control over our own supply lines we were able to ensure deliveries were made in good time and without blocking up local roads.
Natural stone in an urban setting
Our brochure helped raise awareness of the possibilities of natural stone in the urban environment, which perfectly tied in with the five key points we aimed to promote at our display stand.
- Boosting our credentials as a tested and accredited supply chain
- Making CE marking and test data available
- Specifying an appropriate stone
- Providing advice on choosing correct structural design and a suitable stone type
- Detailing
Succeeding in each of these five points constitutes a big step towards raising customer awareness of the plethora of services that we offer alongside our long-standing expertise in supplying stone and other products. With Ecobuild providing an ideal opportunity to showcase our range of natural stone, and to spread the word of how else we can provide a much-needed boost to Britain’s sustainability prospects, we can’t wait for next year’s event.