The recent acquisition of FabSpeed has provided the Michelmersh Group with the capability to produce high-quality slip products and façade systems at volume, catering to the expanding market of off-site brick construction methods. After significant investment, Michelmersh’s FabSpeed brand will be capable of producing 17.5 million slips per annum to be used on A1 fire-rated cladding systems, enough to cover 290,000m2. The Group sees this investment as an opportunity to promote a breadth of construction solutions within its clay product portfolio, including pre-cast dovetail slips, its sustainable reflections range of thin double-faced bricks and its innovative lightweight rainscreen cladding system in conjunction with Cladmate Facade Systems that is suitable for high rise construction for both the new build and retrofit markets.
In the right application offsite construction comprises many benefits. These often include; less on-site labour intensity, reduced installation costs of segregated products or services, less time on-site, better safety and working conditions, reduced urban congestion and less on-site waste improving environmental benefits from improved consistency and greater precision than on-site conditions can allow. These benefits coupled with the sustainability advantages of products such as the Floren reflections thinner brick range which use less energy to produce and transport, whilst enabling more product to be delivered per pack and per truckload, are also more efficient to build with as they are lighter, using less mortar and water in the process. Therefore, it was clear to Michelmersh that investing in mechanically fixed brick façade systems and thinner clay products which still encompass the longevity, thermal and aesthetic qualities of the Michelmersh core range, with the in-house capability of prefabrication services, enables an end-to-end service, which is difficult to match.
Michelmersh recognises the importance to customers for the full brickwork solution, which is why the Group has made this investment following the acquisition of FabSpeed at the end of 2022. FabSpeed’s new and improved bespoke facilities and skilled production processes provide a large capacity for complex, specialist, prefabricated brick components in demand by architects, engineers and housebuilders who require high quality assemblies to achieve accelerated construction timelines.
FabSpeed are pioneers in prefabricated building components, dedicated to modern construction, using quality cutting-edge technologies to enable efficient solutions to complex masonry design specifications. FabSpeed’s products can be seen on arches, chimneys and facade systems across the country and now its expansion of slip production equipment and facilities means it can provide more variety to its customers for brickwork facade components and systems.
Cladmate Facade System’s cladding product uses mechanically fixed non-combustible brick slips, in a lightweight, easy-to-install cost-effective product. The system has been fire tested to BS 8414-2:2020 and tested to CWCT standards. Suitable for high or low-rise applications, it fuses traditional brickwork façade aesthetics with the latest advanced rainscreen cladding systems and great thermal performance. This system is compatible with a wealth of manufacturers’ clay brick products.
“The Group is delighted to be investing in slip production, associated brickwork products and innovative façade components. Sustainability and life cycle are at the core of our company values, and we feel these investments enhance our portfolio whilst embracing alternative modern methods of construction, giving our customer base an enhanced choice.”
Frank Hanna, Joint CEO of Michelmersh
