6/ 2006 Supplement of Czech Business and Trade CZECH Building Industry CZECH BUILDING INDUSTRY

CZECH BUILDING INDUSTRY Building Industry Supplement of: Czech Business and Trade 11-12/2006 – Sector with CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION 3 Building Industry – Sector with Good Prospects Good Prospects ANALYSIS 4 Building Industry Is Recording a High Performance 4 Trends in Building Materials Production Václav Knor, Ministry of Industry and Trade, INVESTMENT e-mail: [email protected], www.mpo.cz 6 TOP INVEST – Competition for the 2005 Best Investment Plan 7 Building in the Will Be Simpler EDUCATION Building production creates works which have a long life 8 Foreign Cooperation at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and represent not only material rendering but also cultural of the Czech Technical University in and architectural values. The character of the building WE ARE INTRODUCING industry is largely national, it is mostly self-reliant 10 High Standard of Czech Concrete nationally, and as a sector is considerably diversified. In ENTERPRISE factual terms, it is the main creator of buildings and 12 Universal Building Company Enjoying its Many Successes structures which are a major part of gross fixed assets. CZECH TOP 14 Modern Face of the Constuction Industry Changes in Construction Development 16 Skanska – Global Construction Group in the Czech Republic 18 Leading Player in the Construction of Tunnels The establishment of a National Technology Platform has 20 Traditional Brand for Buildings of the 21st Century been initiated in the Czech Republic within the European 22 The Most Prestigious Award for Czech Builders and Architects Construction Technology Platform (ECTP), and with it RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT comes the participation of representatives of the Czech 24 Four Basic Trends in Building Materials Research building industry in the specification and implementation of the tasks and instruments of research, development and SURVEY 26 Poll of Successful Companies Operating in the Building Industry innovation (within the so-called High Level Group (HLG). The intentions to promote research, development, and INFORMATION 30 Building Industry Exhibitions and Trade Fairs in the Czech Republic in 2007 innovations in the European building industry are thus 30 Important Contacts applied also under Czech conditions. The institutions and structure of this work are being prepared in such a way as PRESENTATION OF COMPANIES: to comply with the European objectives and enable them 2 HP san s.r.o. to participate to receive financial support for this activity 13 BETON - Těšovice, spol. s r.o. 15 HET, s.r.o. from European sources. 17 P-SYSTEMS s.r.o. 19 Institut pro testování a certifikaci, a.s. Tasks of the Czech Building Industry 21 Drahomíra Kadlecová 31 Enaspol a.s. The objective of the Czech building industry for the next 32 OHL ŽS, a.s. 10 - 15 years is to achieve a level of available building PSP izoterm s.r.o., Pontex, spol. s r.o., BUREAU VERITAS CZECH REPUBLIC, spol. s r.o., REGO stock, in both quantity and quality, which would s.r.o., Rigips, s.r.o., HOCO BAUELEMENTE, spol. s r.o. correspond to the current level of developed EU countries. MK ČR E 6379 This means the Czech Republic’s convergence with the EU This magazine is published as a supplement to the economic bi-monthly issued in English in the area of infrastructure, the country’s provision with (Czech Business and Trade), German (Wirtschaft und Handel in der Tschechischen transport network, housing complexes, environmental Republik), French (Industrie et commerce tchèques), Spanish (Empresas y negocios en la República Checa), and Russian (óe¯cÍafl Úop„o‚Îfl Ë Ôe‰ÔËÌËÏaÚeθcÚ‚o). structures, public facilities and buildings in the area of industry, trade, and services. The extensive need for Managing Editor: Jana Vápeníková Editor: Naďa Vávrová building works also reflects the essential need for the so Graphic Design: Helena Dvořáková, Miloslav Bucvan far neglected maintenance and repairs of building stock. Address: PP Agency, s.r.o., Myslíkova 25 The concepts prepared for the different areas (sector 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic strategies) confirm such a requirement, whether it is the Phone: +420 221 406 623, 221 406 626 strategy of transport network renewal and development, Fax: +420 224 934 383 implementation of the housing development concept, E-mail: [email protected] including regeneration and repairs of the existing housing www.ppagency.cz www.mpo.cz/cbt stock (specifically the problem of regeneration of prefabricated housing complexes), satisfaction of the Deadline: 31/09/2006 demands of the business sector, including that of foreign Attitudes expressed by the authors of articles in this magazine are not necessarily investors (investment incentives), or filling the gap in the consistent with the viewpoint of the Publisher. level of ecological structures (sewage treatment plants, PP Agency liquidation of old environmental damage, etc.). Company with the ISO 9001 certified quality management system for publishing services

Cover photo: OHL ŽS, a.s.

3 | ANALYSIS

Building Industry Is Recording a High Performance

Jan Skřivánek, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected], www.mpo.cz

In 2006, the Czech building industry is adaptation to the demanding criteria of increased slightly almost to 10%, but in continuing its high performance of the the European construction market, comparison with some developed last years, although the growth rate has whether in production and technical countries it is still low, especially given the been lower as a result of the high conditions, improvement in the business dilapidated condition of the existing performance rate set for example by the environment, conditions of sustainable building, and primarily housing stock. year 2004. The source of these results was development or economic benefits, all of represented by large capital projects which are essential prerequisites for Support to Construction (transport infrastructure, production increased competitiveness and further Support in the building industry is focused investments, public facilities, business and development of the Czech building mainly on small and medium-sized logistics centres), while an upsurge in industry. Higher intensity is required in enterprises (SME). The highest resources housing construction contributed to areas where the set targets have not been (EUR 128.5 million) were distributed to a lesser extent. The growth of the building attained. These include housing these companies within the Operational industry was influenced by a favourable reconstruction and modernisation, more Programme Industry and Enterprise (OPIE). macroeconomic environment (public extensive use of innovations, launching of 356 projects received subsidies under contracts, investment incentives, industrial research and development projects within these decisions, and 976 other parks construction), as well as by the framework of the establishment of entrepreneurs gained support in the form investment activities of private developer a national technology platform, as well as of advantageous loans. This programme projects, mainly in large cities. The share measures based on foreign experience in became one of the most successful of the output of small and medium-sized the area of training and education (mainly programmes in the country. A key step in companies has increased (almost one- apprenticeships). There are also other the support of SMEs was the third of the overall production). The tasks and priorities stemming from the establishment of the National Register of beneficial effect of the building industry is specifications of the Czech Republic’s Consultants, which provides companies represented by its 9% (approx.) share in Economic Development Strategy, and the with access to a relatively large number of overall employment, and its ability to National Lisbon Strategy, included in the highly qualified specialists. What is more, absorb considerable numbers of unskilled strategy for the development of the small and medium-sized businesses may or low-skilled workers who would have building industry and the main tasks and obtain up to a 50% subsidy for the difficulty to find jobs in other sectors. Over priorities of the sector for 2006. consulting services from the new two-thirds of the Czech output of programme Competitiveness, for which companies with 20 employees and above Reserves in Building Industry the EU has allocated EUR 500 000. in 2006 1st quarter were represented by The building industry has reserves in At the moment, the Czech Ministry of building works worth EUR 1 billion, and housing construction, where the ratio of Industry and Trade is finalising the draft of the rest, i.e. less than one-third, was completed new buildings to the volume of the Operational Programme Enterprise represented by engineering works. repair and maintenance work is less and Innovation, which should provide satisfactory. New buildings, together with decisive support to entrepreneurs in the Adaptation to the European reconstructions and modernisations, 2007-2013 period. Its content and Market accounted for 89% of the Czech output. provisions will be based on the above- The building industry continued its The share of repair and maintenance work mentioned and very successful OPIE.

