In 2016, the multinational management consulting firm McKinsey & Company stated that the construction sector was ready for upheaval. Engineering and construction (E & C), one of the largest industries in the world, have survived during the past two years thanks to the forced development and uptake of novel technology. In fact, a more recent study by McKinsey found that the construction sector is more likely to recover from the pandemic than any other, leaner, more technologically advanced, and with a focus on sustainability.
Construction professionals have developed roadmaps to include innovation along their journey toward digital transformation in response to recent giga-projects and advancements throughout the globe.
For instance, companies like Terraco are actively striving towards implementing greener practices through the ongoing creation of sustainable and green goods. New technologies are always being created to assist green construction activities.
According to Terraco, innovation is the process of developing an idea or concept into a product that really adds value for the owner of the property, the user, the environment, or other stakeholders. Terraco believes that green buildings may reduce negative effects on the environment while preserving resources and enhancing the quality of life.
As an illustration, the Terraco Ecolife line of goods is devoid of heavy metals, formaldehyde, APEO, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other potentially hazardous substances. These water-based, solvent-free inventions have been approved by a third party. They contain specific polymers and additives that make sure they are safe for the environment and meet the strictest international health and environmental standards.
At its foundation, Terraco is dedicated to providing ongoing advancements and has a systematic approach that has served its clients all over the world for more than 40 years. The Terraco Technical Centre, the organization’s center for international research and development, is based in Ireland. It allows for constant innovation and the creation of game-changing technologies, which are the firm’s foundation.
Terraco draws attention to the fact that elements like climate, cultures, traditions, and other economic and environmental considerations have an impact on the design and development of green structures. With the help of regional technical centers in the UAE, China, and Korea, the company’s global Technical Center closely collaborates with local technical centers across the world to create cutting-edge goods that are perfect for all markets while also continuously assessing market requirements.
This means that the goods are made and the systems are changed for a system like Terraco’s EIFS (Outside Insulation Finishing Systems), which helps customers protect the outside of their buildings and saves up to 50% on energy costs.
High-quality, environmentally friendly solutions for the construction sector are the main emphasis of Terraco’s products and procedures. To ensure exceptional performance, these goods are produced using carefully chosen, high-quality raw materials. The business emphasizes the value of finding locally accessible, ecologically friendly raw materials to cut lead times, freight costs, and—more importantly—the accompanying carbon impact.
John Carey, Terraco’s Group technical director, says: “Our technical resources in the Middle East help evaluate the efficiency of products applied in hot and arid conditions, while our teams in Europe help test the same innovation in sub-zero temperatures.”
Through Terraco’s Global Innovation Process, this teamwork enables the group to collaborate across functions and locations to improve solutions.
The global marketing, technical, and several other corporate divisions work together on the global innovation process. The efforts of several cross-functional teams, global technology partners, and other stakeholders are, as a consequence, simplified in the innovation process.
Additionally, this procedure makes sure that client insights are acknowledged and taken into account, and local commercial teams around the group assist the company in staying current with emerging technology and market trends. For instance, Terraco just introduced Handycoat LoDust, a filling and leveling product, in Jordan and South Korea.
According to Terraco, this solution minimizes airborne sanding dust by up to 80%, making application simple and pleasant and minimizing any potential pain brought on by dust particles produced during the sanding process. The company claims that this was only achievable because of intense cross-functional cooperation inside the organization and careful awareness of consumer insights, the value chain, and local market dynamics.
Academic partnerships are essential to the global innovation process. To assess innovations and aid in the understanding of recent technical advancements in the construction industry, Terraco regularly collaborates with academics and scientists at various universities throughout the globe.
Finally, authorities and policymakers are crucial in promoting innovation. Government programs like the UAE’s 2040 masterplan and Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision serve as spurs for more innovation in the construction sector and will not only enable but also demand more aggressive and audacious approaches to innovation and sustainability. The industry’s problem is making sure that the whole value chain can execute and accept these technologies at scale and on time.