Item 1. Business
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
Overview
INNO
HOLDINGS INC. (“INNO,” “we,” “us,” or “Company”) is an innovative building-technology
company with a mission to transform the construction industry with our proprietary cold-formed steel-framing technology and other building
innovations. INNO recognized the inherent inefficiency and waste in traditional lumber-based construction techniques and sought to develop
steel-based construction technologies to solve the problems. INNO takes its name from “innovation” and is committed to the
research and development of steel studs/tracks/headers, providing higher performance and greater efficiencies in all aspects of construction,
making better structural solutions for both commercial and residential buildings, resulting in substantial labor cost savings, in our
view. The Company’s products are created using a combination of intelligent machines and cutting-edge techniques to provide an
optimal design solution of framing for engineers, builders, and construction companies. We are currently a manufacturer of cold-formed-steel
members and we offer a full range of services required to transform raw materials into precise steel framing products and prefabricated
homes. We sell these finished products either to businesses or directly to customers. The finished products and cold-formed-steel members
are used in a variety of building types, including residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure. We hope to transform the
building industry by reducing construction times while providing more affordable, environmentally sustainable, and durable solutions
compared to traditional construction materials and methods. We believe we are also well positioned to disrupt the construction industry,
which now accounts for $10 trillion of the global economy.
We
work with our customers to manufacture products in accordance with the customers’ drawings and specifications. Our work complies
with specific national and international codes and standards applicable to the construction industry. We believe that we have earned
our reputation through outstanding technical expertise, attention to detail, and a total commitment to excellence in customer service.
Our
primary manufacturing operations are located on approximately five acres in Brookshire, Texas. Our facility houses state-of-the-art equipment
that gives us the capability to manufacture 15,000 linear feet of product per day. We offer a full range of services such as structural
designs, metal stud production, and preassembly of metal studs into steel wall panels, which are required to transform raw materials
into finished products that are compliant with local building codes. Our manufacturing capabilities include fabrication operations, such
as cutting, punching, forming and assembling, and machine operations, which includes computer numerical controlled (“CNC”)
machine operations. We also provide support services for our manufacturing capabilities: manufacturing engineering (planning, fixture
and tooling development, and manufacturing), quality control (inspection and testing), materials procurement, production control (scheduling,
project management, and expediting), and final assembly.
All
manufacturing at our facility is done in accordance with our written quality assurance program, which meets specific national codes as
well as international codes, standards, and specifications. For example, we have ICC-ES evaluation reports (ESR-4641) that show that
our cold-formed steel-framing members are compliant with the 2018 and 2015 International Building Code (“IBC”), 2019 California
Building Code (“CBC”), and 2020 Florida Building Code. The standards used for each customer project are specific to each
customer’s needs, and we have implemented those standards into our manufacturing operations.
In
2024, we successfully launched a new revenue stream through our newly established subsidiary, Inno AI Tech Corp., which specializes in
research and consulting services.
Our
Products
Cold-Formed
Steel Framing
Cold-formed
steel is the material of choice to lower building costs and adapt to modular or off-site buildings. It is consistent in quality and
form, and it can be shipped preassembled or it can be assembled on-site by workers with little training. Our steel roof trusses,
wall panels, and joist systems are a cost-effective noncombustible alternative to traditional building materials. They are
now commonly used to build apartments, hotels, temporary housing, nursing homes, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and
single-family detached homes. These types of structures are expected to be the targets of our Company’s sales and marketing
team.
1
Our
proprietary cold-formed roller machines are equipped with proprietary software, which optimizes production efficiency and supports individual
part customization to ensure each cold-formed-steel member is produced to the exact specifications of the plans. Our intelligent machines
can precisely cut and punch out steel studs, leaving channels for the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing designs. We arrive at an accurate,
comprehensive, and information-rich design model with the utilization of light-gauge steel-framing engineering software , which
creates a digital model of the project that includes all functional systems, geometric features, and aesthetics, such as electrical wiring,
air conditioning, doors, and windows. The light-gauge steel-framing engineering software is a shared multidisciplinary resource that
allows collaborators to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness by compressing design lead time. We have created a full BIM solution
that instructs our advanced cold-formed roller machines to produce each steel-framing piece to certain specifications.
After
the design phase, our top-quality raw materials are processed on several production lines, each with made-to-order specific dimensions,
screw holes, and cross-cut stitching. These customizations reduce the need for on-site manual calculations and simplify the assembling
steps, both of which increase construction efficiency and reduce labor costs. All steel-framing products produced by our Company are
International Code Council (ICC) certified. The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards
and building safety solutions that include product evaluation, accreditation, technology, training, and certification. The Code Council’s
codes, standards, and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable, and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.
Our
modular steel building framing systems avoid construction delays caused by partial or unsynchronized delivery of different building components.
By breaking away from the methods of traditional stick-built building, our customers report that their construction timelines have been
reduced by at least 20%.
Castor
Cube
Due
to high housing prices, some are having difficulties purchasing a home. Housing market trends have shown a gradual preference for modular
homes, which is a prefabricated building that consists of repeated sections called modules, and involves constructing sections away from
the building site, then delivering them to the intended site where the installation is completed. We believe demand for prefab homes
is on an upward growth trend in the United States. According to the Straits Research Institute, North America’s share of the global
modular building market was valued at $28 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $53 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 7%.
According to the summary of an IBISWorld report titled, “Prefabricated Home Manufacturing in the US — Market Size 2002-2029,”
the prefabricated home manufacturing market size in the U.S. is expected to be $9.1 billion in 2023. We expect to capitalize on this
trend by providing high-quality and affordable modular homes.
