ABSTRACT
Australian building technology does not generally experience innovation in the same manner as the advances in materials and assembly techniques seen in European countries. Despite cultural similarities, Australian technology caters to a smaller domestic market, lower levels of investment and government incentives for innovation, and a background of exporting primary products with ‘value adding’ carried out elsewhere. For example, zinc mined in Australia is sent to Germany, where Rhinezinc processes the basic ingots into sheet material complete with a patented pre-patina finish. Although primarily consumed by European markets, a small quantity is exported back to Australia for use on prestigious buildings requiring durable materials. This would represent the exception rather than the norm, as most building, roofing and cladding materials rarely carry warranties that exceed fifteen to twenty years.
