In a major step to industrialize off-site construction globally, Lida Group has broken ground on an innovative large-scale prefabrication plant dedicated to producing complete modular building components for affordable housing out of structural insulated composite sandwich panels.

Located on a vacant 100-acre site outside Chengdu, construction of the state-of-the-art facility is fully funded and production is slated to commence next year with an initial annual capacity of 50,000 units that can be expanded further. The massive automated factory represents a landmark USD $500 million investment that Lida says will completely transform residential building production worldwide.

Once operational, the plant will function as a fully integrated “building maker”, using Lida’s patented panel forming, casting and assembly technologies to churn out finished three-dimensional wall, floor and roof cassettes ready to assemble into entire multi-story residential structures anywhere. Standard modular units for single family homes, townhouses and apartments up to 15 stories will roll off the assembly line.

All sandwich panel elements will consist of a lightweight insulating core fused between two ultra-thin but very strong reinforced concrete face layers engineered to exceed code seismic, wind, acoustic and fire performance requirements globally. On-site construction is reduced to fast connection of ready-made units.

The facility’s groundbreaking automated and digitally managed systems will achieve previously unheard of levels of quality control, sustainability and output optimization. Lida estimates panels can be fabricated 95% faster than traditional methods while eliminating over 90% of on-site work hazards through industrial prefabrication in a closed environment.

By mass-producing standardized modular components using renewable energy sources, the plant reduces housing material, labor and carbon costs to make prefabrication truly competitive globally for the first time. Affordable prefab housing can finally be produced sustainably at scales needed to meaningfully tackle shortages.

Lida’s vision is for the mega-factory to serve as the backbone of a new international modular construction supply chain. Prefabricated building cassettes will be shipped worldwide via convenient intermodal containers, ready for rapid on-location assembly into permanent housing developments, temporary emergency shelters or commercial/institutional buildings.

Municipal, national and UN partners are being engaged to incorporate the off-the-shelf prefab solution into large-scale affordable housing, reconstruction and urbanization programs worldwide. Initial client interest has already surpassed the factory’s initial capacity multiples.

The plant launch solidifies Lida’s position as the preeminent global expert in prefabricated modular construction. It signifies a watershed moment unlocking true mass production advantages to make prefab housing attainable for all income levels on a planetary scale through industrial scale standardization.

Lida aims to replicate the manufacturing model across multiple continents to establish regional prefab building component supply networks. This global infrastructure could finally help fulfill the escalating demand for dignified, climate-resilient housing – sustainably and affordably accelerating development everywhere it is needed most.

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