Trends in Building Materials Production

Pavel Malinský, Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-mail: [email protected]

Industrial production of building the last five years. Building materials industry as a whole recorded an increase materials recorded further growth in production is concentrated in large in revenues and profit in 2005 as against 2005. This trend reflects the continuing companies, which have a greater ability 2004. Compared to 2004, the creation favourable development of construction to succeed in the strongly competitive of the pre-tax economic result rose by in the Czech Republic, especially during European market. The building materials approx. 5 %, which is connected

| 4 CZECH BUILDING INDUSTRY

especially with the growth of revenues Annual sales volume and shares of the branches in total production * from the sale of the branch’s products Economic activity Share in total Volume of sales in c.p. and services, together with the growth output /EUR million/ of revenues from the sale of goods. 2005 2005 2004 index The created profit is largely attributable 14.1 quarrying of stone 1.5 % 37.6 31.2 120.5 to companies in the NACE 265 group – 14.2 quarrying of sand and clay 12.5 % 344.8 337.5 102.2 manufacture of cement, lime and 26.2 manufacture of non-refractory ceramic materials 5.2 % 143.6 144.5 99.4 plaster, and companies of NACE 266 – 26.3 manufacture of ceramic tiles and flags 8.9 % 246.6 220.6 111.8 manufacture of articles of concrete, 26.4 manufacture of construction products cement, or plaster. The financial situation in baked clay 6.9 % 190.8 185.4 102.9 of companies has slightly improved, as 26.5 manufacture of cement, lime, and plaster 13.6 % 373.0 358.4 104.1 can be seen from the growth of current 26.6 manufacture of articles of concrete, liquidity and the 1.5 % fall in companies‘ cement, or plaster 39.8 % 1 094.5 1 074.0 101.9 overall indebtedness in 2005 as 26.7 cutting, shaping, and finishing of stone 1.4 % 37.4 33.1 112.9 compared to 2004, to the level of 26.8 manufacture of other mineral products 10.2 % 280.5 256.6 109.3 43.3 %. Total 100.0 % 2 748.8 2 641.3 104.1 *companies with 20 employees and above The Biggest Producers of Source: Ministry of Industry and Trade Building Materials Economic development in both the EU and the Czech Republic has led to stiffer In 2004, the biggest manufacturers of building materials, by annual sales volume, volume of assets, and number of employees, were the following (joint competition in the last few years. This stock companies, if not stated otherwise): has been evident also in the area of the Company Sales Assets Number building materials industry. More than volume volume of employees 80 % of the Czech building materials placed EUR placed EUR position market is controlled by large million million multinational companies. Firms with 100 WIENERBERGER cihlářský průmysl 1 93.8 1 81.0 2 528 employees and more achieved annual ZAPA beton 2 73.3 4 50.0 4 397 sales exceeding EUR 2.2 billion in 2005. Lafarge Cement 3 39.4 2 77.8 ŽPSV 4 34.7 3 63.2 1 626 Foreign Trade BEST 5 28.0 5 35.0 10 237 A number of production activities in the KÁMEN Zbraslav, spol. s r.o. 6 26.7 6 30.1 8 245 building materials industry are fully ILBAU spol. s r.o. 7 24.6 13 11.8 14 120 competitive today on foreign markets, Prefa Brno 8 20.7 10 14.5 3 401 with the prospect of further gradual PREFA-BETON Cheb, spol. s r. o. 9 17.8 15 8.2 16 107 intensification of these activities within KM Beta 10 17.6 14 9.5 5 378 the EU economic structures. Materials BETA Olomouc 11 17.1 11 14.5 7 332 suitable for export are the traditionally IDEM Hranice 12 15.9 7 28.4 6 350 successful tile materials, ceramic kaolin, KOTOUČ ŠTRAMBERK, spol. s r.o. 13 15.1 8 27.0 9 244 roofing, plaster board, as well as KB - Blok systém, s.r.o. 14 12.6 9 22.7 11 178 prefabricated iron concrete structures. B & BC 15 11.9 16 6.1 13 144 Significant indicators include the Kámen a písek, spol. s r.o. 16 11.0 12 13.2 15 115 relatively high share of export in total BETONBAU, s.r.o. 17 8.9 18 4.2 17 103 production (approx. 26.2 %), import TOPOS spol. s r.o. 18 8.5 17 4.6 12 168 (approx. 20%), and a permanent foreign trade surplus. The Czech Republic’s biggest trade Indicators of foreign trade in construction products * partner in both the export and import of NACE Exports Import Balance the building materials industry is /EUR million/ /EUR million/ /EUR million/ . Other major trade partners are 2004 2005 index 2004 2005 index 2004 2005 , , and Austria. Foreign 14.1 8.4 7.6 90.4 15.1 11.8 78.4 - 6.7 - 4.2 trade in building materials industry 14.2 84.3 72.6 86.0 20.8 22.6 108.9 63.5 50.0 products is conducted mainly within the 26.26 119.8 126.7 105.8 108.6 93.3 85.9 11.2 33.4 EU countries at valid European prices. 26.3 79.8 48.1 60.3 72.9 78.0 97.1 6.9 22.7 Given the unfavourable ratio of 26.4 25.9 24.4 94.4 26.3 24.7 94.2 - 0.4 - 0.3 transport costs to the final price of 26.5 41.5 36.0 86.7 82.4 78.0 94.6 -40.9 -42.0 products, the importance of the 26.6 142.2 154.3 108.5 59.5 59.6 100.2 82.7 94.7 countries neighbouring the Czech 26.7 17.8 18.6 104.9 19.3 18.9 98.3 - 1.5 - 0.3 Republic is growing. 26.82 142.1 143.3 100.8 104.4 109.2 104.6 37.8 34.1 Total 661.8 631.5 95.4 509.3 488.9 96.0 152.6 142.9 * companies with 20 employees and above Source: Ministry of Industry and Trade

