Member Article

?Dome? creation offers housing solution to the world

A Worcestershire inventor is setting his sights on securing an international pilot to showcase his dome house to aid charities across the world.

Jay Emery, Managing Director of Dingley Dell Enterprises, believes his ‘African’ inspired design offers numerous cost, environmental and time benefits compared to existing solutions currently in use.

Tapping into support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), the entrepreneur has just completed his second proof of concept design at Hill End Environmental Centre in Oxford.

The new design has been tailored to reflect feedback from charity organisations, who suggested the use of cheaper materials and a slightly larger footprint of 50 metres squared.

A team of Year 12 students from North Oxfordshire Academy and volunteers from Eynsham Running Club helped with the assembly, proving that unskilled labour can be employed in the construction process.

“We built the main structure of the latest dome house in just 4 days including the interior insulation, full electrical works and drainage,” explained Jay, who also runs sister business Bushman Wood Fired Ovens

“This incorporates all of the changes requested and I believe that it can be created in emerging countries for £5600. Better still, we proved that this could be built by people who aren’t trained in construction, meaning our homes could provide a valuable source of employment for people in disadvantaged communities.

“Now we want to work with aid organisations on overseas projects so we can prove without doubt that our solution beats anything else currently on the marketplace.”

MAS has been working with Dingley Dell for nearly four years, helping the Kidderminster-based firm with early stage prototyping, material selection and help with taking it to market.

The innovation of the design comes from the use of glass reinforced concrete and the use of an inflatable mould that acts as the main structure. It also complies to UK building regulations and is equipped with custom-made doorframes and windows.

Peter Roach, Manufacturing Advisor at MAS, picked up the story: “I’m delighted that we are continuing to support an innovation that can have a real global impact and, importantly, could go on to create tens of jobs directly and in the local supply chain.

“Jay has taken the original design and listened to his potential customer base by modifying it to be larger and cheaper to build, yet still retaining the quality and speed of construction.

“The next challenge is to secure the international pilot with the aid agencies.”

Jay has enjoyed significant success with Bushman Wood Fired Ovens, which has seen turnover rise to £300,000 after significant interest in his mobile pizza ovens.

MAS, which is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), works for manufacturers and through experienced advisors can help shape strategy, create new products, reduce waste and review supply chains.

Companies can take advantage of a free review that identifies key priority areas and funding is available for improvement projects focused on increasing efficiency, developing new products, strengthening supply chains and boosting sales.

For further information, please visit www.dingley-dell.com. To get more details on MAS go to www.mymas.org or follow us at @mas_works.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .