Ark modular buildings are increasingly being chosen for mining and oil and gas camps due to their speed of assembly, low cost, high quality, and green credentials. With a multitude of building configurations, Ark camps can be found throughout the world, including at some of its biggest LNG developments. In 2010 Ark delivered its first LNG camp in PNG – a 1,000 person, multi-storey accommodation complex and support buildings assembled by a 99 percent local workforce in less than one year. Ark camps are now scattered across PNG.
Ark’s impressive production capacity – 2,000 cabins (i.e., modular units) per month – continues to grow largely due to its substantial and ongoing investment in technology. General Manager for Ark Pacific, Cass Ruka confirms that for a 5,000 person camp it takes a maximum of three months, upon issuance of a purchase order, to have all components delivered to site. Moreover, given that the company manufactures and delivers in stages, the first lot of building componentry can be on site in less than one month.
Ruka explains that Ark’s production capacity is underpinned by an intelligent manufacturing system that is powered by both robotics and data analytics. He goes on to emphasise that the same system also maximises quality. “Not only can our robotic welders operate 24/7 and 365 days per year, but they’re incredibly precise, producing seamless and perfect welds to ensure the durability and longevity of Ark’s buildings irrespective of whether they’re needed in the jungles of PNG or deserts of Qatar.”
Ark’s investment in technology, as well as in its expanded factory facilities, enables it to manufacture at considerable scale, which means that it can bring its product to market at a low cost. “We don’t cut corners on quality to keep prices down. It’s our scale and our technology that enables us to price our building systems so reasonably” explains Ruka. “We’re an ISO9001 certified company with plenty of other certifications such as our fire safety ratings to attest to the superiority of our buildings.”
In addition to the winning ‘trifecta’ of speed, cost and quality, Ark’s modular buildings also perform well when it comes to their environmental credentials. Ark has the lowest emission rates in the world of modular construction. Their high-tech manufacturing system keeps production waste to a bare minimum and because they are assembled (as opposed to constructed) there is no on-site pollution, wet work, or special waste disposal required. Ark buildings are also re-purposeable and largely recyclable.
Another important environmental advantage when building with Ark is a reduced freight footprint – up to 70 percent less than its competitors. Six of its flat pack units are equivalent to a single standard 20 foot shipping container when stacked together ready for transport. This means less ships, trucks, barges, etcetera when building with Ark, which in turn equates to (1) lower carbon emissions, (2) lower costs, (3) reduced degradation of local road networks, and (4) in the case of river transport systems, less water traffic and hence vessel wake erosion.
Ark has a 20-year history of delivering fit for purpose camps to oil, gas and mining developers all over the world. It’s building systems continue to improve and evolve in accord with client requirements and international standards. To learn more about Ark buildings in PNG, including its resource sector camp expertise and the advantages of its unique building systems: www.arkpacific.net