5 | INVESTMENT

TOP INVEST – Competition for the 2005 Best Investment Plan

Václav Matyáš, Svaz podnikatelů ve stavebnictví v ČR/Union of Building Industry Contractors in the Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected], www.sps.cz

The aim of the TOP INVEST competition was to provide support to capital construction in the Czech Republic and to appreciate investors’ contribution to the economic development of the country, its regions, towns, and villages. The competition was designed for capital investment projects implemented in the Czech Republic, regardless of the nationality of the designer and architect or the place of registration of the building contractor. The competition was arranged by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry for Regional Development, the Czech Union of Building Industry Contractors, and Brno Trade Fair company. The expert jury, composed of representatives of the organising institutions, independent experts, and university representatives, evaluated the projects in the competition in a two-round system. The winners were presented at a gala evening on the opening of the 10th International Building Fair in Brno on 25 April 2006. The following investment plans won awards, no ranking was given:

Aquaforum Františkovy Lázně Investor: Františkovy Lázně Spa Designer: Atelier Arton PRO s.r.o. Contractor: Consortium "AQUAFORUM" The building is used as a major recreational and sports venue available for use by all the spa houses, with a capacity of 2,500 beds, in the town of Františkovy Lázně. Photo: SPS ČR archives Vaňkovka Gallery, Brno Investor: EKZ Tschechien 2 Immobiliengesellschaft k.s. Designer: ECE Projektmanagement Praha, s.r.o. Contractor: Consortium SKANSKA CZ a.s. – IMOS Brno, a.s. The construction was launched on one of the largest brownfields in the Czech Republic. The cost of soil decontamination alone exceeded EUR 5.7 million. The complex includes 130 shops with 37 000 sq.m of retail area. The capital project in the order of a billion Czech crowns serves a catchments area of up to 1.3 million inhabitants. Photo: SPS ČR archives Nile House, Praha Investor: RCP Delta s.r.o. Designer: ATREA spol. s r.o. Contractor: Metrostav a.s. An office building erected at a total cost of almost EUR 27 million, expected return on investment is 10 years. The house behaves very rationally in thermal energy management, cooling, and the entire system of the building’s technical equipment. Photo: SPS ČR archives National Centre of Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, Prague Investor: Řízení letového provozu ČR, s.p. (Air Navigation Services) Designer: STOPRO spol. s r.o. Contractor: Hochtief VSB a.s. On a 7 ha site, EUR 33.6 million was spent on construction and EUR 67.3 million on technology. Up to 700 staff work in the building. The investment has advanced air traffic control over the central part of the Czech Republic to the 21st century. Photo: SPS ČR archives

| 6 CZECH BUILDING INDUSTRY

Building in the Czech Republic Will Be Simpler

Václav Matyáš, Union of Building Industry Contractors in the Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected], www.sps.cz

The new Building Act, which comes into additional examinations. Approved and the conditions under which the new effect on 1 January 2007, brings a number inspectors, who are hired by investors on building can be connected to the utility of changes from the formerly valid legal the basis of contracts, evaluate the design networks. Problems with an early and regulations. In terms of regional documents, discuss comments and comprehensive specification of the development and the preparation of objections made, and issue certificates for conditions for connecting new buildings building projects, the substantial change preparation of the building project. If to existing utility networks represented in the concept of the law is the shift of the enclosed with a building permission difficult obstacles for investors in the past. crux of the work to the planning phase. application, the certificate allows the Regarding contractors, the Building Act A positive aspect of this change is that if respective decision making procedure to does not bring any principal change. New controversies emerge, they can be be shortened. conditions are introduced for the course resolved, and the conditions for further The principle of final inspection of of construction with a timetable for work can be defined, in the stage of completed construction work is being control inspections during execution, with dealing with planning designs, which simplified as well, and the former an active participation of the building resolve the issues economically and permission to use a building is being work contractor. Cooperation with without unnecessary details. replaced by construction work approval. approved inspectors is not expected to The simple measure which allows the cause complications. Procedures Being Simplified investor to use a building can be issued on Numerous implementation regulations As regards ordinary investors, the new the basis of inspections performed will be issued for the Building Act to Building Act brings a number of successfully during the construction work. specify in detail the documentation simplifications. First of all it widens the list On the one hand, the new Building Act required for the different stages of of building projects that can be executed does not reduce the number of entities construction preparation, maintaining without notification to the Building whose opinions on the design documents construction records, the position of Authority, or with notification, i.e. projects must be requested. On the other, for the approved inspectors, etc. which do not require a building permit. purpose of the designs being evaluated, The law is conceived in such a way as to Quite a new element introduced by the the law makes it mandatory for the be valid for a number of years. The new Building Act is the function of managers (owners) of the mains, previous Act, No. 50/1970 Coll., fulfilled approved inspectors. Approved inspectors communications, and other facilities this role successfully for 30 years and its are civil engineers in possession of an crucial for the execution of the respective amendments mostly concerned only social approval which is legally recognised and building project to inform the investor, in system changes and not principally the only appointed by the Minister for a shortened period of time, about the technical matters. Regional Development on the basis of position of the existing mains and lines,

7 | EDUCATION

Foreign Cooperation at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague

Milan Huml, Faculty of Civil Engineering, ČVUT, e-mail: [email protected], www.fsv.cvut.cz

