Langford is on the shortlist to house a new facility that will make a greener, more resilient construction alternative to concrete and employ 200 people.

Alexzi Building SolutionsB次元官网网址� list for where itB次元官网网址檒l build its new 150,000 square foot manufacturing plant has been narrowed down to Langford and North Cowichan. Once in operation, the plant would make durable, energy efficient and rapid-assembly construction panels.

The panels are made by using a mix of water, sand and proprietary materials called Nexiite B次元官网网址� developed by the company Nexii B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 mixed in a cast, with an insulating core. The mixture hardens in minutes to form a material thatB次元官网网址檚 stronger than concrete and just needs to be bolted together at the build site.

B次元官网网址淚t creates a seal thatB次元官网网址檚 air-tight and then the building wall itself is extremely energy efficient,B次元官网网址� said Amber Simpson, AlexziB次元官网网址檚 president.

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She says the panels offer a sustainable shift away from concrete and its carbon-intensive production.

The durable panels are fire, earthquake and water resistant, so B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 going to be extremely resilient in terms of natural disasters,B次元官网网址� Simpson said.

The bolted-together panels create an all-in-one type system, so thereB次元官网网址檚 no need for interior framing, drywall, insulation or siding and other weather-proof material on the exterior. Since theyB次元官网网址檙e not made from any organic materials, the panels wonB次元官网网址檛 rot.

Simpson said the panels replace several construction products, so builders are leaving job sites with a couple garbage bags of waste instead of truckloads. In Victoria, discarded construction material makes up almost 40 per cent of the total waste sent to the landfill.

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Simpson said using the panels reduces construction time by 75 per cent and the productB次元官网网址檚 energy efficiency helps cut operating costs.

The companyB次元官网网址檚 goal is to have the manufacturing plant, wherever it ends up being built, operational by sometime in 2022. The plant would produce millions of square feet worth of panels every year.

B次元官网网址淭o be able to bring a green manufacturing facility to the island that will employ up to 200 local residents is extremely exciting,B次元官网网址� Simpson said.

jake.romphf@blackpress.ca