Most
consumers are drawn to prefab homes because of their cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and permanent property characteristics. Castor Cube
is a low-maintenance, single-story, 743-square-foot manufactured home with 4 color options that can resist earthquakes, withstand winds,
and prevent pests. It is a cold-formed-steel building system equipped with honeycomb panels, and it is designed to maximize the strength-to-weight
value. As a result, it yields high structural stability. Castor Cube can be built on a foundation or used as a mobile home.
The
Castor Cube can be built on a foundation steel chassis, which can be single or used as a mobile multi-sectioned. We are expanding and
improving our facility in Texas and anticipate that this modular home product will be completely constructed within the next couple years.
Once built, it will be transported to permanent locations for installation. The timeline for product delivery is not affected by weather
since it will be manufactured in our 100% climate-controlled factory. Furthermore, we expect that streamlined building process will shorten
the completion time.
Mobile
Factory: Off-site Equipment Rental, Sales, Service, and Support
We
believe innovative technology can increase productivity in the building sector. Research and development of more efficient methods in
the manufacturing and building space is at the forefront of our business model.
2
Our
Mobile Factory is an all-in-one, secured production facility that will produce steel-framing members onsite. It can print wall panels,
floor truss, and roof truss components. The size is customized for a trailer, which enables it to be transported anywhere, ranging from
metropolitan suburbs to remote areas with little to no infrastructure. It is designed to enable immediate stud production on any site.
Our
Mobile Factory is complete with metal stud production equipment and a diesel generator. This generator can supply continuous power to
our cold-formed roller machine. The production capacity of our Mobile Factory is at least 1,000 linear feet per day. We believe this
innovation is the good solution for urgent deployment in disaster areas or remote areas. It is designed to reduce the cost and time of
transportation of metal studs, which we believe can drive a lower carbon footprint for larger projects.
The
Mobile Factory is operated and managed by Internet of Things (“IoT”) technology, a network of physical objects that are embedded
with sensors, software and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the
internet. INNO developed its proprietary IoT production management system independently. The system controls equipment and manages the
Mobile Factory via a dashboard, allowing the user to gain a comparative understanding of production parameters, such as operation data,
machinery breakdown data, uptime data and production efficiency.
Related
Services
We
may from time to time participate in land development and contractor services if an opportunity exists to leverage our products. Specifically,
we have evaluated the development of apartment complexes, retirement communities, and remodels for projects that would incorporate our
metal framing studs. For example, we have agreed to provide project development services for our contract with Vision Opportunity Fund
LP (assigned to Vision 101), partially owned by a minority shareholder of the Company, related to the development of an approximately
110,000 square feet retirement community.
In
February 2024, we formed Inno AI Tech Corp., which specializes in research and consulting services. Throughout the year, we successfully
supported a client in establishing a steel technology company. Our services included incorporation assistance, comprehensive training
programs, in-depth market research, and strategic business development guidance. This engagement generated consulting revenue of $205,000.
Our
Customers
We
can serve commercial, residential, and industrial projects. For the cold-formed steel-framing business, the sales model is business-to-business
because the main customers are developers, builders, and contractors. For the Castor Cube prefab home products and the consulting services
performed by Inno AI Tech Corp., the sales model is expected to be either business-to-business or business-to-customer.
On
a year-to-year basis we are generally dependent on a small number of major customers that change year to year. Our written agreements
with major customers normally terminate upon completion, and our major customers change from year to year. For the year ended September
30, 2024, three customers accounted for 90% of the Company’s total revenues, respectively. For the year ended September 30, 2023,
three customers accounted for 53%. As of September 30, 2024, $Nil outstanding of accounts receivable. Accounts receivable from one customer
accounted for 100% of the Company’s total accounts receivable as of September 30, 2023.
These
agreements contain standard construction and supplier agreement terms including payment schedules, performance schedules, the ability
to subcontract, insurance obligations and indemnification provisions, and confidentiality provisions. Our written agreements with these
customers generally terminate upon completion of the project or early terminate upon mutual agreement of the parties and contain provisions
restricting our right to assign the agreement.
3
Our
Suppliers
Historically
we rely on a limited number of suppliers. For the year ended September 30, 2024, two suppliers accounted for 58% of the Company’s
total purchases. For the year ended September 30, 2023, three suppliers accounted for 57% of the Company’s total purchases. As
of September 30, 2024 and 2023, accounts payable to two suppliers accounted for 51% and 55% of the Company’s total accounts payable,
respectively. We currently do not have written agreements with these suppliers or, generally, with any of our suppliers. All of our purchases
from these suppliers are made by way of individual orders.
Our
Competitive Strengths
Technology
Innovations
INNO
recognizes that no technology or product is completely immune to being copied, and therefore the company is committed to being a pioneer
in the industry by constantly researching and developing new technologies, and being ahead in various aspects of the industry such as
regulations, equipment autonomy, design technology, production efficiency, new product birth, orderly management, coordinated transportation,
remote production, etc. In this way, INNO aims to have the most advanced and comprehensive technology in the industry and be the true
technological barrier for competitors to overcome. INNO focuses on patentable innovative products and commercializing research discoveries
in the cold-formed steel industry in the U.S. and committed to bringing innovation in the field of thin-walled structures, cold-formed
steel building technology, and design methodology for resilient buildings.
Fully
Integrated Manufacturing Process
Compared
to other traditional metal stud manufacturers, INNO differentiates itself by integrating services from design to metal stud production
to prefabrication, utilizing off-site building technology to reduce the need for on-site framing labor. This approach allows INNO to
streamline the production process, increase efficiency, and reduce dependency on labor. By implementing off-site building technologies,
INNO is able to prefabricate and assemble many components of the building in a factory setting, which can lead to improved quality control,
faster construction times and reduced on-site labor costs. This approach allows INNO to be a leader in the metal studs manufacturing
industry in the U.S. and set a new standard for the building industry.