The Faculty of Civil Engineering of the areas of the Faculty’s study programmes study programmes, which make it Czech Technical University (CTU) in and the scientific and research activities possible to obtain two or more degrees Prague (ČVUT in Prague) is a school of of its staff and students. from a domestic and a foreign higher learning with many years‘ This cooperation mostly takes the form university (double degree, multiple tradition. Its high standard is recognised of international mobility of students and degree). Another option is represented by many institutions of higher teachers. In 2005, more than 800 by a “joint degree" programme where education in Europe and other parts of foreign business trips of the Faculty’s a student obtains a degree granted by the world. staff were realised, which is appro- a consortium of faculties which run an The present structure of the studies ximately an increase of 70 % compared accredited joint study programme. complies with the principles adopted by to the year 2000. An example of cooperation for leading representatives of European Foreign cooperation is based on a “double degree“ programme is the universities at the 1999 Bologna bilateral agreements, the number of award of the second degree to Conference, which declared the need which goes over a hundred at present. graduates of the CTU - Faculty of Civil for “the European space for higher Interest is focused not only on Engineering, who have had one year of education“, with the essential mobility European countries, but some study for Master’s degree at University of students and teachers. agreements also specify contacts with of Cranfield (UK), where they also countries of the North American and prepare and defend their thesis. Structure of Studies Asian continents, e.g. the USA, In the opposite direction, the Faculty The studies consist of three levels Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, of Civil Engineering receives foreign (Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral), and China. students for secondments, during arranged in cycles of three Students can pursue their activities which they usually attend courses independently accredited study within EU exchange programmes, such taught in English. Almost 190 foreign programmes, in which access to the as Socrates-Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, students were enrolled for our study higher-level cycle requires successful ATHENS, Aktion, Marie Curie Actions, programmes in the 2005/2006 year. completion of the lower cycle studies. or can take advantage of scholarships A specific feature of the higher Bachelor study programmes available available from Czech and foreign demands regarding the programme at the Faculty of Civil Engineering are in foundations. They usually stay abroad level of doctoral studies is the Civil Engineering, Geodesy and for periods of 3 months to 1 year. requirement for completing at least one Cartography, and Architecture and About 90-100 students go abroad each term of study at a foreign university or Building Engineering. In addition, the year. scholarly work in another foreign faculty runs a bachelor cycle Building prestigious institution. Structures in English language (Civil Superstructure Study Engineering). The faculty’s ambition is Programmes and Exchange to gradually ensure teaching a certain Visits number of subjects of all the study Special attention has been given at the programmes in the Master‘s degree Faculty of Civil Engineering in recent cycle in the English language for all years to the creation of superstructure students, including Czech ones.

Cooperation with Foreign Partners Is Developing A priority of development for the Faculty of Civil Engineering is cooperation with foreign universities and certain prestigious institutions more at: www.fsv.cvut.cz engaged in specialist activities in the

| 8 WE ARE INTRODUCING

High Standard of Czech Concrete

ZAPA beton a.s. is a major concrete producer. Since 1991, when it was one of the first private concrete mixing companies in the Czech Republic, it has been growing very progressively. In the early days the company was active in the Prague area only, but since 1994 it has been gradually expanding its activities to other regions as well. At present the company operates 50 concrete mixing plants, two crushing plants, and two quarries.

This is the fifteenth year you have been active in the construction industry. To what degree has in your opinion the construction industry changed during this time? Irrespective of whether we are talking about housing, industrial, civic, or engineering construction, they have one Concrete mixing plant Kačerov thing in common. They all use concrete a lot in all kinds of forms. The times when contractors mixed concrete more sensitive to the metering accuracy. devices in the metering and mixing themselves are long gone. High degree Progress has been made also in the process, formerly with airbags and today of specialisation, very specific production concrete technology. New types of exclusively with even more effective equipment, logistics, and special concrete have been developed, using extraction filters. All mixing plants are transportation capacities gradually led to new raw materials and new construction being equipped with recycling the establishment of narrowly technologies. In the past years we have equipment for recycling all production specialised companies which registered a shift from low strength to wastes, and therefore generate manufacture, deliver, and cast concrete higher strength grades, growing practically no waste and do not mixes. demand for self-compacting concretes, contaminate ground waters or and architects use exposed concrete surrounding surfaces with concrete mix What changes have you noticed features more often. sediments. Most concrete mixing plants in the industry? now have quality concrete surfaces Today built concrete mixing plants have You have moved your business which allow thorough maintenance and a considerably higher production also to Slovakia. How are you a dust-free environment, and thus capacity, because the technologies of doing there? eliminate the nuisance to the concrete processing on construction site After mere five years, our Slovak surrounding areas by secondary dust progressed towards higher performance. subsidiary became a number two generated by traffic, which used to be Concrete mixing plants are controlled producer of civil engineer construction common. Wherever possible, aggregate automatically without the need for concrete. At present we operate 18 is kept in closed compartments of the operators, with perfect tracking of mixing plants and two gravel plants. production equipment. Operator components added and the overall working conditions have also changed, production process and automatic You received a certificate of operators used to work right next to the transfer of data for billing. Mixing plants appreciation for your approach production equipment exposed to noise, are equipped for year-round operation to the environment. How do you dust, and vibrations. Today, operators by being enclosed in thermally insulated do it? work in air-conditioned control rooms units with heating and heated mixing Approach to the environment has away from the production equipment. water or even aggregates. They are also changed very dramatically. Mixing plants The production process is monitored by capable of delivering concrete mixes are enclosed in insulated buildings, a CCTV system and various probes which under any climatic conditions in the cement silos are without any exception detect levels of material inside same quality and quantity. Enhanced has equipped with effective filters containers, without the need for visual also been the system of metering eliminating any escape of powder fillers checks. chemical admixtures which enable the (cement, ash) into the air, the mixing

use of more concentrated products, plants are equipped with dust extraction Naďa Vávrová beton photo: archives ZAPA

| 10 ENTERPRISE

Universal Building Company Enjoying its Many Successes

Tereza Málková, IMOS a.s., e-mail: [email protected], www.imos.as

IMOS Brno, a.s. is a universal building company operating on the Czech market since 1990. In the beginning IMOS Brno worked mainly on small construction projects. Nowadays, its main business activities are general supplies of civil engineering fixed structures, water infrastructure, and transport structures. Besides that, it conducts repairs and reconstructions of buildings, including historically protected monuments, such as its recent work on the building where the Supreme Administrative Court of Brno is seated. The company’s registered capital is EUR 6.9 million, and it is one hundred per cent-owned by a single Czech entity - IMOS holding, a.s.

