As offsite construction continues to evolve, unlocking its full potential will require a shift in thinking across the entire building industry.
Tobias Schäfer, Global Head of Prefabrication at ARDEX Group, travelled to Australia and presented as an international keynote at Offsite26 conference held at the Pullman Hotel, Melbourne, earlier this month.
In his keynote presentation, Schäfer said the future of offsite manufacturing lies in bringing together the strengths of multiple industries to create more efficient, scalable and implementation-ready solutions.
“To fully realise the benefits of offsite manufacturing, we need to move beyond traditional industry boundaries. No single company can solve every challenge alone. Success comes from collaboration between manufacturers, material suppliers, machinery companies and automation specialists working towards a common goal.”
ARDEX Australia launched new products in the prefab modular offsite, as part of a global delivery of efficient finishing solutions for modular. Visit our products and systems today.
Watch our video from the Offsite26 conference:
With 16 years of experience spanning technical advisory, onsite construction, major project sales and international business development, Schäfer has worked across both traditional and modern methods of construction. Today, he leads ARDEX’s global efforts to develop finishing solutions specifically designed for industrialised construction and prefabrication.
ARDEX has established a dedicated global business unit focused on modular construction, enabling the company to work closely with manufacturers around the world and gain a deeper understanding of factory production requirements, cycle times, transportation stresses and lifting considerations. Meet our dedicated prefab team.
“Building materials used in offsite construction need to perform far beyond their traditional role. They must fit within highly efficient manufacturing processes, withstand transportation and lifting forces, and contribute to faster, more predictable project delivery.”
A key focus of Schäfer’s work is identifying opportunities for machine-assisted and automated application processes. He has led pilot evaluations of autonomous construction robots and developed partnerships with machinery and automation providers across multiple countries to help advance factory-based building systems.
“The future of construction will involve significantly higher levels of automation. The challenge is not simply developing materials that work, but creating complete systems that allow manufacturers to implement automation successfully within real-world production environments.”
These collaborations have resulted in integrated solutions such as machine-assisted tile adhesive application and automated drywall joint filling systems, where ARDEX works alongside technology partners to provide manufacturers with the products, equipment, processes and technical expertise required for implementation.
“Our goal is to deliver a complete ecosystem, not just a product. By bringing together materials, machinery and process expertise, we can help manufacturers achieve greater productivity, consistency and quality at scale.”
Schäfer also plays a central role in identifying emerging industry trends, evaluating market opportunities and helping align product development with the evolving needs of industrialised construction.
“The most successful innovations are those developed alongside manufacturers. By understanding how factories operate and involving end users early in the process, we can create solutions that address real-world challenges and support the long-term growth of offsite construction.”
At OFFSITE26, Schäfer demonstrated how collaboration across the supply chain, combined with advances in automation and specialised construction materials, can help accelerate the adoption of modern methods of construction and deliver a smarter, more productive future for the industry.
For more information visit our Prefab products and solutions on the website.