Category: Safe Pair of Hands
5 Reasons Modular Balconies Make Sense in Canada
As Canadian construction evolves, the demand for smarter, more efficient building solutions continues to grow. Off-site construction has moved from being a trend to becoming a strategic choice, and prefabricated modular balconies are playing a key role in that transformation.
At Sapphire Balconies, we design balcony systems that increase the perceived value of developments, whilst streamlining balcony installation and maintenance processes. Our balconies are built for long-term performance and engineered to deliver consistent value throughout the project life cycle.
Here is why prefabricated modular balconies are suitable for Canadian projects and why developers, architects, and contractors should consider them:
- Designed to Integrate with Different Types of Building Frames
From mass timber projects in British Columbia to reinforced concrete high-rises in Ontario, prefabricated balconies can connect to various kinds of building frames.
Sapphire’s prefab balconies are compatible with:
- reinforced concrete (RC) frames
- cross-laminated timber (CLT) frames
- light gauge steel frames (LGSF)
- tunnel form systems (TFS)
- Peikko’s DELTABEAM systems.
This structural versatility allows project teams to select the best framework for their needs without compromising on balcony design or adding unnecessary complexity to the build.
- Value-Driven without Compromising on Quality
Prefabrication reduces installation time and labor costs, but its biggest advantage is long-term value. Factory-built balconies reduce site errors, improve build quality, and minimize ongoing maintenance. Faster install times also lead to tighter project timelines and improved predictability.
For developers, this means better cost control, less waste, and a desirable, high-performance feature that enhances marketability and long-term returns.
- Lightweight and Built for Modern Construction
With Canada’s growing focus on sustainability and mass timber construction, weight and thermal efficiency are more important than ever. Our balconies are significantly lighter than traditional concrete options. This reduces the load on the structure, enables easier logistics, and allows for greater design flexibility.
Each balcony unit is tested to meet Canadian building standards, with resistance to wind uplift, structural deflection, and thermal bridging designed into every system.
- Delivered Faster with Off-Site Precision
Canadian projects often face unpredictable delays due to weather. Prefabricated balconies help avoid these setbacks by moving construction into controlled indoor environments.
This dramatically reduces on-site trades, accelerates the schedule, and improves safety conditions.
- Designed for Canadian Conditions and Compliance
From harsh winters to complex building regulations, Canadian construction requires resilient and adaptable solutions. Our balconies are built with Canadian codes and climates in mind.
They are:
- thermally efficient, with built-in thermal breaks
- capable of handling snow loads and wind exposure
- durable, low maintenance, and corrosion-resistant.
Features like thermal breaks in prefab balconies improve energy efficiency by lowering heat transfer, supporting compliance with standards like the Toronto Green Standard. Sustainable balcony design can also contribute to lower TEDI ratings.
Building Smarter for a Better Future
Prefabricated modular balconies are not just a modern upgrade; they are a strategic investment in smarter construction. With improved speed, safety, cost control, and environmental performance, they align perfectly with the future of Canadian development.
If you are planning a Canadian project, we would love to help you build it better.
How could I use MLI Select to benefit my balcony development?
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]It’s true – using a modular balcony system could make the difference when it comes to increasing the value of your development. Here’s how.
What is MLI Select?
Using the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) MLI (Multi-Unit Loan Insurance) Select program, developers can be given financial incentives and rewards for building affordable, energy-efficient and accessible residential units.
The more affordable, energy-efficient and accessible the development, the more points the developer will be awarded.
What are the financial incentives?
The points earned from MLI Select can be used to access financial incentives. Each one provides the developer and the end-user with a range of benefits, including:
- Lower mortgage insurance fees of up to 75% reduction.
- Longer amortization periods of up to 50 years.
- Reduced interest rates of up to 1.5% lower.
- Access to preferential financing terms, with lenders confirmed to offer more attractive interest rates due to the lower risk associated with CMHC-backed loans.