Execution of Large Projects University campus, Bohunice – ILBIT IMOS Brno, a.s. is now working on a major order, namely the Courts of The Best Investor and Builder South Moravia Region for the projects The Justice complex in Brno, which is to be Any company considers the award of Reconstruction of the Reduta Theatre, and completed at the end of 2008. Another a prestigious prize as a success. In 2006, The University Campus, Bohunice - ILBIT. equally interesting project is the IMOS Brno, a.s. won several prizes. They construction of the Moravian Land included the title of the Best Investment of Accredited Testing Laboratory Archives in Brno or a part of a motorway the Year 2005, for the construction of the The company includes an accredited construction, the E III-3 Project I/6 Pavlov Vaňkovka Gallery in Brno, the prize for the testing laboratory which has many years‘ Road. The reconstruction of the Supreme best water economy structure in 2005 for tradition dating back to 1960. Administrative Court in Brno was The Intensification and Expansion of the It is currently divided into two completed under the IMOS Brno, a.s. Sewage Treatment Plant ČPV Brno - departments - the Department of Soil mark, and the building was inaugurated in Modřice, and two first places in the Mechanics and Geology, and the October 2006. competition The 2005 Structure of the Department of Bituminous Mixtures and Materials. In the improvement area, emphasis is placed on the course and effectiveness of improvement and prevention measures. The laboratory has experienced senior management, and a highly qualified and experienced team of laboratory personnel. It evaluates the results of measurements and, outside the accreditation framework, proposes solutions to partial problems in the construction of surface communications. The laboratory tests soils, aggregates, asphalt mixtures, tars, and cold-coated materials. It is also focused on the tests of road surfaces, course layers, measurement of the compaction, and bearing capacity of subgrade and sub-base layers, pit and trench packs and fills, etc.

Vaňkovka Gallery photo: IMOS archives

| 12 CZECH TOP

Modern Face of the Construction Industry

OHL ŽS, a.s is a dynamic multi-profession company with more than fifty years‘ tradition. It ranks among the largest and most important building firms in the Czech Republic. Since 2003, it has been a part of the multinational Spanish building and investment company Obrascón Huarte Lain, S.A. In 2005, OHL ŽS sales rose by 18.5% according to international accounting standards, to EUR 252 million, as compared to EUR 213 million in 2004. The company’s profit doubled to EUR 8.2 million.

Major Contracts of the Company At present OHL ŽS has three plants specialising in construction and transport engineering. The company executes a large number of contracts in various branches of construction for private, state- owned, and municipal investors. The company’s major works in the area of transport projects in the Czech Republic include modernisation of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd railway corridors, construction of the Renovated tram shed Hungária in Budapest Hlubočepy – Barrandov tramway in Prague, and major road constructions, e.g. the Královo Pole tunnels or the Montenegro, reconstruction of the Cegléd railway station in VMO Hlinky two-level traffic interchange in Brno. The area of Hungary, or the construction of a 24-kilometer motorway section buildings and structures includes for example the construction of in Azerbaijan. The company is a member of several consortiums the Blue Phase of the Brno-Bohunice University Campus, executing major orders in Slovakia. They include modernisation of reconstruction and completion of the railway station at Ostrava- the railway line Piešťany – Nové Mesto nad Váhom, reconstruction Svinov, reconstruction and completion of the Municipal Theatre in of the railway station in Prešov, modernisation of the Trnava – Brno, reconstruction and completion of the Moravian Theatre in Piešťany railway and electrification of the Zvolen – Banská Bystrica Olomouc, reconstruction of the National Technical Museum in railway line. Prague, construction of the Assembly Hall and the Information At present, the company participates in two tenders in St Technology Centre of the VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, Petersburg, Russia. The first concerns the Western Speed and many others. Diameter, which is a motorway-type road that will skirt the city’s western boundary, connecting the road to in the OHL ŽS Abroad north with the city ring road in the south, and partly crossing the OHL ŽS operates also abroad, for example in Bulgaria, sea. The second project is the construction of a fast Overhead Montenegro, , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Express transport system. It is one of the pilot projects for solving Azerbaijan, and Slovakia. The most interesting contracts being the problems of municipal public transport by rail lines operating implemented at the moment include the reconstruction and partly on ground and partly on overhead structures. electrification of the Podgorica – Nikšić railway line in

Modern Company OHL ŽS, which is one of the most modern building firms in the Czech Republic, is a holder of a number of prizes. They include the Safe Enterprise certificate, the National Quality Prize of the Czech Republic, and other awards for buildings in many categories and many competitions. Certificates according to the relevant ISO standards, the occupational health and safety management system, information security management system in an organisation, and the eco-management and audit scheme according to Regulation No. 761/2001 of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Communities – EMAS II are a matter of course for OHL ŽS.

