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Signalling increased interest in new housing models, a new investment by the state government will allow a Gold Coast-based modular home builder to double its manufacturing capacity.
ModnPods is an eco-friendly company that builds prefab studios and homes and has now become the fifth investment as part of the state government’s $100 million Business Investment Fund. According to Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick, the injection of capital will fuel the company’s growth into a range of new markets, as well as establish more than 100 new jobs in the state across the next few years.
“ModnPods ‘tiny homes’ are so popular that the company is having trouble keeping up demand,” Mr Dick explained.
He proclaimed that innovative approaches to home building are paramount, especially given the present constraints facing the property market. Modular home projects, such as those undertaken by ModnPods, allow for greater completion time and flexibility and reduce waste output, all while coming at a lower cost.
Speaking on the multi-use capabilities of ModnPods, he noted how they could be used “for a range of applications, including essential worker accommodation, holiday parks, social housing and home offices, incorporating high energy standards which can reduce gas and electricity bills”.
The investment injection will allow the company to increase its manufacturing capacity to 200 pods per year while simultaneously allowing the size of its Arundel factory to jump to 6,000 square metres.
This will allow the company to expand its customer base and product offerings to include eco-tourism products, as well as venture into social housing, First Nation housing, specialty disability accommodation, and school music pods.
Additionally, ModnPods forecast that 30 new staff would be onboarded within 12 months, with a push to grow its current team of 16 to approximately 100 over the course of the next three years.
Mr Dick detailed how the company is also “establishing several apprenticeship programs in collaboration with Gold Coast City Council, including a First Nations apprenticeship”.
“With 70 per cent of each pod’s input sourced from Queensland-based suppliers and an emphasis on using recycled and recyclable materials, there’ll be ongoing benefits for Queensland businesses and our environment as ModnPods grows,” he elaborated.
The modular home builder has also revealed that it is experiencing a significant increase in demand from the commercial sector, according to founder John Christie.
“Even with our continuing strong residential pod sales, rising demand in the commercial space is seeing our market demand by enterprise clients represent 80 per cent of our forward order business,” he said.
“The support of the Queensland government is enabling us to continue expanding our manufacturing capacity and create more local jobs,” concluded ModnPods chief executive officer Daniel Abrahams.
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