Accessibility
Using a modular system designed by Sapphire means accessibility can be considered and implemented from the design stage.
Door reveals and thresholds are designed to be step-free, and balconies can have a 1.7m turning radius factored in (as per ACA requirements), both of which allow a wheelchair user to easily and independently navigate their way on and off the balcony.
Sustainability
Sapphire’s modular balcony systems contribute to energy efficiency by reducing thermal bridging and embodied carbon through innovative design. Each of our balconies is thermally broken by design and features just 1% of the thermal transmission compared to a traditional concrete alternative.
The prefabricated design minimizes construction waste, supports sustainable development goals and aligns with Toronto Green Standard to Tier 4 compliance. By using a modular, aluminum balcony, your project can achieve higher MLI points under the CMHC’s framework whilst ensuring compliance with strict urban sustainability standards.
What next?
Your next development could benefit from extended amortizations, lower insurance fees and reduced interest rates, significantly raising the value of your project. Incorporating a modular balcony system, aligning with schemes like Toronto Green Standard Tier 4 and maximizing the benefits of the MLI Select program could make your next development one to be envied.
To learn more about our modular system and how it could increase your development’s perceived value, get in touch with our team today.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html css=””]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Sapphire lifts off with new lightweight Balloon system
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April Fools!
As you might have imagined, attaching a balcony to a hot air balloon is a little far-fetched. But there’s a grain or two of truth in what we’ve shown off.
Balconies as light as air
Our Next Generation balcony system is designed to be as lightweight as possible in order to reduce the carbon footprint of our product. So, whilst it might not be light enough to be carried by hot air alone, there are numerous benefits to using a lightweight material like aluminium.
We’ve reduced the amount of material in our balconies compared to our standard Glide-On Cassette®, meaning the amount of embodied carbon is reduced as a result. Furthermore, thanks to the lighter-weight Cassette® of the Next Generation Balcony, we’re able to transport more balconies to the site in a single journey, further reducing the embodied carbon footprint of your project.
As an extra benefit, the light weight of the Next Generation Balcony Cassette® means that we’ve further reduced the weight on your building’s structure. This means fewer penetrations in the building façade, less risk of thermal bridging and a more energy-efficient building for both you and your end-users.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” order=”Image left / content right” image=”13193″ heading=”Discover Sapphire’s Next Generation Balcony” button_text=”Discover” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Four-product%2Fthe-next-generation-balcony%2F|title:The%20Next%20Generation%20Balcony”][vc_column][sapphire_contentLink order=”Image left / content right” image=”13193″ heading=”Discover Sapphire’s Next Generation Balcony” button_text=”Discover” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Four-product%2Fthe-next-generation-balcony%2F|title:The%20Next%20Generation%20Balcony”]The Next Generation Balcony is a huge step forward for the construction market[/sapphire_contentLink][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]
Huntley Wharf, Reading
You might have spotted a nod to Huntley Wharf in the Balloon video, a Berkeley development we’re incredibly pleased to have been a part of. Using our Next Generation balcony suite, we were able to help developers Berkeley Group and architects PRP Architects streamline by innovation and bring this site in our headquarter town of Reading to life.
The collaboration focused on integrating the balconies seamlessly with the building facade, by manufacturing offsite brick columns for corner balconies, inset balconies and balconies with brick slip fascias.
One of the project’s major constraints was the proximity of one of the tower crane locations to a stack of balconies. Sapphire’s site support team devised an inventive solution, proposing the use of a compact spider crane to install the balconies from below.
Through early and proactive engagement with project stakeholders, we ensured that the balconies contributed meaningfully to the architectural narrative, enhancing the living experience and honouring the site’s rich heritage.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_contentLink order=”Image left / content right” image=”15915″ heading=”Huntley Wharf – Case Study” button_text=”Read more” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Fcase-studies%2Fhuntley-wharf-reading%2F|title:Huntley%20Wharf%2C%20Reading”]See how innovation brought Huntley Wharf to life.[/sapphire_contentLink][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]
Until next year…
Did we fool you? Or are you just eager to hear more about a lightweight balcony system for your next development?
