The local precast concrete industry : past, present and future

Abstract

The study tries to examine the history or local pre-cast concrete that includes uses, types, capabilities and the impact of this new technology on the conventional construction material. It follows the expansion of pre-cast concrete uses over the time by looking at some construction projects around the Maltese Islands in which pre-cast concrete has been used. The emergence of local manufacturers in the 80s witnessed an evolution in manufacturing as well as new investments in technology, keeping constantly abreast of modem development in innovative systems of precast concrete products and production processes. The study shows the different ways in which pre-cast concrete can be produced and utilized locally. It also describes some of the processes involved to produce it, taking into consideration that over the past years, pre-cast technology has developed tremendously. Notwithstanding the advanced use of pre-cast concrete in other countries, the study will demonstrate how even locally it has achieved improvements in productivity, quality and buildability, thus providing the construction industry with more options and possibilities to meet the criteria dictated by today's requirements and those for the future By looking at local structures adopting pre-cast concrete elements it is hoped that the past and the present will be the point of departure from where the pre-cast concrete industry can move forward to the future. The identification of new systems, ideas, principles and issues will help our local construction industry to he more efficient and sustainable in the foreseeable future.