On July 24th, Japanese engineering consulting firm Chodai Co., Ltd. announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with FlexBase, a Dutch company specializing in designing and building floating structures. FlexBase possesses technology that incorporates polystyrene foam within reinforced concrete structures to create buoyant floating structures. The partnership will explore the procurement of materials and potential applications of these floating structures, aiming to promote demonstration and commercialization in Japan. Chodai intends to integrate this technology with new floating technologies currently being researched in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, ultimately aiming for the early realization of the company’s “Floating City Project”.

FlexBase typically employs an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) method used in civil engineering to manufacture floating structures. These structures can be directly constructed on water and range in size from small to large. They are maintenance-free and can be reliably and stably used even in marine environments. FlexBase has a track record of completed projects in the Netherlands and Singapore.

FlexBase's Chief Technology Officer, Jan Willem Roel, visited Japan and participated in the signing ceremony in Tokyo with Chodai's President, Masahiro Nomoto. Since around 2019, Chodai has been working on the Floating City Project, focusing on the establishment and development of new floating technologies and the early realization of floating architectural structures. The initial goal is to introduce these technologies to restaurants, hotels, and small-scale commercial facilities on water. By leveraging this partnership, Chodai plans to promote proposal activities to local governments and facilitate the early implementation of demonstration experiments. (2024/07/25)