Restored railway station at Ostrava–Svinov Naďa Vávrová photo: OHL ŽS archives

| 14 CZECH TOP

Skanska – Global Construction Group in the Czech Republic

Zdeněk Burda, Skanska CZ, e-mail: [email protected], www.skanska.cz

The Skanska group in the Czech Republic a luxury hotel, with a feeling for the important especially for improving the and Slovakia is formed by Skanska CZ location. environment in the region. and its subsidiaries, divided into five Skanska is now building a new sector-oriented divisions. Skanska has corporate headquarters for ČSOB bank at Construction of Low-energy successful business activities also in Prague-Radlice. The project is unique in Buildings Slovakia, where it operates as Skanska size (ground plan 220 by 75 metres) and Skanska is building a unique so-called SK. The only shareholder of Skanska CZ is the amount of greenery. Greenery will "passive" house for Veronica, the local Skanska Kraft AB, which is one hundred cover the building’s roof and walls, as branch of the Czech Union for Nature per cent-owned by Skanska AB. well as atriums. The bank will move its Conservation at Hostětín in the White headquarters with approximately 2 400 Carpathian Mountains. The workshop The Biggest Projects employees to the complex. centre with dormitories will be heated by of the Recent Period Skanska also reconstructs sewage the so-called heat recuperation system, Every year Skanska carries out hundreds treatment plans, sewerage systems and and in its construction the most modern of large and small projects from roads, water reservoirs, or builds new ones. technologies are being combined with railways, hospitals, sports facilities, Major orders included the construction of natural materials such as clay wall swimming pools, to residential buildings, a sewerage system in the town of coating, straw insulation, etc. The project hotels, offices and business centres, to Beroun, a sewage treatment plant at is now being completed, and was put halls, sewerage systems, and environmental structures. It is currently involved in the construction of the D47, D11, D1 and D8 motorways. It also works on the two- level interchange Hlinky in Brno and the extensive New Link railway project in Prague. The latter is to link up all railway stations in the Czech capital by 2009 and thus to improve connection by municipal and suburban transport lines. The Mercury Centre, now under construction in České Budějovice, will include a bus station, and multi-function retail, business, and recreational facilities. At the end of 2005, the company completed the North 2 terminal at Prague airport, which increased the Chodov shopping arcade in Prague airport’s annual capacity to 10 million Mosty u Jablunkova, at Davle, or a plant into operation in the second half of passengers. In November 2005 it at Lovochemie facility in Lovosice. October. completed the construction of the In recent times the company has been biggest shopping arcade in the country - paying increased attention to Cooperation with Civil the Chodov Centre, which offers 200 environmental projects. It takes Engineering Faculties shops and restaurants. advantage of experience gained in Skanska closely cooperates with several The company has extensive experience several years of cooperation with the vocational civil engineering schools and in the reconstruction of historical Partnership Foundation, where it universities because the Czech market buildings, just a few examples being St supports the care of trees and planting of has a high demand for qualified Joseph’s Church in Fulnek, the Museum greenery. specialists. For example, Skanska of Music in Prague, or Wallenstein Palace Interesting projects include Energy organises competitions for the best thesis in Prague. Other projects soon to be Subsistence at Kněžice. This village in and recruits more than 100 university completed include the Fürstenberg Central Bohemia will produce energy graduates each year. Garden or the Augustinian monastery exclusively from renewable sources, using complex in Prague’s Lesser Quarter, the mostly farm produce from the

latter of which will be converted into surrounding land. This project is photo: Skanska CZ archives

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Leading Player in the Construction of Tunnels

František Polák, Metrostav a.s., e-mail: [email protected], www.metrostav.cz

Metrostav a.s. was founded in 1971 for where a complete 170-metre tube a developer for quality housing at the single purpose of building the weighing about 7000 tonnes, made on prestigious sites. . To this day, it has the bank, was “pushed out" into delivered to the inhabitants of Prague a trench dredged in the riverbed in Metrostav Is Also Carrying out more than 50 km of Metro lines, which advance. The manipulation of an Building Projects Abroad means that it has driven approximately extremely heavy load that Metrostav In 2006, the Metrostav joint stock 100 km of tunnels under Prague and mastered in this construction was also company launched the construction of built 54 stations. After 1990 the used for the building of the motorway a motorway tunnel in Croatia, and won company management adopted a basic bridge across the Rybný Brook on D8 an international tender for Hédinsfjördur strategy that aimed to diversify the near the German border. In this case Tunnels in , where it will construct activities, in terms of both regions and a motorway bridge weighing almost two tunnels in a total length of almost content. Nowadays, Metrostav a.s. is 20 000 tonnes was moved across 11 km for 5.7 billion Iceland crowns a universal construction company which a 50 m deep valley. (ISK). The tunnels, between the towns of operates in all sectors of the building industry in the Czech Republic. In 2005, the company’s turnover amounted appro- ximately to EUR 703 million.

New Projects By no means, however, did the diversification of activities slacken off the company’s main technologies. Metrostav has preserved its leading position in its traditional branches - underground engineering and reinforced concrete structures. Most recently, for example, it has completed three motorway tunnels, which became operational in autumn of 2006. The tunnels are Valík on the D5 motorway, and Libouchec and Panenská on D8. Panenská, with its length of 2 km, is the longest tunnel planned in the Czech motorway network. At Driving of a railway tunnel under the Vítkov Hill in Prague present, Metrostav is com- mencing the construction of the Dobrovského tunnel in Brno. It has also Reconstruction Siglu and Ólafs on the north coast, will built several tunnels for the railways, and and New Building be part of a new section of the main is currently working on tunnels of the Besides traditional technologies, the arterial road of the island. New Rail Link being built in Prague. company has also performed very The project, in the total length of specific work in the renewal of historic 14.1 km, includes a bridge across the Number One in Reinforced monuments, for example it Hé insfjar ará River. Metrostav will build Concrete Structures reconstructed the Nostic Palace for the two sections of driven and excavated Metrostav has won a number of awards the Ministry of Culture, the Adria tunnels, in a total length of 10 995 in reinforced concrete structures, such Palace at Národní Avenue in Prague, metres. The shorter tunnel, Siglufjördur, as the prize of fib (Federation and the Karlín Musical Theatre. will be 3 871 m long, and the other one, internationale du beton/International Metrostav naturally builds also Ólafsfjördur, will be 7 124 metres in Federation for Structural Concrete) for facilities for industry, retail, and length. tunnels on the IVC1 Metro section services, is involved in the housing under the Vltava River at Troja in Prague, construction business, and operates as photo: Metrostav archives

| 18 CZECH TOP

Traditional Brand for Buildings of the 21st Century

Richard Slavík, Wienerberger cihlářský průmysl, a.s., e-mail: [email protected], www.wienerberger.cz

