During our tour of Hunan Province in China end of March into early April, in Changsha city, we visited BROAD Group, founded in 1988 and privately owned.
Its hundreds of hi-tech products are uniquely generated from the group’s own research and development and exported to over 80 countries. Essentially, the group deals in low carbon, non-electric climate control systems, clean air technology, nearly zero energy design and construction of retrofitted buildings, and wind power. It also produces clean oil from industrial and transportation waste mineral oils as raw materials. But it was the construction of an 11-storey building in 29 hours, with a crew of 60 and equipment, that was the highlight of the tour. Actually, it was the first item we saw, alighting from our coaches. Talk about a show house.
View of 11-storey building by BROAD Group, Changsha city, Hunan Province, China. Photo: SLCT
Essentially, the building is made up of a series of stainless steel B-CORE products that are meant to “transform the world’s construction and transportation industries from the foundation,” according to the site. BROAD Holon Co., Ltd. A group subsidiary, factory-makes stainless steel B-CORE Holon buildings that in concept, are very well designed shipping containers stacked together. Given that we are surrounded by seawater, we were assured of the product’s reliability during natural disasters, but not about the reaction to salt.
B-CORE technology by BROAD Group, Changsha city, Hunan Province, China. Photo: SLCT
The flexibility of the B-CORE technology means it can also be used to create roads and bridges that work with and not against nature, and shells of cars, aeroplanes and ships using the technology create lighter and safer transportation vehicles. If that translates into less costly flights, I’m all for it.
Construction certification. BROAD Group, Changsha city, Hunan Province, China. Photo: SLCT
One building constructed in 29 hours. Mindboggling. Are stainless steel core buildings something Grenada can look into? Is that a viable, cost-effective option for housing? How does that compare to standard concrete construction in terms of time, cost and safety? How much upskilling would the Grenada construction sector need? Would that option leave more land available for agriculture? Is the stainless steel B-CORE technology a viable, cost-effective over-the-long-term option for bridges and roads in Grenada?
So many questions.