Compared
to other prefab home companies, INNO sets itself apart by making an innovation in the overall structure system and developing our own
patent pending panel material for faster installation. Unlike other prefab home competitors who still use traditional wood-stick building
methods or other unique liquid material (required by 3D printing), which are not as efficient and may not be able to guarantee delivery
times, INNO’s patent pending panel material and overall structure system allows for faster installation, improved efficiency and
guaranteed delivery times. This allows INNO to offer a more efficient and cost-effective solution for prefab home building and maintain
a competitive edge in the market. Additionally, INNO’s patent pending material and system can guarantee the quality and safety
of the building, which is a significant advantage over the other prefab home companies.
Rising
Cost of Traditional Wood Construction Favors Transition to Steel
Utilizing
INNO’s off-site building technology can significantly reduce overall construction costs, even when compared to wood building. The
past several years of western wildfires in the United States have had a significant impact on lumber stocks and mills, leading to disruptions
in supply and fluctuations in lumber prices. A study by the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) indicates that the cost to build
with cold-formed steel is relatively the same as building with wood when the cost comparison includes the construction insurance premiums
associated with using the materials. As the price of wood no longer provides a cost advantage, alternative building materials like steel
have become increasingly popular in the market. By leveraging its off-site building technology, INNO is able to offer a cost-effective
solution that takes advantage of the cost benefits of steel building while also providing faster and more efficient construction.
We
are keeping our prices at a competitive level with traditional wood framing solutions. In a recent internal case study, we found that
INNO’s products delivered real-world cost-savings of 8-16% compared to wood framing. This study compared our solution against wood
for a 2,2663 square feet. home built in 2022, for which we supplied materials. Based on fully quoted materials and estimated labor and
insurance costs, we estimate the contractor saved 16% by using INNO products compared to wood framing. For the “low” scenario,
we recently requested updated wood bids and used the lowest one; in this case, we estimate that INNO products would have provided the
contractor with 8% savings.
4
Market
Opportunity
Light-Gauge
Steel-Framing Market
According
to the report released by Grand View Research in 2022, titled “Light Gauge Steel Framing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis
Report By Type (Skeleton Steel Framing, Wall Bearing Steel Framing), By End-use (Commercial, Residential), By Region, And Segment Forecasts,
2023 - 2030”, the global light-gauge steel-framing market was valued at $37.27 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $52.73
billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2023 to 2030. The substantial rise in construction spending and a shift in trend toward
sustainable materials have contributed to higher energy efficiency at a lower cost, in turn driving the market demand for light-gauge
steel frames. According to KBV Research’s report released in February 2022, titled “North America Light Gauge Steel Framing
Market Size, Share and Industry Trend Analysis Report By Type, By End Use, By Country, Historical Data and Growth Forecast, 2021-2027,”
the U. S. market has dominated the North American cold-formed steel-framing market, and it is expected to continue to be a dominant market
player until 2027; thereby, achieving a market value of $7.2 billion by 2027.
According
to the summary of an IBISWorld report titled, “Wood Framing in the US - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029),”
the wood framing market size in the U.S. is expected to be $27.5 billion in 2024. Since the wood structures could be replaced by cold-formed-steel
structures, INNO’s target market size includes the wood-framing market. If we combined the US light gauge steel (which we estimate
to be currently at approximately $6 billion based on the projected market value of $7.2 billion by 2027) and wood framing market ($27.5
billion) opportunities in 2024, we estimate it would amount to a $33.5 billion market opportunity in which INNO competes.
Prefabricated
Building Market
According
to the summary of an IBISWorld report titled, “Prefabricated Home Manufacturing in the US market size (2024-2029),” the prefabricated
home manufacturing market size in the U.S. is expected to be $13.3 billion in 2024. According to the report released by Global Industry
Analysts, Inc, titled “Prefabricated Buildings - Global Strategic Business Report”, the global prefabricated building market,
estimated at $117.4 billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of $202.7 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.1%
over the analysis period of 2022 through 2030. According to Straits Research Institute, the U.S. modular home market is projected to
be valued at $53 billion in 2030.
Prefabricated
houses are those that are built with the help of prefabricated building materials. These building materials are prefabricated in an off-site
facility and then transported to the desired location for assembly. The building materials used to develop prefabricated houses are divided
into concrete-based and metal-based materials. The market is being driven by factors such as shorter construction times and cost savings.
The market is also benefiting from increased customer interest in reducing CO2 emissions, green building, and waste reduction.
Regulatory
and Governmental Pressures for Change
President
Biden’s Executive Order 14057 on the adoption of the federal Sustainable Development Catalyst for America’s Clean Energy
Industry and Jobs and the accompanying federal Sustainable Development Plan establish the ambitious goal of achieving zero emissions
from building by 2045. The federal government will work on new construction, major renovations, and existing real estate to achieve linked
electrification, reduced energy use, lower water consumption and waste reduction. The federal government will develop data-driven targets
and annual indicators for energy and water reduction by 2030 based on leading performance benchmarks for building type categories and
the composition of institutional building portfolios. As part of this journey, the federal government will use performance contracts
to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and modernize facilities while providing financial savings.
In
2021, the Los Angeles City Council Public Safety Committee approved a proposal to expand Fire District I, an anachronistic planning overlay
that would effectively ban wood-frame building in much of the city. The motion currently winding its way through City Council would expand
Fire District I to neighborhoods with a population density of 5,000 residents per square mile, among other areas. With nearly all of
Los Angeles comfortably above 5,000 residents per square mile, this expansion would effectively ban timber and wood-frame building in
much of the city, including many rapidly growing neighborhoods near transit.
