XFrame circular built solutions

Innovation overview and development

XFrame was developed from a vision to create a modular wall framing system that reduces building industry waste and facilitates end-of-life recovery and reuse. XFrame exists to deliver circular solutions for the built environment.

Our mission is to enable organisations to achieve circularity. We facilitate this through providing circular design expertise, art-to-part automation and distributed manufacturing.

Driving this innovative building solution is a set of core beliefs that include:

• Circularity can be achieved without design compromise.
• Designing to maximise material utilisation and minimising waste.
• Reducing environmental footprint through decentralised manufacturing, the use of supply chains and labour.
• Leveraging technology to unlock a scalable, locally manufactured, circular built solutions.
• Enabling recovery and reuse through product stewardship.

XFrame has now evolved to become a market leader in the provision of Circular Built Solutions across predominantly commercial and retail market sectors. Our solutions span Framing, Room and Product applications across the built environment.

How the innovation was developed, including effective collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnership along the project team
XFrame was developed by its inventor Ged Finch as part of his Masters of Architecture Thesis research. A research award from the New Zealand Institute of Building’s Charitable Trust enabled Ged to build the first full-scale demonstration of the XFrame technology at the School of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington in November 2017.

With the support of the Building Research Levy (New Zealand) and Victoria University of Wellington, Ged continued circular economy building systems and circular evaluation research to a doctoral level. Through prototyping activities undertaken in 2018 and 2019 (supported KiwiNet and numerous New Zealand construction firms), the XFrame system began to mature.

In 2019, to facilitate its transition from a niche research outcome to a commercially viable and widely adopted building technology, XFrame New Zealand partnered with industry commercialisation experts from Wellington University Ventures (in collaboration with KiwiNet) and the lnnovyz Institute to found XFrame Australia. The commercial growth of XFrame at this time was supported by Green Industries South Australia and KiwiNet. At this time Carsten Dethlefsen joined XFrame as general manager, allowing Ged to shift his focus to exclusively technology development and deployment. Nine months after establishing the Australian entity, and after the construction of multiple larger scale prototype projects in Adelaide (South Australia), XFrame completed its maiden capital raise (late 2020).

In 2021 XFrame shifted its focus to grow in-house technical capabilities prior to scaling up project delivery activities. Two technical staff joined XFrame at this time to undertake the build-out of software capable of articulating the XFrame system through supplied building plans. Alongside this technical development multiple strategic demonstration and prototypical projects were delivered across Australia and New Zealand.

Today, XFrame is a team of 14 people delivering projects globally to clients such as ANZ Bank, Uniqlo, H&M, Commonwealth Bank of Australia. These projects are delivered via. distributed manufacturing model utilising local supply chains rather than importing from overseas.

The use of new technologies, processes products or techniques or novel uses of existing ones
XFrame’s technology has been built with scalability at its core. Our software automates the design to manufacture process, unlocking efficiencies in design, project delivery, and material selection through client collaboration.

Preparation of design estimating, carbon reporting, tendering, manufacturing files and assembly/install documentation is automated.

Utilising standard machinery, XFrame is manufactured using locally sourced plywood. Automation of manufacturing files means XFrame can be deployed anywhere globally virtually overnight. We leverage existing manufacturing and supply chains, meaning XFrame does not require investment in manufacturing facilities.

XFrame is agnostic of design input and manufacturing equipment which permits rapid roll out and adoption through partnerships worldwide. We provide complete design flexibility for our clients and have design solutions to deliver commercial, retail and structural applications.

XFrame’s applications are limitless.

How does the innovation provide a more environmentally friendly approach for the industry
40% of global waste is a result of the building industry. XFrame’s proprietary technology platform delivers custom modular and reusable spaces, unlocking circularity and minimising waste.

The system comprises 12 standard components that are assembled using no more than a rubber mallet to form structurally braced framing panels, meaning no nails or glues are required. Linings are mounted using patented clips allowing easy removal and replacement.

XFrame enables an entire wall to be de-mounted back to to individual components for reconfiguration and reuse. It also uses 20% less raw materials than traditional timber frame methods of construction.

Our environmental credentials are incredibly strong, aided by carbon sequestering, FSC certified timbers and sovereign manufacturing capability.

How does the innovation provide an improvement in social value
Through the use of XFrame, our global clients are able to access localised supply chains in their procurement and manufacturing decisions to deploy XFrame. In doing so, they eliminate global freight, reduce their carbon footprint, support the local economy as well as obtain a globally consistent circular product.

In Australia we have partnered with the country’s second largest provider of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Our standardised and repeatable process means framing can be put together with unskilled labour. This unique characteristic has meant the creation of new, commercially paid, employment opportunities.

How does this innovation influence future specifications to improve sustainability
XFrame is arguably one of the world’s most sustainable building systems. It’s sustainability benefits are immeasurable.

• The system is globally scalable, utilising supply and manufacturing resources in the region of deployment.
• It is fully customisable modular building system.
• Has Unrivalled ESG credientials.
• 30% faster to install.
• 95% automation of ‘art-to-part’ process.
• Multiple applications across commercial, retail and residential markets.
• Uses 20% less raw materials.
• Framing and linings are completely demountable down to the individual component, meaning every element of a build can be reused.