IN THE FRAME: DECEMBER 2025
⏱️ 2 min read
Welcome to IN THE FRAME, your source of construction industry insights and inspiration from Howick.
As we wrap up 2025, we are closing out with stories that show what our partners are achieving with Howick technology, along with a milestone from one of our own. From executing complex digital designs to fast track delivery at scale, there is plenty here to spark ideas for your projects in 2026.
We have also included a reminder of our holiday closing times.
PROJECT: UBC BIM Services & Vertex BD - Young Residence, Arizona
Discover how UBC BIM Services used Vertex BD with a Howick FRAMA™ 3200 to model and frame a complex hybrid home in Arizona. Their BIM output was fed straight to machine ready files, removing manual steps and reducing errors. Detailing was finished in 25 working days, and framing matched the model with tight accuracy.
What is in it for you: A practical look at how, even for complex builds, pairing the right design tools with Howick machinery can improve the speed and accuracy of delivery.
SMART BUILD SPOTLIGHT: Frameclad’s customer first approach
This SMART BUILD SPOTLIGHT shows how Frameclad in the UK puts customer needs at the centre of their process. Their 50,000 square foot setup, seven roll-formers and full design capability let them match output to each project, whether that is a metre of steel or a full 10-storey panelised structure.
What is in it for you: See how an experienced fabricator combines the right mindset, team culture, and systems to stay lean, lift throughput, and meet tight timelines.
Making the impossible possible: 20 years of engineering excellence - Hermanus du Plessis
This month, we are proud to celebrate our Senior Design Engineer, Hermanus du Plessis’s 20th anniversary at Howick. From his early days as a fitter and turner to helping develop X-CALIBR™, Hermanus embodies the grit and curiosity that drives our innovation. His philosophy? "Anything can be engineered."
Why it matters: Get to know the people and engineering minds behind the machines you use every day. Every Howick innovation is built on decades of problem solving expertise.
Delivering 240 apartments in just 90 days
When you need to house 14,000 workers for a mega-project, speed is everything. Brazil’s CenterSteel rose to the challenge, delivering 15 buildings and 240 apartments in just three months. Using the FRAMA™ 3200 and Vertex BD, they achieved an output of an average of 2.81 apartments per day.
Why it matters: This is definitive proof of the scalability of light gauge steel. If you are looking to pitch for large scale accommodation projects, this case study shows exactly what is possible.
Holiday break: Office and factory closure
Our office and factory will close for the summer break on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
We wish you a safe and happy holiday season and all the very best for a prosperous 2026.
Feeling inspired?
The construction industry is evolving rapidly, with forward thinking businesses constantly pushing the boundaries of automation, precision, and efficiency. Talk to us today about how Howick technology can help you be part of the evolution. Visit our website or email us to find out more.
