Solid success Spaencom

SOLID SUCCESS

Spaencom has been known for its innovations in the design, production and erection of concrete elements. It has more than 60 years of experience in transforming its clients’ ideas into reality.

Spaencom believes that continuing to innovate while also making the most of any growth opportunities is the key to success in a declining construction market. The company, which is Denmark’s leading supplier of prefabricated concrete units, remains resolutely optimistic despite the global downturn in the building industry in the past few years, and will continue to seek exciting new projects, while maintaining its programme of investment in new products and looking for efficiencies.

It was in 1947 that Jannik Ipsen founded Skandinavisk Spaendbeton, the company that would develop to become Spaencom. The company’s business was based on prestressed concrete and over the following years grew substantially.

Between 1949 and 1960, 5.5 million m2 of industrial and workshop buildings were erected in Denmark – and of these buildings, 50 per cent involved the use of pre-stressed concrete. In 1958, Ullevi in Goteborg, Sweden, was the first in the series of stadiums to benefit from Spaencom’s knowledge of pre stressed concrete units and their use. Since then, platform elements have been delivered to companies such as Parken and Brondby, Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense, Silkeborg and Viborg stadiums plus the handball hall in Viborg.

There was a huge need for products such as Spaencom’s during the post-war period. The company continued to grow with the market and to increase its market share. Denmark has always been a very concreteminded country. Indeed, for large construction projects it has basically been the only building material used.

New concepts

Over the years, the company expanded further still, retaining its leading position in the market. The demands for insulation in industrial buildings were increased significantly in the years after the oil crisis of 1973, and wood-wool slabs were no longer considered sufficient. This demand for an all-concrete ceiling led to the development of the TTS roof and the TTS Waffle Roof at Spaencom.

Then in 1990, the company introduced the first complete concrete unit concept for multistorey car parks, fulfilling all safety demands

for this exacting type of building. The high quality concrete offers strength and compaction and the patented building system ensures free movement in all joints, so that temperature tensions and resulting damages are avoided.

The company later launched its patented Spaencom Sound Roof, a further development of the TTS Waffle Roof. In the Spaencom Sound Roof, the concrete in 65 per cent of the underside is replaced with highly soundabsorbing mineral wool.

The units are delivered with the insulation of choice and a layer of roofing felt from the factory. This makes it possible to mount and seal up to 600m2 of roof in one working day, ensuring the quick sealing of the building.

In 1997, Spaencom Sound Roofs were improved further with the use of 4.8m of intervening Waffle Sound units. Also that year, the company introduced its Spaencom Sound Halls – a complete building system, where the wall covering also dampens the noise in the production areas.

Today, Spaencom operates from four manufacturing bases. The company used to be family-owned, but in 2008 it became part of the Consolis Group which now holds the controlling interest. Consolis is one of the largest concrete groups in

Europe so this move allowed Spaencom to increase its know-how considerably.

Spaencom continues to be known for its innovations. The aim is to continue to come up with patents and to develop these groundbreaking solutions. The company is also developing the visual effects of its products. In the past couple of years it has worked closely with textile designers, for example, to create surfaces that are more aesthetically pleasing. Its main customers are based in Denmark. Facing the challenges

The company, which employs around 600 people, had been seeing strong growth but, like other members of the construction industry, admits it has been feeling the effects of the downturn in building over the past few years. It is dealing with this challenge by saving costs wherever possible and restructuring. Its aim is to continue to innovate and come up with unique solutions for its customers wherever they are. n