Swedish company to complete 90% of Saudi construction project remotely

Last year, Scandinavian Industrialized Building System (SIBS), one of the world’s leaders in modular construction technology has just secured a multi-billion ringgit contract to build 2,174 apartments in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

For those who aren’t too tuned into the construction industry, modular construction is a process where a building is constructed off-site. The cool thing about it is that while the materials and design of the buildings are done to the same standard as conventional buildings, modular buildings can be put together in half the time. The project, known as NEOM, will be delivered in the form of turn-key buildings from a finalized bottom slab upwards, slated for Q3 2024.

90% of NEOM will be built outside of the construction site

SIBS, which invested in a new plant in mainland Penang last year, stated that the NEOM will be developed with those working on the planning, engineering, and construction of the project in mind. Each of the 2,174 apartments will be fully fitted with one or two bedrooms, quality built-in furniture, exclusive bathrooms, and even a balcony.

That’s not all – according to the company, the sustainable design of the buildings is great for energy efficiency.

“We are thrilled to have secured this monumental project. This development represents a major milestone for our company and reflects our commitment to creating exceptional living experiences for tenants. The fact that SIBS has been selected as a supplier to NEOM is a clear confirmation that we have the competence and delivery strength that few in the world can match. We look forward to contributing to the development of NEOM as an international hub for, among other things, innovation, business, and sustainable development. We are excited to contribute to the growth and development of NEOM while providing a vibrant and sustainable community.” – Erik Thomaeus, CEO of SIBS Group

CEO of SIBS Malaysia, SP Ong, revealed that the buildings for the project will be completed mostly off-site:

“Everything in our factory is custom designed and built, from its production system to the machines used for production – something that no other competitor has. Not forgetting that we are one of the first to be able to complete 90% of an apartment building off-site leaving only 10% on-site work.” – SP Ong, CEO of SIBS Malaysia

Fun fact: SIB’s plant in Penang that we mentioned earlier spans 550,000 sq ft and is also almost entirely operated through solar energy to reduce its carbon footprint, further emphasizing the company’s commitment to sustainability design.