98 | BUILDING BUILTsmart BUILTsmart is scaling up its factory-built housing model as demand grows for faster, more affordable homes, with the long-established family business operating across three North Island sites and planning further expansion. Based in Huntly since 1982, BUILTsmart has spent more than four decades refining a controlled manufacturing process that allows homes, classrooms, and community buildings to be completed undercover before being transported to site ready for installation. Sales manager Marc Clinch says that experience has helped the company build a system focused on three priorities for customers: quality, price, and time. “We have been doing this for 40 years and we have got the system down pat,” Marc says. “That is why we can build so quickly and why we can keep homes more affordable. It is all about time, efficiency, and having the right processes in place.” BUILTsmart now has 100 construction bays across its three manufacturing locations, giving it strong production capacity. Its Huntly headquarters has 65 bays and remains the backbone of the operation. A newer Feilding facility services the lower North Island, while a joint venture with Toitu Tairawhiti in Gisborne has created another base in the east coast region. Marc says the partnership reflects a shared commitment to kotahitanga and manaakitanga, combining expertise to create lasting benefits for the region. Together, the partners established a modern six-bay Smart Shelter factory that is creating employment opportunities for local iwi and skilled tradespeople, while helping deliver warm, affordable homes for families who need them most. Growth is continuing in Huntly, where BUILTsmart has recently developed another factory that will add 40 more construction bays. That extra capacity is expected to strengthen turnaround times and support further regional growth. “We are still growing. We want to be in Northland, and we want to be in the South Island as well,” he says. Unlike conventional building sites that can be slowed by weather, labour shortages, or material delays, BUILTsmart’s homes are constructed in a controlled indoor environment where trades can work year round. T T Kelly Deeks High-quality homes delivered to site Homes are completed in the factory, transported to site, and installed with far less disruption than a traditional build. That allows tighter quality control, better scheduling, and less waste. BUILTsmart has introduced improved inventory systems that allocate exact quantities of materials to each build, reducing unnecessary over ordering and helping contain costs. “If a job needs 400 screws, then 400 screws get allocated and not a box of 1000 screws. Trusted suppliers also play a major role in maintaining standards. Marc says relationships with quality manufacturers such as Metrapanel help ensure BUILTsmart homes are built with reliable products designed for New Zealand conditions. BUILTsmart’s work extends beyond residential housing. The company has delivered classrooms throughout the North Island, as well as community housing and other specialist buildings. That diversity has helped maintain a steady workflow while also giving councils, schools, and organisations faster access to needed infrastructure. Marc says one recent trend driving enquiry has been growing public interest in smaller homes and secondary dwellings following changes to granny flat rules. “That has definitely got people through the door. There is a lot more interest from people wanting practical housing options on existing land.” For customers with a suitable section, the process is straightforward. Homes are completed in the factory, transported to site, and installed with far less disruption than a traditional build. “We are proud to be family owned and operated, and we are always looking at ways to improve without ever compromising on quality.” Proudly supportingBUILTsmart KITCHENS
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