The history of Wienerberger goes back formed by inner and outer wall bricks, all the requirements, the company has to 1819, when Alois Miesbach ceramic ceilings and lintels, mortars and made the EC declaration of conformity established a series of new brickworks, plasters. At the same time the company and attached the CE mark to all its Wienerberger Ziegelindustrie, south of is also oriented at marketing the entire building products. Vienna. Today the firm is the largest system of its products, which includes producer of bricks in the world and the TERCA Klinker ceramic pavers and Wienerberger Cares About "number two"in the European market facing bricks. Another activity of the Architects, Designers, and in the manufacture of roof systems. The firm is the family house construction Students Wienerberger logo can be found on 236 programme, the POROTHERM The POROTHERM brand offer is very manufacturing plants in 24 countries in Wienerberger House, in which it has wide and is constantly expanding. Europe and the USA. The manufactured joined forces with other partners in the Several innovations have been added to bricks are protected in most of Europe building industry. The programme, the portfolio in 2006. The newly opened by a patent and a trademark launched in autumn 2002, is aimed at factory at Jezernice commenced with (POROTHERM, POROTON). promoting the quality of family house the supply of five types of the construction in the Czech Republic. So POROTHERM CB ground bricks. Other Largest Brick Manufacturer far three hundred customers have used innovations are the POROTHERM 19 Wienerberger is the largest it to build their homes. AKU acoustic brick, and the manufacturer of bricks in the Czech POROTHERM 8 P+D slip brick. Both Republic. It has been working in the Modern Concept in Bricks products were presented to the public country since 1992, now operating 12 Although POROTHERM has become for the first time at the international brick factories, one lintel and girder synonymous with burnt brick, it is building fair For Arch 2006. plant, and two engineering firms. In the actually a modern large-sized brick The fair also provided the opportunity Czech Republic the company is focused block with a tongue and groove to announce the winners of the 8th on the manufacture of the complete partition wall system. At the same time, public anonymous architectural POROTHERM brick system, which is all the advantages of burnt bricks are competition for architects, designers, preserved, including high strength, and students "Comfort family house of durability, high thermal resistance, the POROTHERM 2006 brick system". soundproof insulation, and vapour Prizes were also awarded for the best diffusion. It makes construction more works in the second year of the accurate and faster. Other competition "Executed Constructions of benefits are significant the POROTHERM 2006 Brick System savings in mortar, because (Buildings of any purpose)". in this type of masonry Another competition, which has mortar is applied become very popular with architects all exclusively to the over the world, is the "Brick Award", horizontal bed organised by the Wienerberger concern joint. The quality on a world scale. 235 projects were of the system is entered for the second edition of this evident from the international competition, which is increasing subsidised with EUR 21 000 and is popularity of the awarded every two years for the best brand as well as works in contemporary European the fact that brickwork architecture. One prize in the Wienerberger 2006 competition went to a design was the first from Bohemia - the bronze medal was company in the won by Jan Soukup and John Pawson Czech Republic to certify for the construction of a church at Nový its meticulously worked out Dvůr. manufacturer quality management system at all its manufacturing plants. Sectional view of a house Along with this, having complied with photo: Wienerberger cihlářský průmysl archives

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The Most Prestigious Award for Czech Builders and Architects

Jan Fibiger, ABF Foundation, e-mail: [email protected], www.abf.cz/nadace

In fourteen years of its existence, the Awards for Building Complexes democratic bodies and self-government Building of the Year competition, which and Reconstructions of society is newly reflected in a number is organised by the Architecture and In 2006, the jury awarded the Building of projects of town halls and regional Building Foundation (ABF) as a review of the Year Prize to the Ladronka leisure government offices. The transformation of the most successful building activities complex and reconstruction of of an old hall in the Reconstruction and constructions and prize awards, has the Ladronka farmhouse, that provided Conversion of the Municipal Office in become the most prestigious award to Prague inhabitants with a newly Semily is not only an example of the use completed buildings in terms of overall adapted park in the city, fully equipped of a historic industrial hall for a new quality, and its acceptance by the expert for leisure activities and recreation. The function, and thus the creation of a new public in the Czech Republic. Every year project brought a model solution to the urban site, but also a model of creating the jury thus evaluates fifty buildings revitalisation of an urban area. Another the human environment of an office and then nominates 15 of them for the Building of the Year was the interior. The reconstruction of this title. Subsequently, five Building of the Reconstruction of the Reduta Theatre in building rightly earned the last, fifth Year titles are announced and awarded Brno, which is an example of the Czech Prize of the Building of the Year. in a ceremony at the FOR ARCH approach to the restoration of historical International Building Fair, where they buildings, where the historic memory of Buildings to Be Lived in are presented to representatives of the the house is combined with modern The discovery of the last year are building’s creators, i.e. the designer, architecture to create a new residential dwellings. Housing construction work supplier, and environment of a high standard for construction experienced a slump in the investor. a new function. The Third Building of 1990’s, the construction of housing the Year Prize went to the Construction estates of prefabricated blocks was Mirror of the Level of Society of a New Multi-Purpose Hall and abandoned and the construction of New buildings are the best evidence of Completion of the Sports Stadium of family dwellings was oriented at the development in the sector, as well as the Town of Liberec, providing proof of extensive building of imported modular of the level of society. The seventy the attention paid in the town to the homes. The jury welcomed this year the buildings which have gained the awards promotion of physical education and participation of a number of high- document the fourteen-year history of services for its inhabitants. The structure standard dwellings which can house an construction in the Czech Republic at sets a model in the technical execution, ever increasing number of people, with the turn of the millennium, and as well as in its multi-functional concept quality architecture and work. The Prize demonstrate how quickly and and extent of services made available to of the State Housing Development Fund successfully the privatised building the north Bohemian town. was awarded to the Construction of the industry coped gradually with the In the last few years, an increasing Gallery Above the Vltava housing changing demands of investors and number of participants in the complex of eight multi-unit dwellings, owners. In the beginning, investment in competition are modern effective which is a model of convenient housing, the first years of the country’s new industrial buildings, which document and the Prize of the Mayor of the orientation was represented by banks, the development of the new Czech Capital City Prague went to the hotels, office buildings, and petrol industry. In 2006 the Building of the Reconstruction of a Tenement - Kolárova stations. Great focus is still on transport Year Prize was awarded to the Residential Building - at Prague-Karlín, projects, such as metro stations, Headquarters of the NEOMED s.r.o. which is an example of the regeneration motorway sections, railways, bridges company in Prague 10 District, which is of a former industrial quarter and, also, cycle paths. Permanently, an example of a combination of top devastated by floods, and its renewal for a large share of the evaluated projects is industrial technology with modern residential property. represented by reconstructions and architecture. renewal of older structures and The growing importance of the historical buildings, and this testifies to care of the living environment in our towns and villages. For several years, many buildings entered for the competition are libraries, schools, theatres, sports centres and grounds, i.e. facilities which promote more at: www.stavbaroku.cz the cultural and physical level of society.

| 22 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Four Basic Trends in Building Materials Research

Jaroslava Ledererová, Miroslav Svoboda, Michaela Suchardová, Building Materials Research Institute e-mail: [email protected], e-mail: [email protected], e-mail: [email protected], www.vustah.cz

Applied and industrial research and development in the area of building materials and construction is concentrated mainly at two research facilities (Výzkumný ústav stavebních hmot, a. s., Brno - the Building Materials Research Institute in Brno, and Centrum stavebního inženýrství, a. s. Praha - the Centre of Construction Engineering in Prague), and at all three civil engineering faculties in the Czech Republic (at the Czech Technical University - ČVUT - in Prague, the Brno University of Technology - VUT, and the VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava - VŠB-TU), which cover also basic research in this area to a great extent. Applied research is also carried out by the Czech Union of Civil Engineers (ČSSI), and several research sites in the business sector. At present, the largest research facility in the area of building materials in the Czech Republic, in both company size and range of expertise, is the Building Materials Research Institute (VUSTAH).

