TALO Interview - 15 Minutes with Malcolm Clarke, MD of Baxall Construction
In our latest article, we interview
Malcolm Clarke MCIOB, MD of
Baxall Construction, following his visit to TALO's offsite manufacturing centre in Finland. He shares his perspective on our timber offsite housing solutions and on the need for MMC and innovation in UK construction.
Q1 Tell us about Baxall Construction
We have positioned Baxall as a solutions provider to the built environment. We are not a conventional contractor and see ourselves very much as a disruptor. We are agile, forward-thinking and very much focused on continually improving how we build buildings using a more holistic approach.
For example, we have recently completed a ground-breaking Knowledge Transfer Partnership, funded by Innovate UK, to develop an AI-driven analytics framework using data from the construction process and smart monitoring sensors to assess the operation of buildings alongside occupancy performance data. The overall aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of occupants in buildings such as schools and offices.
We have developed our own playbook to deliver whole life solutions and are investing in digital technology to combine estimating and whole life carbon measurement in a single tool.
Q2 How does Baxall use MMC?
We have been involved in MMC for around 15 years using primarily timber closed panel systems to build schools, healthcare facilities and other non-residential buildings. With these systems, windows and plasterboard are pre-installed and rendering is also carried out in the factory. Product quality is absolutely key.
Q3 What are the drivers for MMC?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution and for some projects, traditional in-situ construction may be the best approach. However, the biggest driver for MMC for us is sustainability – reducing vehicle movements to site and material waste and delivering healthier buildings that are more energy efficient and demonstrate whole life carbon improvements.
Timber offsite systems also have less impact on the environment than other materials.
Q4 What is the potential for MMC in the housing sector?
The potential is huge. Traditional mass housebuilding doesn’t focus sufficiently on the end product – it is about building as fast and as cheaply as possible and snagging has become the norm.
I believe we should be taking the customer on a journey and continually improving standards with solid aftersales support. This ethos fits very well with TALO’s model and aspirations.
Q5 You recently visited TALO’s offsite manufacturing centre in Finland. What do you think of their product and operations?
Having visited multiple factories in Europe, the UK and Ireland in recent years, it was really interesting to see TALO’s approach to offsite manufacturing at first hand. I was impressed with their set up and found it useful to see the timber sawmill and processes from forest and factory to site.
How TALO combines its superstructure system with the energy strategy for new homes is really interesting and fits with our ‘solutions-driven’ approach to construction very well.
Their offer gives us a high-quality option to facilitate our expansion into the housing sector and we are now actively looking at opportunities with our clients. The potential is tremendous and very exciting.