Kingspan is involved in the 'Design for Manufacture' exhibition as part of a consortium called SixtyK including British property development company Crest Nicholson. SixtyK last week unveiled a "£60,000 home", given an award under a British government competition.

The British government plans to deliver 84,000 affordable housing units in partnership with property developers over the next two years, as part of its £4bn National Affordable Housing Programme. The competition, conceived by former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, set builders the challenge of putting together a two-bedroom home using energy-efficient materials for a total cost of less than £60,000 ( 88,000).

The house was built using Standard Insulation Panels (SIP) manufactured by Kingspan, which slot together, effectively like a jigsaw puzzle, reducing construction time and costs.

For Kingspan, this could mean a substantial new growth opportunity. Gilbert McCarthy, managing director of Kingspan Century Homes, said SixtyK is now planning to roll out the affordable units in Britain.