Tuesday, February 17, 2026
The New South Wales (NSW) government is backing a groundbreaking off-site housing manufacturer in Orange that uses robotic technology to assemble flat-packed timber panels. This innovation, similar to assembling IKEA furniture, is set to help close the state’s housing gap by fast-tracking the construction of low-carbon homes. Green Timber Technology, the prefab manufacturer receiving a $4.8 million grant, is poised to make a significant impact in the housing sector.
Green Timber Technology: Revolutionising Housing with Robotic Prefab Panels
Green Timber Technology, which is partly owned by Pentarch Forestry, has been awarded the grant under the $480 million Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative. The company is now in a prime position to produce wall, floor, and roof panels in less than two days, accelerating the delivery of social and affordable housing. With this investment, Green Timber Technology plans to scale its operations to deliver the structural systems for more than 1,000 homes annually, all while using renewable timber.
Pete Morrison, CEO of Green Timber Technology, expressed his excitement about the grant, calling it a significant vote of confidence in regional manufacturing and modern construction. He highlighted that the facility in Orange will play a crucial role in helping the state address its housing shortage. “We can create homes faster, with greater certainty and using renewable timber,” Morrison said.
This modern approach to construction involves assembling prefabricated timber panels using robotic technology in a controlled factory setting. The panels, made from locally sourced Australian pine timber, are designed for rapid assembly on-site. By utilising Design for Manufacture and Assembly principles, these panels arrive at construction sites ready for swift erection, reducing months of work into weeks.
Boosting Regional Employment and Sustainability
The investment in Green Timber Technology is not just about providing housing solutions but also about supporting regional NSW. The project is expected to create over 50 direct jobs in the area, with additional opportunities in sectors like transport, timber, and trades. NSW’s Minister for Energy, Climate Change, Heritage and the Environment, Penny Sharpe, described the project as a win for regional NSW. She emphasised the economic and environmental benefits, noting that the homes would be airtight, making them cheaper to heat and cool year-round.
“This is a real win for Regional NSW, with over 50 direct jobs created, and a real boost to adjacent workforces,” said Sharpe. “We’re not just funding sustainable homes; we’re funding homes that can be built in a weekend.”
Partnerships and Future Growth
In addition to the $4.8 million grant, Green Timber Technology recently formed a partnership with Brooklyn Homes, a subsidiary of White Picket Fence, to build 100 prefab timber homes in 2026. This collaboration is another step forward in scaling the production of sustainable housing.
The prefab system is designed to support housing at scale, making it suitable for regional housing, community housing, disaster relief, school infrastructure, and private dwellings. NSW’s Minister for Housing, Rose Jackson, highlighted the importance of this innovation in supporting the delivery of homes more quickly and efficiently. “By building homes in a factory environment, we can reduce the risk of weather delays and speed up delivery, meaning more people can move into safe housing sooner,” she said.
The prefab model’s efficiency and speed make it an ideal solution for addressing housing shortages in Australia. With automated assembly and factory-based production, much of the uncertainty surrounding labour shortages, volatile material pricing, and subcontracting issues can be mitigated. This will provide buyers and developers with greater predictability in finance and construction schedules.
A Sustainable Solution for the Housing Crisis
The NSW government’s backing of Green Timber Technology’s robotic prefab plant represents a major step towards addressing the state’s housing crisis. The innovative use of green timber technology offers a sustainable solution to a pressing problem, providing energy-efficient homes that are quicker to build and more affordable to maintain.
The grant is also part of broader efforts by the NSW government to promote sustainable manufacturing practices and tackle the climate crisis while ensuring that more people have access to affordable housing. The low-carbon prefab homes produced by Green Timber Technology will play a vital role in reducing the environmental impact of housing development while supporting the creation of thousands of new homes.
Conclusion: Accelerating Housing Construction with Innovation
Green Timber Technology is leading the charge in revolutionising how homes are built in NSW. With a strong commitment to low-carbon manufacturing and a focus on regional development, the company is positioned to make a significant impact on the housing sector. The backing of the NSW government ensures that the robotic prefab plant in Orange can scale production and deliver thousands of homes more quickly and efficiently. As housing demand continues to rise, this innovative approach could be the key to closing the housing gap in New South Wales.
News and picture source- https://woodcentral.com.au/
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Tags: Green Timber Technology, low-carbon housing, Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, NSW, prefab homes, renewable timber, robotic prefab, sustainable construction, woodworking industry, woodworking UK
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