5
Sustainability
and Green Building
Manufacturing
of materials for buildings and construction accounted for approximately 11% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2017 according
to the Global Status Report 2018, Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction & International Energy Agency. Increased global
awareness of green building has driven efforts among all levels of government. For example, local governments are beginning to regulate
in favor of using alternatives to wood in building projects. To reduce the city’s vulnerability to wildfires, the Los Angeles City
Council voted in early 2021 to explore a proposal that could prohibit the use of wood-frame building for larger developments in some
of its most densely populated neighborhoods. Similarly, the Los Angeles City Council Public Safety Committee approval of a proposal in
2021 to expand Fire District 1, an anachronistic planning overlay that would effectively ban wood-frame building in much of the city.
In most U.S. cities, fire safety is ensured by the International Building Code (IBC), which sets strict rules on allowable building materials
and methods.
Cold-formed
steel framing (“CFS”) is a highly sustainable, green building solution. Through technological advances and processing changes,
steel has drastically reduced its carbon footprint. CFS boasts a high level of recyclability, energy savings and greenhouses gas reduction.
Due to its inherent advantages such as fire-resistance, termite resistance, consistent material quality and sustainability, we believe
cold-formed steel will be the optimal alternative building material.
Marketing
We
are an innovative building-technology company with a mission to transform the construction industry with our proprietary cold-formed
steel-framing technology and other innovations. While we have significant customer concentrations, we endeavor to broaden our customer
base as well as the industries we serve. Our marketing strategy is a long-term plan to achieve our Company’s mission by understanding
the needs of customers and creating a distinct and sustainable competitive advantage. We position ourselves as the leader in intelligent
steel-framing building systems. We intend to leverage our marketing and sales efforts to establish new potential customers. We also intend
to leverage customer referrals, which in the past have been a source of new business. A significant portion of our business is the result
of competitive bidding processes, and a significant portion of our business is from contract negotiation. We believe that the reputation
we have developed with our current customers represents an important part of our marketing effort.
Quotation
requests from customers are reviewed to determine the specific requirements and our ability to meet such requirements. Quotations are
prepared by estimating the material and labor costs and assessing our current production schedule to determine our delivery commitments.
Competitive bid quotations are submitted to the customer for review and award of the contract.
We
have several strategic partners, including real estate companies, general contractors, builders and developers. Our strategic partners
connect our Company with potential customers who are either potential homeowners or developers.
Through
the several architecture, builder and contractor associations that we have joined, we share the advantages of cold-formed steel framing
with others, and we educate and encourage construction industry practitioners to move out of their wood-framing comfort zone to embrace
steel-framing technology.
We
have a digital market channel and a social media presence. Also, we are actively conducting market research to determine the viability
of our new products and new patents. We have increased our marketing budget and formed a professional sales team to increase our online
marketing, which we believe can help us grow our revenue.
6
Research
and Product Development/Innovations
We
are a building technology company that is dedicated to research and product development innovation. Our scientists and engineers are
committed to developing sturdier steel studs, tracks, headers, and other components, resulting in superior strength while maintaining
the lowest costs possible. Our cold-formed roller machine is acquired from an original equipment manufacturer with certain modifications
to the standard version of the machine that are unique and proprietary to INNO. When we refer to our “proprietary” cold-formed
roller machines, we are referring to the modified machine with the intellectual property and process techniques we have developed. INNO
uses CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology to arrive at the most accurate, comprehensive and information-rich design model within its
parameters with the utilization of Vertex to ensure each member is produced to the exact specifications of called for in the design.
The digital model of the project includes all functional systems and aesthetics, such as electrical wiring, air conditioning, doors,
windows etc., as well as geometric features. It is a shared multi-disciplinary resource allowing all those working on a project to share
information and working processes in order to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness, thus reducing all phases — design,
pre-construction and construction — of the construction timeline. The platform gives us open communication, true collaboration,
and aligned understanding. Taken all together, INNO has created a full BIM solution that works together to inform our state of the art
light-gauge roll forming machines the instructions to automatically produce each steel framing member to exact specification.
We
have continued making improvements to our cold-formed roller machines to optimally increase the printing speed. We are actively working
on a list of 100 potential patentable products. Our goal is to commercialize patents and technologies that we own.
For
example, the CFS portal frame system invented by us could replace current shear wall systems to provide adequate lateral resistance against
strong winds and severe earthquakes. The standard lateral force resisting systems in light frame cold-formed steel building are shear
walls either sheathed by structural panels such as OSB, Plywood, and steel sheets or braced by steel straps. These systems require a
large amount interior walls to be load bearing walls which limits flexibility for room layout and may not support large openings for
windows and doors. The steel portal frame system is a novel long span framing system to replace the traditional hot-rolled structural
steel frame. The new technologies in the portal frame system include optimized stiffened holes on cold-formed steel frame members to
increase structural stability and span capacity and special moment joint technology using adhesive and rivet connections which enable
superior energy dissipation capacity and fast fabrication.
This
new CFS moment frame does not require any interior shear walls for the Castor Cube, our modular home product. It will allow the Cube
to have various room layouts. The homeowners will also be able to change the room layout in the future. The new CFS moment frame can
also be used for long-span residential and mid-rise commercial buildings. The new technology should improve the structural integrity
of building structures, increase the lateral resistance, and lower the overall costs.
Another
innovation, the cold-formed steel truss system, utilizes a strong axis of cold-formed steel stud members for both chords and webs which
allow longer spans and lighter weight than the conventional type trusses. The steel truss system has wide applications in storage and
education buildings.
We
believe the steel truss system and steel portal framing system will also allow INNO to enter the high-rise commercial and large span
industrial building markets (Type I and Type II buildings) and deliver more competitive and cost-effective building structures than the
traditional structural steel frame and concrete masonry systems.
