Morgan Sindall Celebrates Success with partners at the second annual RECONMATIC Assembly Meeting
Morgan Sindall and UK partners extended a warm welcome to RECONMATIC delegates from around the world as they gathered in Manchester for the second Annual Assembly of their research and development programme. This initiative is dedicated to advancing automated solutions for sustainable and circular management of construction and demolition waste.
Partners from across Europe and China came together to share updates on their Work Packages and to collaborate and strategise about the next steps. Hosted by the University of Salford and the University of Manchester on September 14th and 15th, 2023, the event comprised productive workshops, engaging discussions and illuminating tours of the cutting-edge facilities at both institutions.
After the warm welcome by host, Prof. Juan-Antonio FérrizPapí (University of Salford), who leads the team in the UK, project coordinator Jan Valentin from the Czech Technical University in Prague, presented an insightful overview of the partners' achievements and outlined key strategies for enhancing collaboration and project success in the coming year. Throughout the first day, partners had the opportunity to evaluate the progress and future strategies for all work packages within RECONMATIC.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT
One of the highlights of the first day was the tour of the Energy House 2.0 and the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC) at the University of Salford, the latter of which was delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction in 2022. The day concluded with a networking dinner, offering a relaxed atmosphere for further collaboration.
The second day brought a momentous occasion as representatives from Chinese partners joined in person for the first time. Professor Yong Wang of the University of Manchester welcomed the Chinese partners to the UK and provided them with a platform to share their insights. Arcas & Callisto Consulting facilitated the attendance of nine Chinese partners representing the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China (MoHURD) and the China Academy of Building Research. Among them were Professor Jingjiang Liu and Mrs. Siya Wang, both members of our International Expert Advisory Board. This marked the official commencement of collaboration between Europe and China within the RECONMATIC Project.
A CALL FOR DATA
The Morgan Sindall team, including digital construction manager Owen Ashton, supply chain sustainability manager Kane Greenough and research analyst Louise Sturman, shared an update on the progress being made within Work Package 2 in collaboration with the University of Salford, BIMBox and Strabag Construction. A key component of this is the development of a Materials Data Base which will help users to understand how waste can be reduced through design, construction and throughout the operation’s life cycle. See below for Morgan Sindall's interactive brochure, 'A Call for Data' which provides further information on this topic.
A concurrent workshop delved deep into sustainability and circularity assessment tools, as well as the organisation of RECONMATIC's upcoming Open Days in the Czech Republic on October 6th and next year in the UK. The inaugural RECONMATIC event will be part of the European Researchers Night in Prague, organised by the Czech Technical University (CTU), with the aim of engaging the general audience in the world of recycling and construction economics. Next year's UK event will focus on technical aspects, targeting industry stakeholders, authorities, and students. All Open Days will receive support from Future Needs (FN) and will be organized by partners in the host countries.
Attendees were also treated to tours of the University of Manchester's facilities, providing them with a unique opportunity to explore the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre and the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials.
On behalf of Morgan Sindall and the UK partners, we are grateful to our esteemed consortium partners for joining us from across the EU, and China to further the research and development programme. The two-day assembly served as a fertile ground for exchanging ideas and strategic planning, showcasing our project's progress, fostering collaborations, and enabling knowledge-sharing. We thank all partners for their valuable contributions and we look forward to continuing in our collaborative mission to develop automated solutions for sustainable and circular construction and demolition waste management."
Owen Ashton, Head of Digital Construction
For more information about the RECONMATIC project, its objectives, events, and outcomes, please visit www.reconmatic.eu.