Either way, get in touch with us to book a free design meeting, learn more via one of our expert CPDs or even just to say hello![/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html css=””]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Sapphire places in The Business Magazine’s Top 250 list
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1712754199987{border-bottom-width: 12px !important;}”][sapphire_textBlock]Growth isn’t just about a steadily rising chart – it’s also defined by what we continue to learn and prove as a company. Our history as a grassroots balustrade manufacturer means we truly appreciate our recognition and we’re excited to share how far we’ve come in 2025.
Sapphire as a Top 250 Company
We first entered The Business Magazine’s Thames Valley Top 200 list in 2020 and were listed again most recently last year at the 104th position. Their list comprises 240,000+ mid-market companies (defined as having an annual turnover of between £10-£300 million) in the Thames Valley area. Of the companies featured, 29 are FTSE 350 listed and have a gross turnover of £330 billion in all sectors.
The list has expanded to 250 companies in the past five years, but Sapphire’s position has remained strong, being praised as one of the highest-ranked independent, privately-owned business in the Thames Valley region year-on-year, listed by annual sales turnover.
Sapphire’s newest achievement
By hitting this milestone, we’ve once again proved our competency as a construction company. We’ve proven our competency through accreditation schemes, cross-departmental training and thought leadership exercises. We help to train others in the residential construction sector both in collaboration with Resibuild Events and by speaking at national events like London Build.
We’re proud of our newest achievement – proving competency isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. There are benefits on-site and benefits behind-the-scenes by doing so.
Read the full list on The Business Magazine’s website by following the link here: https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/listings/thames-valley-250/#listing-section
Growth is a many-faceted word. We can prove our growth financially, or we can prove it through the ways in which we can benefit others. By proving our competency time and time again, we can grow as a team and continue to be the construction leaders our customers need.
To understand our commitment to building towards the future, visit our website and read more:[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_contentLink order=”Image left / content right” image=”13471″ heading=”Celebrating our award-winning team” button_text=”Read more” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Fsapphire-news%2Fcelebrating-our-award-winning-team%2F|title:Celebrating%20our%20award-winning%20team”]Visit our research and development page.[/sapphire_contentLink][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
How Many Building Frames Can a Sapphire Balcony Connect To?
At Sapphire Balconies, we can connect balconies to various building structures, including traditional reinforced concrete (RC) frames, cross-laminated timber (CLT) frames, light gauge steel frames (LGSF), tunnel form structures (TFS), and even Peikko’s DELTABEAM® Frame.
Leading the market through innovation, we ensure that our balconies meet the unique demands of each structure, providing lightweight options that complement sustainable materials while maintaining strong, safe connections.
Cross-Laminated Timber Frames
Cross-laminated timber, or mass timber, is created by glueing together layers of solid-sawn lumber taken from a single log. By glueing the wood layers at the right angles, CLT can achieve better structural rigidity than regular timber in both vertical and horizontal directions.
Benefits of CLT:
- Improved Project Efficiency: CLT as a prefabricated material is incredibly flexible for building design. Whilst concrete is the conventional option due to its perceived rigidity, some companies favour CLT over concrete as it is 20–30% faster to install and can reduce the need for on-site labour.
- Strong Fire Performance: The fire performance of CLT is exceptional as it is fire-rated and compliant for ongoing use.
Reinforced Concrete Frames
A traditional concrete frame is built from the ground up, poured between stacks of rebar steel to create a sturdy wall to the building.
Thanks to its rigidity, this method is used to this day as a reliable (albeit slower than a precast alternative) way to build apartment blocks and a durable material to anchor a balcony into. However, given how labour- and carbon-intensive this approach is, many countries are looking for more advanced approaches.
- We can connect to a traditionally poured concrete façade in several ways with our lightweight aluminium Cassette® balconies. Their slim, manageable form allows any number of connections to be made.
- Using our innovative and speedy solution, we cast the anchors into the concrete slab. This forms a robust base for the balcony Cassette® to slide directly onto, at which stage it is secured by an on-site team.
Light Gauge Steel Frames
Light gauge steel frames are a modern solution for low-rise buildings (up to 15 storeys), offering faster construction, cleaner sites, and a reduced carbon footprint. As the name suggests, LGSF is a skeleton of sorts for a building, a dynamic and versatile application that uses lightweight, 100% non-combustible material to provide the inner support for a building whilst staying as green as possible.
Considerations when connecting balconies to LGSF:
- Due to the lightweight nature of LGSF, balconies should be as light as possible to avoid any instances of deflection.
- With balcony anchors, a key issue is the connection back into the frame, as rotational deflection can occur here. Sapphire has developed new connection methods that provide extra rigidity.
The DELTABEAM® Frame
Peikko’s DELTABEAM® is an innovative steel building frame that reduces the number of columns needed in a building. This allows for longer spans of unsupported horizontal beams, giving you more floor area for any given building footprint.
- Sapphire Balconies are able to connect to the DELTABEAM® frame without compromising on thermal performance, installation speed, or cost.
- This solution is suitable for any project as it comes with standard components that don’t require unique costs, technologies, or modifications.
Connecting balconies to a DELTABEAM® frame previously required a concrete infill, but – thanks to collaboration between Peikko and Sapphire – that’s now a thing of the past.
We connected balconies to the DELTABEAM® frame at Silvertown Quays in Newham, London.
Read our full blog to learn more.
Tunnel Form Structures
Tunnel construction is a framework that allows a building contractor or developer to cast walls and concrete slabs at once as part of a daily routine.
It is one of the many modern methods of construction (MMC) that are now used to increase the speed of projects and the quality of the final result, based on the accuracy that off-site production and storage can provide.
Connecting balconies to TFS:
- As with standard concrete slabs, tunnel construction cells can be penetrated and thermally guarded on-site to create balcony connection points.
- Because tunnel cells are cast in situ, the balcony connections can be cast with the concrete slab to avoid excess penetration of the slab itself.
Sapphire’s lightweight balconies can easily connect to TFS.
If you have a project in mind and would like to discuss it, get in touch with our team and we’ll be happy to help you.
How Can Off-Site Production Transform Your Balcony Project?
Sapphire has embraced and applied modern methods of construction to all its projects, from using standardised designs to off-site production and storage. We aim to minimise on-site work by finishing our balconies in our factories, leading to various benefits for our clients.
What are the Key Benefits of Off-Site Balcony Production?
- Increased Quality Assurance: Producing balcony units in a factory setting ensures higher quality control. Our balconies go through strict quality checks and using our Passport app we ensure that a balcony passes on to the next production stage after it’s passed the previous one, ensuring a higher quality output and less repetition of work.
- Increased Perceived Value: Off-site balcony production increases the quality of output. Therefore, every balcony installed will be high quality, increasing the condo’s value.
- Fewer Project Delays: Health and safety issues related to hot work during the installation of traditional balconies are minimised, and so is the risk of errors.
- Faster Balcony Installation: We have been able to rapidly install over 60 Glide-On Cassette balconies in a day. As the balconies are prefinished in our manufacturing plant, installation becomes faster and requires fewer on-site trades.
- No Storage Requirement: Pre-finishing as much as possible in the factory minimises the need for secure storage on-site, which is especially beneficial for projects in city centres where space is limited.
Discover how our prefabricated balconies benefited a passive-house residential development Vienna House in Vancouver, Canada.
How Does Off-Site Production Contribute to a Project’s Sustainability Goals?