Honeycomb
aluminum panel is a metal composite panel product series developed in combination with the composite honeycomb panel technology developed
by the aviation industry. The panel is a box-type structure with surrounding edges, which has good airtightness and improves the safety
and service life of the panel. The product adopts a “honeycomb sandwich” structure, that is, a composite plate made of high-strength
alloy aluminum plate coated with a decorative coating with excellent weather resistance as the surface, bottom plate and aluminum honeycomb
core through high temperature and high pressure. This product series has the advantages of excellent material selection, advanced technology,
and reasonable structure. It not only has excellent performance in large scale and flatness, but also has many choices in terms of shape,
surface treatment, color and installation system. This advanced technology enables the Company to manufacture high-strength and light-weight
wall panel products. These siding products have very flat surfaces and tightly controlled seam widths, which allow architects to design
very straight and beautiful walls with large panels. Except for certain technical restrictions, there is no standard size for honeycomb
aluminum panels, and all wall panels are factory-made according to design drawings. Our production method allows the panels to be highly
flexible in size and shape, such as curved panels and folded panels. This flexibility creates a complete and multi-functional highly
competitive wall panel system that can be installed on almost any joist and are extremely simple to install.
7
Revenue
Model
Our
revenue model currently consists of sales of the following:
●
Light-gauged
studs and tracks;
●
Prefabricated
wall panels and trusses;
●
Structure
framing work on site;
●
Services;
●
Machine
sales; and
●
Replicable
Apartment product.
Light-gauged
studs and tracks
We
supply metal studs from 12GA to 24GA depending on the structure engineering requirements and city building codes. The model for selling
cold-formed steel studs and tracks is wholesale because it is business-to-business. Given the specific nature of our products, we do
not sell retail. Unlike traditional metal stud suppliers, whose products are “made to stock” with no consideration for engineer
design, our metal studs are typically made-to-order and customized for each project.
Prefabricated
wall panels and trusses
Prefabricated
wall panels and trusses are another option for customers. With these products, the customer can either choose to assemble the panels
themselves or include this prefab service in their contract with us. Most customers typically choose prefab service because of our skilled
team given that most wood framers are not familiar with steel framing.
INNO
also has standardized modular wall products which could be used for all residential and commercial buildings. We design modular walls
in 20 specifications to cover different building requirements. Modular walls are “made to stock” products and participate
in both business-to-business and business-to-customer model channels.
Structure
framing work on site
Steel
structure installation on site is also an optional service. Depending on the project size and scope, we will provide on-site installation
service if customers requested. With our full turnkey solution, all elements of the project construction are included, not just the cold-formed
steel. This may include cabinetry and other items. In cases where the customer simply wants the framing, we bring our expertise in working
with steel to that portion of the project. We are in the process of reducing our on-site work offerings.
S ervices
Our
engineering services provide stamped and sealed structure design services by our in-house engineer team. Because of the specific nature
of our services, the rates vary case by case depending on the square footage and project complexity. Our engineer team will collaborate
with customer’s architect, civil engineers, and MEP engineers to make sure the final structure design is city approved. To begin
the metal stud production, our engineer team also generates the shop drawings which is a digital file and readable by our intelligent
CNC machine. We also have another option where the customer may outsource the engineer service and contact INNO for metal stud production,
where we do not provide continuous services until the design is city approved.
In
February 2024, we formed Inno AI Tech Corp., which specializes in research and consulting services. In 2024, we successfully supported
a client in establishing a steel technology company. The services included incorporation assistance, comprehensive training programs,
in-depth market research, and strategic business development guidance. This engagement generated consulting revenue of $205,000. The
revenue from the consulting service is recognized upon the described services be provided to customers.
8
Machine
sales
We
may sell or lease our machines. We provide technical and design support at relatively low costs, including industry compliance license
and permits, as well as shop drawings and structural design. We also offer administration, operation, and management consulting support,
including directing and assisting factory set-up, operation procedures, equipment installation, machine maintenance, repairs, and efficiency
improvement. The training for such operations and installations are also provided. We will recommend, select, and advise pricings for
material suppliers and other vendors.
Replicable
Apartment Product
Our
flagship product within this series is Village 101, a smart senior living apartment comprising 155 units with a floor area of 110,000
square feet. The architectural plan package for Village 101 is complete and ready for implementation. The project is currently pending
for permits. Village 101 serves as a prototype building tech community, showcasing our innovative approach to senior living.
Our
pipeline includes various apartment product options with different unit sizes, ranging from 15 to 150 units. These products are under
active research and development, with the aim of creating replicable housing complexes across the United States. By leveraging our expertise
in building technology and innovative design, we target to provide scalable and high-quality housing solutions that meet the evolving
needs of residents including but not limited to senior citizen, college students and Gen Z etc.
Through
our revenue model, we anticipate generating sustainable income by catering to the demand for replicable apartment products. By expanding
our product line and continually advancing our research and development efforts, we aim to capture a significant market share in the
housing industry while delivering superior value to our clients.
Cost
of Sales
Cost
of Sales primarily consist below components.
●
Materials
— Rolled steel represents the single largest cost. We manage our relationship with suppliers (primarily US Steel) very adroitly
by building in purchase orders and their associated costs to the customer to minimize our exposure to changes in steel prices for
any specific project. We manage our purchases and deliveries as close to “just in time” as possible.
●
Labor
— Labor is potentially the most variable component of cost of sales. We have a team of hourly workers who largely work onsite
at the factory producing parts from raw steel and assembling them into prefabricated pieces to be delivered to job sites. Contractors
are non-employee hourly workers who largely work in our turnkey projects. As-needed hourly labor is largely available in our markets.
●
Freight
and Shipping — Our policy is to include any freight incurred to ship the product from our vendors to warehouses as a part of
cost of goods sold. Outbound freight costs related to shipping costs to customers are considered periodic costs and are reflected
in selling expenses.
Other
Expenses
Other
expenses are typically comprised of payroll of salaried and hourly workers. We pride ourselves on running lean and efficiently. We operate
in a business-friendly state with a large and available workforce. Rent, utilities, insurance, consulting service and other normal expenses
are all competitive in the commercial area where we are based.
9
Our
Growth Strategy
We
seek to leverage the trend toward off-site and modular building techniques to increase productivity, reduce errors on-site, and decrease
costs. With both Castor Cube and Mobile Factory as our featured products in the coming years, we seek to become leaders in the industry.
As the market continues to move toward panelized construction, we seek to have an edge in the industry as a large-scale pioneer of the
overall cost-reducing process.
INNO’s
business growth strategy combines the following three parts: revenue growth strategy, profit growth strategy and technology growth strategy.
Revenue
Growth Strategy
Our
revenue growth strategy is composed of the following.
Capacity
expansion and in-house research and development. We are expanding factory operations and manufacturing capabilities in line with
demand. We are also investing in R&D to ensure a pipeline of competitive and innovative building-technology products.
Multiple
products and services. We are in the process of developing the Castor Cube, a 743-square-foot modular house product with the goal
of mass producing. We are also working on developing Village 101, a smart senior living apartment comprising 155 units with a floor area
of 110,000 square feet. The architectural plan package for Village 101 is complete and awaits permits approval for implementation. We’ve
expanded our business to include consulting services offered by our new entity-AI Tech Corp.
Marketing
investment. We are in the process of optimizing our online sales and marketing efforts by recruiting marketing talent and engaging
consultants for marketing and promotional events.
Potential
Acquisitions and investments. In accordance with our growth strategy, our company intends to pursue vertical integration by acquiring
or investing several companies operating within the construction industry in the United States. The objective of this vertical integration
is to strengthen our position as a prominent building-technology developer and expand our capabilities within the market. We will position
ourselves to offer a comprehensive range of solutions encompassing the entire building. The expanded scope of our offerings includes
prefab structure systems, centralized MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) systems, integrated wall systems, integrated floor systems,
roofing systems, and prefab cabinets, sinks, and countertops. This integration allows us to deliver a single-cycle turnkey solution,
streamlining the traditional linear process employed by traditional developers. To fortify our supply chain and augment our capabilities,
we will consider the strategic acquisition or investment of construction vendors/suppliers. The targeted companies would include the
ones that enjoy the popularities in the industry, including but not limited to the companies that can supply the interior finish, exterior
wall panels, insulation materials and roof system etc. By incorporating the targeted companies into our operations, we will establish
a comprehensive one-stop-shop solution for the multi-family apartments, thereby further solidifying our market position and value proposition.
Consistent with our growth strategy, we are firmly committed to implementing a robust product life cycle management approach, encompassing
all stages from procurement to delivery. Through our pursuit of vertical integration and strategic acquisitions, we are poised for substantial
growth to assume a leadership role within the market. By expanding our product offerings, strengthening our supply chain, and cultivating
key partnerships, we are well-positioned to provide comprehensive building solutions that effectively meet the evolving needs of our
clients while concurrently driving revenue growth and delivering enhanced shareholder value.
Profit
Growth Strategy
Our
profit growth strategy is composed of the following.
Improving
assembly automation. We plan to source and develop production robots and to expand automation where possible, to further increase
our production efficiency.
Reducing
transportation costs by utilizing Mobile Factory. Our Mobile Factory is equipped with our proprietary machines and can be transported
to any jobsite. Mobile Factory utilizes Inno Statlink Data System which is ideal for remote production management. Mobile Factory saves
significant transportation costs and as such, our goal is to increase the use of Mobile Factory.
10
Optimizing
artificial intelligence design capabilities. We intend to optimize the artificial intelligence design capabilities by utilizing machine
learning to get the wisest structure supporting data and running several models for all types of walls. The model we tested could reduce
the raw materials used in different projects.
Technology
Growth Strategy
Our
technology growth strategy is composed of the following.
Develop
EQ products to replace existing building materials with thinner and lighter products. We are developing technology in an effort to
replace existing building materials with thinner materials. Once this technology matures, it is expected to save approximately 10% in
raw materials.
Develop
stainless steel as a building material for the high-end building market. We are developing technology to replace the current galvanized
steel sheets with stainless steel. The new patent pending material could be used in extreme climate conditions for high-end customers.
Leverage
module wall technology to increase the range of applications. We are in the process of developing different types of module wall
products to expand our customer reach.
Strategic
Partnerships
We
have partnerships with at least 10 regional and national developers and builders. INNO’s customers include national real-estate
developers and some local builders in both Texas and California. The regional/national developers and builders have a strong pipeline
of projects coming each year. Their project types cover residential, commercial, and industrial. They either intend to use steel framing
for structure or to develop land with Castor Cube and Village 101 projects, as their strategic partners, INNO will provide customized
offer and have higher probability to bid and win projects. The cold-formed steel framing business is categorized as business-to-business
model, and the Castor Cube as well as Village 101 projects will be either to business or to customers.
Competitive
Outlook
Lumber-Based
vs. Cold-Formed Steel
Our
primary competitors (or segment with which we are most often compared) are traditional lumber-based building products solutions in certain
categories, particularly buildings below six floors and residential. The accessibility and proficiency in assembling lumber-based structures
can make practitioners in the construction industry unwilling to move out of the wood framing comfort zone. Further, lumber prices were
generally lower than the price of metal studs. The switch to cold-formed Steel is being driven by materials price and several market-based
advantages of steel. Steel is strong, safe, durable, versatile, and cost-effective. Steel has the exceptional environmental advantage
of being highly recycled and infinitely recyclable. Steel is tough and does not rot, spawl, split, or absorb moisture, and it is resistant
to pests, unlike wood building materials.
