Photo Credit: Ark Pacific - Minimal freight footprints, quick and easy installation, high quality steel framing and design diversity characterise Ark’s flat pack building systems; making them perfect for resource projects not just in Papua New Guinea but also Africa and Indonesia.
Flat pack building specialist Ark Pacific is further expanding its business in Papua New Guinea while simultaneously exploring opportunities in both Africa and Indonesia. The company’s growth and international business development initiatives are on the back of 10+ years’ project delivery in Papua New Guinea, primarily in the resources sector.
The first half of 2021 has seen Ark Pacific continue to deliver a diverse range of buildings throughout PNG for multiple resource sector clients. Ark buildings (i.e., mining camps, office facilities, ablution blocks, workshops, senior staff housing, etc.,) are being assembled at both remote inland and island resource operations.
To date, there are thousands of Ark building modules – all assembled by local workforces – to be found across the country. General Manager, Cassius Ruka, who has over 10 years’ experience in PNG’s construction and mining sectors, describes Ark’s building systems as “perfectly suited” to the remote and challenging conditions of resource operations.
“Mining companies prefer our buildings for several reasons” said Ruka. “They are designed and engineered to minimise freight (which in turn reduces client costs and the environmental impact of transporting them), they’re super quick and easy to install even by unskilled workforces, we use high quality steel as opposed to wood which means less maintenance and greater durability, and there are almost endless design options because the modules can be put together in a multitude of configurations.”
Ark’s design team works closely with their clients. Most recently they’ve been collaborating with a major gold mining company on the design of a new minerals testing laboratory. “The client wanted us to do a few things differently and achieve even greater cost efficiencies through minimising the use of on-site concrete by utilising galvanised steel column footings instead which we manufacture ourselves and ship as part of the kit” said Ruka. “We can be very flexible with our designs and the design process and anticipate finalising the laboratory build early in 2022.”
The travel restrictions and cost cuttings brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in construction clients all over the world needing to restructure their onsite requirements to accommodate more long term staff. Ark Pacific is responding to these changes by going back to the drawing board for some of its clients. An example of which involves redesigning senior management housing layouts; transforming them into high density accommodation blocks.
The popularity of Ark buildings in PNG’s resource sector inspired Ruka to look further afield to grow his business. “There are plenty of parallels between what PNG’s resource sector needs in its buildings and what’s required by resource operations in many African countries and Indonesia. In other words, our flat pack building systems which are perfect for PNG are equally suited to resource projects over there too.”
Ark Pacific are looking to penetrate the African and Indonesian market via partnerships with Australia’s Mincore and Lycopodium. The companies are working together on feasibility studies on several greenfield opportunities.