- Less Waste Generation: When balconies are manufactured and finished off-site, there is a lower chance of product defects and material waste.
- Innovative and Sustainable Design Possibilities: Off-site manufacturing gives innovators the chance to design and produce prefabricated balconies that are energy-efficient and sustainable. For example, our balconies are all thermally broken, leading to improved thermal efficiency in the building.
- Shorter Construction Period On Site: Off-site production leads to project efficiency by reducing balcony installation time and on-site trades, saving construction time and carbon emissions.
Discover how our off-site production techniques and prefabricated balconies have reduced carbon emissions, time, and costs in our case studies.
At Sapphire, we believe that well-designed balconies benefit property developers and buyers significantly. Our balconies are constructed with functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics in mind. Through off-site production, our team can execute innovative designs with accuracy, enhancing our balconies’ perceived value.
If you have a project in mind and wish to discuss it, start a conversation about prefabricated balconies in Canada with us: www.balconies.global/contact-us/
What is StubGuard®?
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]In the wake of Grenfell and the introduction of the combustible cladding ban of 2018, fire safety and thermal performance in modern construction have become the highest, non-negotiable priorities when developing housing, especially in high-rise buildings where balcony connections present unique challenges.
What is StubGuard®?
Presented with the challenge of protecting the horizontal fire barrier while effectively penetrating it to allow for a balcony connection, Sapphire has created an innovative solution: the StubGuard®.
StubGuard® seamlessly integrates into horizontal cavity barriers, fixed via wrap compression for a secure fit on balcony anchors and is suitable for cavities up to 300mm wide.
Fire barrier and thermal performance benefits of StubGuard®
StubGuard® is an essential component of the cavity barrier system when connecting a balcony, and helps developers meet strict fire safety regulations, including Gateway 2.
Certified under Certifire® and tested to BS EN 1366-4, StubGuard® provides a compliant and reliable fire-stopping solution while simplifying the installation process.
StubGuard® is designed to protect the continuity of the fire barrier by acting as a consistent fire protection element. This eliminates the need for down stands, maintains a seamless protective layer, and has effective fire-stopping integrity and insulation for up to 120 minutes.
When used with Sapphire’s new G25 steel stub, the need for a wraparound of the I-beam is reduced, making it easier to integrate into the facade due to a smaller profile streamlined abutments. Thanks to our dedicated research and development team, we’ve been able to optimise the chi (χ) value per connection, reducing thermal bridging and enhancing overall building performance.
StubGuard® is often included with Sapphire balcony anchors and can be requested for most projects, allowing projects to benefit from this advanced fire-stopping technology. Now available with a smaller profile on our G25 anchor steel stubs, simplified abutments, and proven fire performance, it is a game-changer for achieving compliance without complexity.
For further details, we can provide full test reports upon request. To explore the science behind fire safety in balcony design, read the full StubGuard® data sheet now.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_contentLinkBottom image=”3619″ heading=”Technical Manual – StubGuard®” button_text=”Read now” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Ftechnicalmustread|title:Technical%20Manual%20-%20StubGuard%C2%AE|target:_blank”]Sapphire’s must read documents on StubGuard®.[/sapphire_contentLinkBottom][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html css=””]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Vienna House, Vancouver
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“Sapphire Balconies check a lot of boxes of the goals of the Vienna House project charter – they’re durable, support resilience by providing passive shading, and they improve quality of life for residents.”
John Wall, Principal & Co-Founder, Public Architecture
History
In response to the global cost of living crisis and issues with housing affordability across Canada, BC Housing has taken a leap in East Vancouver by developing Vienna House, a brand-new and near-zero-emissions rental apartment community designed with the future in mind. Sapphire are incredibly pleased to be a part of this project and provide our innovative, prefabricated, modular balconies to this incredible next step in sustainable Canadian residential development.
Mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, has previously spoken on the project at the ground breaking ceremony, stating:
“I’m thankful to our partners at the Province of British Columbia, BC Housing, More Than A Roof and [our knowledge-sharing partners] the City of Vienna for making this possible. Excited to build 123 more affordable rental units for Vancouver. Through strong Ministry of Housing partnerships and a focus on energy efficiency designs, we’re not just building homes, but shaping a future where affordable living is a reality for all Vancouverites.”
Streamlined by Innovation, Delivered by Sapphire
BC Housing and Public Architecture collaborated from an early stage, with a common aspiration of creating a housing community that would set a new standard for sustainable urban development through utilizing mass timber construction, Passive House design principles and prefabricated wall panels to address climate change and housing affordability.
The groups, however, were constrained by a focus on their balconies. Balconies across Canada have typically been constructed using a poured concrete method, but due to the thermal bridging issues that can arise with concrete, the building could have become severely energy inefficient over time as increased use of gas-burning central heating systems would have to compensate for heat lost through concrete balconies.
BC Housing and Public Architecture brought Sapphire on board as a response to these concerns to provide Vienna House with a new type of prefabricated aluminum balcony that intends to help the project become streamlined by innovation.
The prefabricated balconies have helped to increase the speed of installation (shaving “a full month” off project timelines on one project in Hamilton, Ontario, according to one developer), increase safety by all-but eliminating fall risk as the balconies can be installed from inside the patio door openings and, perhaps most importantly when compared with traditional concrete pouring methods, the prefabricated balconies will permit just a fraction of heat to escape the building.
As the balconies at Vienna House are thermally broken by design, attaching to the building via hooks, slide-on brackets and suspension rods, they transfer very little heat to the outdoors and so increase the embodied energy performance of the building throughout its lifespan.[/sapphire_textBlock][sapphire_contentLink order=”Image left / content right” image=”13193″ heading=”Discover Sapphire’s Next Generation Balcony” button_text=”Discover” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Four-product%2Fthe-next-generation-balcony%2F|title:The%20Next%20Generation%20Balcony”]The Next Generation Balcony is a huge step forward for the construction market[/sapphire_contentLink]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
Sapphire Starts Balcony Production In Ireland
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]Sapphire Balconies is thrilled to announce the expansion of our production facilities with a factory in Co. Wexford, Ireland.
Officially operational since late September, this factory is a part of Sapphire’s global expansion and the first of two planned factories across the Republic of Ireland.
Factory Benefits & Expansion
There are many benefits to expanding production capabilities with a new factory in Ireland.
Having this as a base of offsite manufacture for our Irish projects means easier access for clients to visit and view their products before delivery. Factory manufacture also increased production capacity and is fully scalable, meaning faster, higher quality balconies made in Ireland, for Irish projects, by Irish staff.
There are sustainability benefits too – local manufacturing reduces carbon emissions from long-haul transportation, meaning your next project benefits from reduced embodied carbon as soon as Sapphire is on board.
Streamlining the vesting process
‘Streamlined by Sapphire’ is what we aim for on every project, from early engagement to final balcony installation and signoff. This includes the vesting process, which our new Irish factory helps to deliver.
Vesting means purchasing materials offsite before delivery, securing them for manufacture, and mitigating production cost increases and lead time issues. Vesting ensures that once a project is booked in at our factory, materials are insured, labelled and tracked – and finished products are ready for site delivery, improving project timelines.
Whilst vesting has always been available in our Northern Irish and England-based factories, having facilities available in Ireland means that the time needed for manufacturing and delivery is significantly shortened. This ensures that vested materials can be completed and delivered faster, reducing any potential delays.
We’re delighted to have expanded our production facilities with a factory in County Wexford.
This new factory reinforces our commitment to sustainability and efficiency by streamlining the vesting process and simplifying our supply chain and product access.
A second Irish factory will be opening soon in Ireland, further boosting our capacity, so keep your eyes peeled for more information as we have it![/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html css=””]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]