Inherent
Benefits of Steel Framing
●
Steel
has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any framing material.
●
Non-combustible.
Steel will not contribute fuel to the spread of fire.
●
Steel
is termite and rodent resistant.
●
Steel
ensures dimensional stability. Will not rot, warp, crack or shrink.
●
Lower
builder’s risk insurance.
●
Permanently
straight walls. No call backs for nail pops.
11
●
No
toxicity contribution. Free of resins, adhesives, and chemicals normally present in other framing material.
●
Consistent
material quality. No regional variation.
●
Grounded
against electrical storms.
●
Steel
is inorganic. Unlike traditional framing products, steel is not vulnerable to mold.
●
Steel
is the most recycled product in the world. Optimum sustainability.
The
SFIA has conducted studies of construction costs in two different locations using two identical buildings — one designed with wood
and the other with cold-formed steel (CFS) framing. The mixed-use, 49,900 square foot building used in the studies is representative
of many residential buildings constructed in the mid-rise market today and includes:
●
A
first floor non-combustible (concrete) podium with parking and retail space
●
Residential
dwellings on levels 2-5
●
Roof-top/penthouse
space atop level 5 housing building services.
The
first location for the study was a building constructed in Chicago in late 2017. Results include hard construction costs only. In this
case, cold-formed steel cost 2.6% more than traditional wood construction.
The
second location was in Morristown, New Jersey. It takes a deeper look at costs by including the impact of lower insurance premiums available
for CFS construction compared to combustible framing (wood). The insurance costs from major insurers operating in New Jersey were converted
to a cost per square foot and evaluated in terms of their impact on the overall building costs. In this case, cold-formed steel cost
0.9% more than traditional wood construction.
The
two case studies mentioned above are taken from the official SFIA website. We believe INNO’s product cost is less than that of
the preceding case studies, with the overall cost less than that of traditional wood.
Others
Participating in Cold-formed Steel
The
second category of competitors are divided into two groups: traditional manufacturers of metal studs and suppliers of cold-roller machines.
Traditional manufacturers, such as Clark Dietrich and CEMCO, pre-punch their metal studs with punchouts at regular intervals for pipe
installation, but the number of punchouts is fixed and not customized for each project. INNO employs proprietary software to calculate
the minimum punchouts for MEP pipe installation that are consistent with the architectural plan set to ensure the structure’s load-bearing
capability to the greatest extent possible. The load-bearing capability gradually decreases as the number of punchouts increases. Traditional
steel framing manufacturers are unable to automatically make punchouts for screw holes, so manual drilling holes at the jobsite for metal
stud connections are still required. The screw holes are precisely located and punched by the INNO CNC machines.
Screw
hole punchouts are left for panel assembly, and the stud spacing should be building code compliant. The number of screw holes for each
panel is calculated systematically, and the screws are included in the product package. We prefabricate the wall panels, joists, and
trusses in the factory, eliminating the need for on-site manual labor to measure stud intervals and drill holes for metal stud connection.
These two traditional metal studs profile manufacturers have a nationwide retail network that we cannot compete with. We are using the
Internet to increase the marginal effect of sales, and our future strategy is to use Internet sales to undermine traditional store-based
sales.
In
the cold-formed roller machine market, FRAMECAD is a traditional LGS/CFS machine manufacturer. When compared to their LGS equipment,
INNO CNC machines manufacturing cost is approximately 50% less, based on our estimates. INNO CNC machines currently have three pending
patents, the CUBE 200 (Application number: 63437142), CUBE 300 (Application number: 63427583) and NEW OPTIMIZED DESIGN FOR ROLL FORMER
CNC MACHINE (Application number: 63427583). CUBE 200 is able to form C& U type studs and tracks in the thickness of 16 gauge and
6 inches width studs. CUBE 300 is able to form C&U type studs in the thickness of 12 gauge and 12 inches width studs.
12
In
addition, mobile factories are an important countermeasure to traditional equipment. We have developed a mobile factory for offsite production
of steel pieces and structures that compete in the traditional prefab and modular building markets. INNO differentiates itself from other
steel framing companies and cold-formed roller machine suppliers by integrating services ranging from metal stud manufacturing to prefabrication.
In this context, we distinguish ourselves through the technologies and innovations we bring to our process and methods for producing
structural components from rolled steel into useful pieces that assemble without error.
3D
“Printing” Technology
Currently,
3D printing technology is widely used for prefab homes; however, cooling time is required for formation because the technical principle
is to melt the material and then wait for it to cool before settling. In contrast to other prefab home companies, which use 3D printing
technology, INNO uses our own cold-formed steel technology to ensure that there is no waiting time for structure formation. 3D printing
necessitates the use of unique liquid raw materials such as LAVACRETE and Light Stone Material (LSM), neither of which are easily accessible.
This could lead to supply chain disruptions and affect delivery time. Furthermore, steel is still commonly used to support the structure
of prefab homes, regardless of the manufacturing technology used.
Safety
is an important factor to consider when choosing a prefab home. Since INNO’s CASTOR CUBE uses steel structure entirely, which has
a high strength to weight ratio and good performance to resist disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. The foldable prefab home
product manufactured by other company may not have the same level of disaster resistance as CASTOR CUBE.
Castor
Cube plans to apply a patent for its utility hook-up system, which enables consumers to connect utility within one day. This is a unique
feature that can make the process of setting up a prefab home more convenient for consumers. It is also worth noting that according to
other prefab companies’ product introduction videos and their social media platforms, they all take around 48 hours to construct
a 350 square feet prefab home.
