The EcoScape design is based on ICI's Structure Lite™ Panels. These composite panels are constructed from glass fibre reinforced polypropylene skins with honeycomb core.
According to the agreement, approximately US$160 million worth of EcoScape homes will be shipped to Brazil from ICI's South Carolina, USA, facility over the next three years. After that time, ICI will establish a manufacturing facility in Brazil in cooperation with Millenium and Greenco, subject to a minimum local demand for 10 000 000 ft2 of housing annually.
ICI will ship a model home to Brazil in early 2012. It will begin regular shipments from its South Carolina facility once commercial production begins, probably in the first quarter of 2012.
The agreement plans a ramp up of 30 homes per week for the first 1000 homes, increasing to 50 homes per week thereafter.
Brazil's housing market
"EcoScape modular housing has all the attributes we were looking to service large scale demand in Brazil quickly," says Gustavo Cortês, legal representative of Greenco in Brazil.
"Its cost, speed of assembly, energy efficiency and versatility of appearance make it a great choice for the Brazilian market."
Brazil will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. Under an ambitious accelerated-growth programme (Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento, or PAC) Brazil has laid down investment plans of more than US$800 billion for infrastructure, including approximately US$72 billion for Minha Casa, Minha Vida, which aims to build two million new homes for low-income families before 2014.
