Construction is one of the largest sectors in the global economy, with its significance reflected in GDP contributions. Despite its size, the industry is under immense pressure, grappling with escalating challenges in meeting the demand for new buildings driven by a growing global population.
Offsite manufacturing, which involves assembling buildings in factories rather than on-site, offers a solution. This approach promises to deliver buildings that are both cheaper and faster to build without sacrificing quality. As a result, a significant portion of new buildings worldwide is increasingly being constructed offsite.
Adopting automation in offsite construction is essential for overcoming the challenge of limited capacity, and moving construction to factories presents an ideal opportunity to leverage automation. However, despite its potential to boost capacity and efficiency, automation is still underutilised. In many advanced offsite manufacturing facilities, work remains predominantly manual, and translating designs into production information is a lengthy process.
The underlying reasons why happen to be quite consistent across the industry. To begin with, every building is different, and interpreting its design to shop floor terms remains an arduous process. Moreover, production planning remains an afterthought, with legacy processes accumulating complexity and switching costs. Most importantly, design and manufacturing are usually disconnected, leading to significant efficiency losses.
Dataform Lab's software platform is unique in its ability to seamlessly link design and manufacturing for offsite construction. The platform enables manufacturers to automatically configure projects, instantly translate designs into production drawings and machine code, and simulate and optimise factory operations through dynamic scheduling.
DataForm Lab’s platform also helps businesses understand when, how and in what form automation can be integrated into offsite manufacturing, to maximise efficiency and capacity. Offsite manufacturers can create, simulate, and compare automated production line designs instantly, ensuring that integration aligns with both technical and commercial organisational goals.
DataForm Lab is already at work in some of the most prominent offsite manufacturers worldwide. Its platform, which is both material and sector agnostic, is utilised by manufacturers of 3D and 2D timber and steel systems to successfully complete housing, commercial, educational, and hospitality projects.
The significant impact of DataForm Lab’s solution is evident through: 90% time savings in translating designs into production information; 25% increase in manufacturing performance with zero capital expenditure; Four times faster manufacturing automation integration, customised to each manufacturer’s unique business model.
The £1.1 million seed round will enable the team to expand, accelerating an ambitious product roadmap and meeting the rapidly growing demand for their innovative solution.
Eva Magnisali, Founder & CEO of DataForm Lab, with her background in architecture, engineering, and robotic programming, founded Dataform Lab to bridge the gap between design and manufacturing. Her firsthand experience in the field highlighted the industry's inefficiencies, inspiring her to develop a practical, forward-looking solution.