With
the usage of INNO’s patent pending honeycomb aluminum panels and Z-shaped pendant designed for replacing manual sheetrock installation,
we can significantly reduce the number of manufacturing steps and minimize manual labor. INNO is planning to set up an automatic streamline
to produce CASTOR CUBE. This will bring a significant increase in production capacity and it can help INNO to meet the growing demand
for prefab homes more efficiently.
Government
Regulations
Building
Codes
Building
codes are laws that set minimum requirements for how structural systems, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, natural
gas systems and other aspects of residential and commercial buildings should be designed and constructed. In the U.S., building codes
mostly fall under the purview of state and local governments. All metal studs used for building structures are required to pass inspections
in the jurisdiction they are located. We have ICC-ES evaluation reports (ESR-4641) that show that our cold-formed steel-framing members
are compliant with the 2018 and 2015 International Building Code (“IBC”), 2019 California Building Code (“CBC”),
and 2020 Florida Building Code (“FBC”). Because of the nature and use of our products, we need to be compliant with quality
assurance programs.
Fire
safety is one critical area of the building codes. As fire codes become stricter in some geographical areas or specific types of structures,
our cold-formed steel materials are inherently non-combustible and therefore are advantaged over combustible alternatives.
Environmental
Compliance
We
are subject to U.S federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations that involve the use, disposal and cleanup of substances
regulated by those laws and subject to periodic inspections to monitor our compliance. We believe that we are currently in compliance
with applicable environmental regulations. Expenditures for environmental compliance purposes during 2024 and 2023 were not material.
13
We
were given awards by the U.S. Green Building Council (“USGBC”) in 2020. Our manufacturing processes minimizes waste, prevents
pollution, and recycles wherever possible. Our manufacturing process manufactures special length products for all types of projects,
has self-contained building system solutions that do not rely on third-party suppliers, and designs products to fulfill the BCA Energy
Efficiency program. This compliance proves that we are a green company that meets basic environmental milestones and legal requirements.
Occupational
Health and Safety Laws
Our
business and operations are subject to numerous federal, state, and local laws and regulations intended to protect our employees. Due
to the nature of manufacturing, we are subject to substantial regulations related to safety in the workplace. In addition to the requirements
of local and state governments in Texas, we must comply with federal health and safety regulations, the most significant of which are
enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Further,
our operations and facilities are subject to additional federal, state, or local laws or regulations, such as the COVID-19 safety and
prevention regulations. Our operations are also subject to federal, state, and local labor laws relating to employee privacy, wage and
hour matters, overtime pay, discrimination and harassment, equal opportunity and employee leave and benefits.
It
is our policy and practice to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements and our procedures and internal controls are designed
to promote such compliance. Expenditures for compliance with occupational health and safety laws and regulations during 2024 and 2023
were not material.
Human
Capital Resources
The
success of our business depends in large part on our ability to attract, retain, and develop a workforce of skilled employees at all
levels of our organization. We provide employees with base wages and salaries that we believe are competitive and consistent with each
employee’s position. We also work with local, regional, and state-wide agencies to facilitate workforce hiring and development
initiatives. We had four and 11 full-time employees as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We also utilize at-will contractors
in our business. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, we had 11 and 18 at-will contractors employed, respectively. For the year ended September
30, 2024, the Company also engaged three consultants conducting marketing activities and promotional events.
Intellectual
Property Matters
Presently,
we have no registered intellectual property rights and trademarks. The trademarks application status of our name and other marketing
materials is pending. There are currently five pending patent applications and descriptions of each pending patent are as follows:
●
New
optimized design for Roll Former CNC machine that efficiently produces C&U type studs and tracks to be used in building high
quality, quick erection structures. (Application number: 63427583)
●
Cube
200, which is a new optimized design for a Roll Former CNC machine that efficiently produces C&U type studs and tracks to be
used in building high quality, quick erection structures. (Application number: 63437142)
●
Z-shaped
pendant for castor exterior wall to replace the Z-shaped pendant for sheetrock with honeycomb aluminum plate. (Application number:
63434155)
●
Cube
300, which is a new optimized design for a Roll Former CNC machine that efficiently produces C&U type studs and tracks to be
used in building high quality, quick erection structures. (Application number: 63437143)
●
Aluminum
honeycomb plate for interior wall construction. (Application number: 63367663)
14
In
the course of our business, we develop expertise in the manufacturing process. Although we have non-disclosure policies in place with
respect to our personnel and in our contractual relationships, we cannot assure you that we will be able to protect our intellectual
property rights with respect to this expertise.
Corporate
Structure
Our
Company, INNO HOLDINGS INC., was incorporated in Texas on September 8, 2021. It originally had three subsidiaries, Inno Metal Studs Corp
(“IMSC”), Castor Building Tech LLC (“CBT”), and Inno Research Institute LLC (“IRI”).
On
January 21, 2024, the Company established Inno Disrupts Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary in Texas. The purpose of Inno Disrupts Inc. is
to remodel buildings using the Company’s framing steel products, enhance producing and marketing capabilities, manage the designated
buildings in US, and other activities.
On
January 27, 2024, the Company and the minority shareholder of IRI agreed to dissolve IRI, a subsidiary of IMSC with 65% ownership. The
R&D activities previously carried out by IRI will be transferred to the new subsidiary, Inno AI Tech Corp.
On
February 11, 2024, the Company formed Inno AI Tech Corp., a wholly owned entity in Texas to conduct AI tech research and consulting activities.
Below
is the corporate structure of the Company as of December 6, 2024:
Corporate
Information
Our
principal executive office is located at 2465 Farm Market 359 South, Brookshire, TX 77423. Our corporate website address is https://www.innoholdings.com .
Our telephone number is (800) 909-8800.
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
As
a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to provide the information
in this Item.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.