Unimetal S.p.a.
Has published an article on 21/04/2023
Here comes the PREFABRICATED bathroom
Unimetal proposes a complete, transportable and easily installed structure, intended for schools, student halls, hospitals, public buildings, accommodation facilities and customisable according to the project.
Unimetal projects a new image of the prefabricated bathroom onto the market: a top quality product, realised through the use of highly industrialised technologies.
Prefabricated bathrooms of all kinds, ranging from the most economical to the most expensive designer lines.
One of the big trends that are marking the construction world is called prefabrication.
A concept associated in the past with emergency construction, prefabrication is now one of the most innovative sectors of the building industry, able to fully meet the needs of modern construction sites in terms of time and cost optimisation, as well as the certainty of guaranteed results. Unimetal, a company of the Idrocentro group specialising in the production of metal roofing and insulated panels, which has recently opened a new division dedicated to the production of prefabricated bathroom modules, also took part in identifying the advantages offered by the world of off-site construction. Completely customisable, the bathroom units are assembled in the Unimetal factory in Torre San Giorgio (Cuneo) and then installed in public or private works.
Unimetal is a versatile company that looks across the construction market. In addition to being active for many years in the production of insulated panels, facade cladding, roofing and floor slabs, the company has decided to enter the world of bathroom cells and prefabricated building site units. Working closely with prefabricators of industrial buildings, we realised that in recent years there has been an exponential increase in demand for this type of solution, not only in the industrial sector, but also in the residential, hospitality and hospital sectors.
On the construction site, time is a tyrant: constructing the elements for a building off-site makes it possible to optimise production and progress times, meet delivery deadlines and keep costs under control. With all these considerations in mind, we decided to open the new Unimetal-block division dedicated to the construction of prefabricated bathroom units. The fields of application are many, from new hotels to hospitals, from new residential complexes to schools. However, these are always new buildings. At the moment, the facilities where our bathroom cells are most in demand are accommodation facilities and housing complexes. We are also entering the hospital world, where great opportunities are opening up. The bathroom cells are made with a lightened concrete base, on which a vertical steel structure is developed to maintain good rigidity and low weight. This last element is very important, as it allows the cell not to place excessive weight on the structures in which it is to be housed and to be moved easily. In addition, the modules are made complete with electrical and plumbing systems, as well as all the finishes, from flooring and wall coverings to sanitary ware. The client, supported by our technicians, has complete freedom of choice. Thanks to our partnership with Idrocentro, we have a wide range of materials at our disposal, which allows us to offer great flexibility in the design of these cells.
In addition to optimisation of construction time, reduced weight and great flexibility in design, the use of prefabricated bathroom cells allows the designer or contractor to have a single contact person accompanying them from design to installation. This allows them to benefit from complete and unambiguous coordination linking all stages of the process, from the initial agreements to delivery: a very strong need on the building site. Another advantage is the transparency on costs: once the design has been carried out and the estimate provided, the customer has a clear view in terms of budget and does not have to deal with unplanned additional costs.
The bathroom cell is designed to integrate perfectly into the building, with no visible difference to a masonry bathroom.
For hygienic purposes, normal design and construction regulations are followed, the bathroom must be perfectly integrated into the context and guarantee normal functionality. One of the rules in terms of construction, given its factory construction, is that it can be moved by means of trailers.
Unimetal also takes care of the transport. Once the module has been carefully packed, it is loaded onto trailers and transported to the construction site. Then, using hooks placed around the cell, the module is lifted by crane and positioned horizontally within the building.
The block is taken from the vehicle and placed inside the building horizontally. It cannot be placed vertically, i.e. it cannot be lowered from the top downwards. Once the floors have been created and the bathroom needs to be inserted, we proceed as described above, inserting the cells inside the building. The bathroom cell is complete with installations, both electrical and plumbing. All preparations are purposely left in place so that the contractor can proceed with the work once it has been positioned in the right place. The dimensions are not standard but vary depending on the project.
Unimetal employs specialised craftsmen and a state-of-the-art team to follow designers and offer an optimal service, from design to installation. We also follow the client's instructions step by step, guaranteeing the client the security of being able to count on a single point of contact.
The Unimetal company is part of the Idrocentro group, which deals with the supply of plumbing and sanitary material, both civil and industrial. Other companies are also connected to the group: Meglioalge, dedicated to the bathroom, wellness, floor, wall and kitchen furnishing sector; Abitare, which deals with the distribution of building materials; Evac, which proposes a complete range of all the components needed to create an aeraulic system; Esi Irrigazione, specialising in supplies for irrigation systems and swimming pools; and Baggi Lux, a company dedicated to the production of ultralight resin skylights and natural smoke and heat evacuators. This year also saw the addition of Veglio Lux for the distribution of electrical material. A group created with the aim of providing an increasingly complete and specialised service to face tomorrow's market.
