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Writer's pictureConstruction Champions Podcast

Revolutionizing Construction: How Mobile Micro factories are Transforming the Industry

Unlocking Efficiency in Construction

The construction industry has long been plagued by inefficiencies, with technology and innovation often lagging behind other sectors. However, a new breed of companies is working to change the game. One such innovator is Aleksandr "Alex" Gampel, co-founder of Cuby, a company that is revolutionizing the way homes are built.

In this insightful interview, Alex shares his vision for how mobile micro factories can help address the construction industry's most pressing challenges, from the aging workforce to the rising costs of housing.

Industrializing Construction! Construction Champions Podcast 2-78 Aleksandr Alex Gampel Blog Image

Overcoming the Industry's Stubborn Resistance to Change

According to Alex, the construction industry's inherent conservatism and fragmentation have been significant barriers to innovation. "We're stubborn. We don't like change," he explains. "There's a lot of fragmentation, a lot of moving pieces, and a lot of parties that are not incentivized for things to go incredibly efficient."

Additionally, the industry's notoriously low profit margins – often just 1-6% for even the top-performing general contractors – make it difficult to reinvest in new technologies and methodologies. "That is not enough capital to reinvest in innovation, in finding more efficient methodologies," Alex says.


Decentralizing and Streamlining the Construction Process

Cuby's approach to "industrializing construction" involves a decentralized network of mobile micro factories that can produce components and pre-assemble materials for on-site assembly. This model aims to address the challenges of centralized "gigafactories" that require massive shipping and logistics.

"We don't believe in deviating away from the end product," Alex explains. "The more you over-engineer, the more you deviate away from what Lennar is building, the more you get builders saying, 'I don't know what this is. I'm not employing it.'"

Instead, Cuby's focus is on creating a cost-effective, streamlined process that leverages familiar materials and construction techniques, making it easier for builders to adopt the new technology.


Reducing Reliance on Skilled Labor

One of the industry's most pressing challenges is the aging construction workforce and the difficulty in attracting new talent. Cuby's solution aims to address this by breaking down the construction process into simpler, more manageable tasks that can be performed by less-skilled workers.

"We can take someone off the street, train them for two months, and they'll be able to build a home," Alex says. "That's the beauty of our system. That's the beauty of lean manufacturing, by definition, break up the steps in such a manner that they no longer require a certain level of skill."


Empowering Local Builders

Cuby's model is designed to empower local builders by providing them with a turnkey solution that can help them compete with larger, more established players. The company's mobile micro factories can be co-capitalized with local partners, who then have the ability to control their own supply chain and production.

"The folks that are approaching us, their logic is the following: 'Wow, I can own one of these in my market,'" Alex explains. "Each one of these mobile micro factories can produce about 430,000 outputs. That's about 200 homes a year. So, in some cases, our partners end up wanting to smoke their own supply."


Watch the entire interview today!


Embracing the Future of Construction

As the construction industry faces mounting challenges, companies like Cuby are leading the charge in developing innovative solutions that can help unlock new levels of efficiency and productivity. By embracing a more decentralized, streamlined approach to construction, these pioneers are paving the way for a more sustainable and adaptable industry.


Links and resources

Alex's links


Episode links



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