Interview with Fernando Palacios

Could you briefly introduce AID Palmes and your project?

We are a family business, born in 1999 as a result of the generational change of a group of Developer – Construction companies.

Throughout these years, projects and works of various types have been carried out in various towns in the provinces of Tarragona and Barcelona

A few months ago we have opened a new headquarters in Torrent (Valencia).

How do we work?

The first step is to have the plot, the client can bring it to us or we can help them look for it. On that land we carried out a feasibility study to later carry out a preliminary project along with a study of all the costs (work, licenses and permits, fees, deeds, etc.).

Then we carry out the project, manage the construction and enjoy your new home.

What has been your career so far?

My career began in 2010 as Assistant Site Manager in the construction of the IN TEMPO residential building in Benidorm. Later I moved to Cerdanyola del Valles where I worked as Director of Material Execution, Project Management. I am responsible for the Works Department of AID PALMES.

Currently we have opened a new headquarters in Valencia where we are already having the first project contracts.

What was your first contact with MMC, modern construction methods?

At the company Aid Palmes, we are not new to MMC since our founder, Antonio Carames (architect and developer) built the first industrialized homes in Cerdanyola del Valles in the 90s, in this case they were built with Hormipresa. It is true that they were different times and other methods, but we have always been characterized by seeking new challenges and new approaches to building. I personally had the first contacts at the Construmat-type construction fairs where I already realized that the sector was undergoing a significant change. It was in 2018-2019 when we started studying Steelframe systems for our projects…

For you, what advantages do industrialized construction systems offer? Why do you decide to bet on them?

One of the fundamental advantages is the security of having very precise quality control (obviously on the basis that quality workmanship is implicit) and execution without unforeseen events and this in construction is a very big step. One of the main reasons for opting for these systems is because of the peace of mind and security that the technical department of Thermochip has shown us when looking for solutions to our projects and the other fundamental reason is because we consider essential the need to move towards sustainable construction systems, zero energy consumption, etc.

It should also be said that after many constructions in a “traditional” way, we sought to escape the archaic methods of brick facades and the typical problems of current construction. (unqualified labor, poor quality of execution, etc.).

What added value can you offer your clients thanks to this type of construction? How do your clients value the MMC methodology?

The added value is the speed of execution, quality control, professional execution, sustainability, the effectiveness of the system in terms of insulation and energy efficiency. I have to say that our clients have received it very positively, but we have to keep in mind that we work for self-promoters and that one of the differentiating elements of these systems is speed and this point is not a determining factor for the profile of our clients. They value quality, efficiency and cost much more without a doubt.

Where do you see the industrialized construction sector in 5 years? What do you consider to be the challenges that industrialisation must face in the future and how must it adapt to overcome them?

This question is a bit ambiguous in the sense that we do not know what the future will hold, especially now that we are living in a time of so much uncertainty. Maybe I should answer how I want to see it and not how we think we can see it. I hope and wish that the construction erases once and for all all the stigmas it has and moves towards a way of doing things that is much more professional, much better coordinated between all the agents, much easier for banking entities to deal with the implementation of these systems, etc.

Why do you decide to bet on Thermochip? What do Thermochip solutions bring you in your projects?

Thermochip has proven to be a reliable, efficient, fast, sustainable and effective system. A system that has opted to capture with seals, guarantees and give validity to all its work.

It is a very versatile system that provides us with solutions for both façades, slabs, roofs and renovations.

We improve the envelope, we improve safety on the job since in the first phase we already have slabs executed and facades ready to receive the cladding. We improve the useful surfaces of homes without affecting the built surfaces.

To give you an idea, AID PALMES currently has the Maraca Thermochip prescribed in all these projects:

Cerdanyola in execution:

Flors Street. 4 homes with slabs, roof and façade in Thermochip.

Calle Sol. 3 homes with floors, roof and facades in Thermochip.

Cerdanyola in the phase of obtaining a building permit:

Provença Street. 1 insulated single-family home with Thermochip envelope. (Concrete slab).

Torres i Bages Street. 7 semi-detached homes with a Thermochip envelope and a multi-family building with 3 homes with a Thermochip envelope (concrete slabs).

Cerdanyola in marketing:

Moon Street. 8 semi-detached homes with Thermochip envelope.

Valencia with construction license and waiting for the start.

Montserrat. 1 insulated house with metal structure, envelope and cover of Thermochip. Av. San Lorenzo. 3 insulated homes with Thermochi envelope and cover