Pace Timber Systems’ latest initiative – the manufacture of bathroom and kitchen pods – will swing into full production early next year.
With prototype development nearing completion, Pace is hoping to take a slice of the pod sector market, currently estimated to be worth around £60m a year and predicted to be growing 10% annually.
The Space Pods will be manufactured at Pace Timber Systems recently acquired 75,000ft2 facility in Milton Keynes and will be available as stand alone units or supplied as part of the company’s new off-building system, Optima Homes.
The pods will be made of either galvanised steel or structural timber frame and are aimed at market sectors across the board – from hotels and healthcare to private housing and student accommodation.
When engineered as part of the Optima Homes package, the timber frame bathroom and kitchen pods will be unique in the UK as they will form part of the timber frame load bearing structure. This, Pace claims, not only saves space but enables cost and materials savings to be made too.
Pace Timber Systems managing director Phil Key said: “With Space Pods up and running we will have the capacity to supply bathroom and kitchen pods, timber frame buildings, the Optima Homes closed wall panel system, a full dry lining service, roof trusses and engineered floor joists.”
He said the pod operation and Optima Homes dovetail with the government call for more modern methods of construction which would help Pace present itself to the sustainable communities that are set to play a big part in the government’s plans for the future.
