PIONEERING York-based Portakabin subsidiary Yorkon has won a major industry award for the second year running.

The company has been devising new ways of building schools, retail outlets and blocks of flats in its factory rather than on building sites for the past five years.

The method of constructing "modular" buildings in factories cuts down on waste and accidents, and means construction is less weather dependent.

At an event held at the Park Lane Hilton, in London, Yorkon was presented with the award for off-site manufacturing specialist of the year at the Specialist Contractor Awards.

Yorkon was chosen by a judging panel of more than 100 senior industry figures for its commitment to innovation in manufacturing, construction and design.

The judges said: "Yorkon has done more than any other firm to grow the productive capacity of the off-site industry.

"In the course of doing this, it has transformed itself into one of Britain's leading experts on designing, costing, project managing and financing modular construction.

"As a result, Yorkon has been associated with many of the groundbreaking developments in British construction over the past five years."

Published: 18/01/2005