MGB Berhad, a subsidiary of LBS Bina Group Berhad, has successfully delivered their first batch of Industrialised Building System (IBS) built homes in the LBS Bina Alam Perdana township in only 12 months instead of 18 months. The IBS system is technology that ensures better quality of property development, using precast concrete production.

The LBS Bina Alam Perdana township is a project comprising 673 units of double-storey terrace homes. All of the homes will be constructed using the IBS method, produced by the MGB factory which began operating in May 2018. Sited on 10 acres of land, the mobile factory can produce up to 2,000 units of properties annually.

According to MGB Berhad Group Managing Director, Tan Sri Lim Hock San, “LBS Alam Perdana is MGB’s first IBS precast concrete development. The mobile IBS factory at LBS Alam Perdana has contributed significantly in terms of achieving greater efficiency, productivity and quality. It has enabled us to customise the precast units according to the project’s requirements, deliver the units within a shorter time frame and with superior quality. This has resulted in early completion of the homes.”

Ariel view of LBS Alam Perdana

IBS is a revolutionary technology that enables developers to deliver homes much faster, saving up to 33% of construction time. Additionally, developers will get to save up to 31% on manual labour, which translates to a reduction of 49% for on-site labour costs.

MGB strongly believes that the IBS technology will be a catalyst to increasing sustainable construction practices in Malaysia. Delivering many benefits, among some of the most significant ones include shorter construction times, less manpower on-site, and a more cost-effective model. And perhaps most importantly, IBS is also more environmentally friendly, which is in line with the promotion of green construction as outlined in the Construction Industry Transformation Plan (2016-2020).

According to Tan Sri Lim, “IBS plays a key role in helping developers and builders, like LBS, achieve sustainable goals and build thriving communities. While the cost and quality benefits of IBS are apparent, many developers have not fully explored the technology’s environmental advantages, which include waste minimisation, promoting more efficient use of green materials, noise reduction on sites and increased site safety.”

In an example provided by Tan Sri Lim, he stated that as IBS is a system that manufactures building materials in a controlled environment, usage of toxic materials, and noise pollution and heat trap is reduced. Weather impact on construction progress will also be reduced with IBS. And with these advantages, IBS is expected to push the industry’s sustainable agenda further.

MGB is no newcomer to the IBS technology. They have been developing properties using IBS for the past 10 years. Their first foray into the IBS industry began with the production of producing IBS steel formworks and aluminium formworks. They only recently added pre-cast concrete units to their offerings.

And in the year 2017, in line with the government’s call to improve quality and productivity through IBS, MGB entered a joint venture with the SANY Group. The SANY Group is an expert in manufacturing and precast concrete design. By entering into a partnership with them, the Group looks forward to strengthening their position in the IBS sector.

Tan Sri Lim elaborated further by saying, “MGB will push ahead to strengthen its leadership in the IBS segment. The use of IBS technology has proven to help developers reduce the cost of building and reliance on unskilled manual labour, while simultaneously, enhancing the capability to deliver high-quality homes. The demand for IBS units will increase tremendously as the cost-savings will allow developers to bring down home prices”.

The MGB Group is of the belief that widespread adoption of the IBS technology will enhance the standards of the local development and construction scene. And IBS has also been identified as a means for shorter construction periods at lower costs, while creating higher quality homes. And in lieu of this, the government has called for greater use of the IBS method to achieve the nation’s goal of building one million affordable homes.

MGB invested RM40 million in March 2019, to open their second IBS facility. The facility is a permanent precast concrete plant, sized at 119,017 sq ft, and located in Nilai. The opening of the facility was officiated by the Housing and Local Government Minister, YB Zuraida Kamaruddin. With the opening of this facility, MGB expects to advance their position in the local IBS market and deliver higher quality IBS components.

This new permanent factory is a joint venture between MGB and Sany Construction Industry Development (M) Sdn Bhd, and will be able to deliver up to 2,000 units of properties for the Kita @ Cybersouth township. Sany Construction Industry Development is a subsidiary of Sany Group, which is the world’s sixth largest heavy-equipment manufacturer.

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(23 October 2019)