Four Trends in Research In response to producer demands, research and development in the building materials sector comprises mainly four trends, and VUSTAH is involved extensively in the activities. The trends are:

Enhancement of Long-term Durability of Building Materials Especially important is research into the causes, effects, and possibilities of limiting the degradation of building materials properties. An increase in building materials durability brings also economic and environmental effect, and thus impacts on society as a whole. In Accredited laboratory for analytical chemistry this context, VUSTAH is searching and testing the ways of protecting civil weight and elasticity module, change in Decreasing the Wasteful Use of engineering works against external appearance, and aesthetic Raw Materials biodegradation, which is considered defects. Research is also conducted into Importance is attached to the use of a factor that may often impact biodegradation caused mainly by secondary raw materials, which are not undesirably on the service life of sulphur and nitrifying bacteria or a mere substitute for primary materials, structures. It may appear in lower moulds. VUSTAH closely cooperates in but which in many cases may improve strength parameters, imperfect water these tasks especially with the the use qualities of the final product. In tightness and increased porousness, companies PREFA KOMPOZITY, a. s. and some cases, they may also help to reduce volume changes, changes in volume DAKO Brno spol. s r. o. the volume of emissions (for example, photo: VUSTAH archives photo: VUSTAH

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the application of selected secondary materials of a non-traditional Lafarge cement, a.s., Vápenka Vitošov, raw materials allows the preparation of composition to meet exactly users’ s.r.o., České lupkové závody, a.s., KM quality concretes of a dense requirements. For VUSTAH, the pilot Beta, a.s., Linde Vítkovice a.s., Lineta microstructure with a much lower theme in this area is glassfibre-reinforced Severočeská dřevařská společnost, a.s., content of Portland clinker per 1 cu.m of concrete (i.e. thin-walled cement Horizont, spol. s r.o., Brněnské vodárny hardened concrete that helps to reduce element reinforced with alkali-resistant a kanalizace, a.s., DAKO Brno, s.r.o. as CO2 emissions). Regarding these issues, glassfibres), its properties, the well as VUSTAH. VUSTAH cooperates e.g. with the possibilities of increasing its resistance to company KOTOUČ ŠTRAMBERK spol. extreme temperatures, and also the Futuristic inorganic-organic s r. o. on possible solutions to expand possibility to use alternative materials in copolymers the manufacture of finely ground its production. The production Materials of the 21st century rightly secondary materials for use in hydraulic technologies and moulding techniques include inorganic-organic copolymers of bonds. In the area of secondary materials VUSTAH is also involved in a research project of the Czech Ministry of Education (MŠMT) known as VEZPOM - Research in Ecological Processing of Industrial Waste Materials (2004-2010). The research is focused on the possibilities of substituting primary raw material sources with residual inorganic waste materials so that the resulting product meets environmental, economic, and technological criteria. These subjects are linked with a number of new testing procedures, which are being developed and applied in the existing laboratories. For example, VUSTAH has set up an accredited ecotoxicological laboratory, which tests the ecological suitability of building materials (health safety) made Physical chemistry laboratory from secondary materials. The results of the research into the possible use of developed and tested in the last few outstanding physical and mechanical secondary raw materials in the years make it possible to produce properties. Intensive research is currently manufacture of building materials are decorative elements and accessories being carried out into the composition applied for example by the ŽĎAS, a. s. from glassfibre-reinforced concrete in and structure of biogenic materials company. Within Czech Ministry of complex shapes, with high use qualities allowing their synthesis. VUSTAH, Education programmes, VUSTAH and durability. New findings obtained in working together with the Research participates together with the VŠB-TU the research have led for example to Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Ostrava and the Brown Coal Research the use of the so-called hybrid České lupkové závody, a.s., is testing Institute (VUHU), a.s., in the activity of reinforcements, i.e. the combination of mainly the use of these new materials as the integrated system’s Research Centre alkali-resistant glassfibres with plastic building materials admixtures. studying the use of by-products from the fibres (especially polypropylene), in the mining, treatment, and processing of form of chopped strands or various types Research and Development of energy raw materials (CVVP). The results of mesh. These combinations find Building Materials is Essential of the centre’s work will be taken over application especially where high The research and development potential for industrial use by GEMEC-UNION a.s., demands for the product’s resistance to of the sector of building materials Ostrava Division, Teplárna Ústí n/Labem impact have to be met. In this area production is far from exhausted. Its a.s., Dalkia Česká republika, a.s., OKD, VUSTAH also cooperates with the firm possibilities can significantly influence Doprava, a.s., DIAMO, státní podnik, DAKO Brno, spol. s r. o. Another line in not only this sector, but mainly the ODRA Division, Severomoravské vodárny this trend is the development of technological level and labour a kanalizace, a.s., Mostecká uhelná a.s., asbestos-free boards bonded by a silicate productivity in construction, with an SD a.s. Chomutov and the Institute of matrix and reinforced with organic impact on the final quality and use value Geonics of the Czech Academy of fibres. VUSTAH cooperates in this of construction, and, in the long run, can Sciences. research with the company ČDZ Praha, be reflected e.g. in the price of a. s. In a public tender of the Czech a construction, and save energy and Application of Composite Education Ministry in 2006 VUSTAH won natural resources. The Building Materials Materials a project for the Inorganic Composites Research Institute has been playing A major current trend is the use of Integrated Research Centre - CIVAK. The a major role in this applied and industrial composites, where the wide range of outcome of the centre’s work will be research throughout its existence. various mineral admixtures and chemical applied in industry by Českomoravský

additives makes it possible to prepare cement, a.s., successional organisation, archives photo: VUSTAH

25 | SURVEY

Poll of Successful Companies Operating in the Building Industry

Building Firms

Stavby silnic a železnic, a.s.

Národní třída 10, 113 19, Praha 1, phone: +420 224 951 111, fax: +420 224 933 551, e-mail: [email protected], www.ssz.cz

Turnover: CZK 18.8 billion (in 2005) - approx. EUR 632.9 million Number of employees: 3 732 Contact: Mr Zdeněk Synáček, e-mail: [email protected]

SSŽ a.s. (Stavby silnic a železnic/Road and Rail Building Company) currently occupies a leading position among building contractors in the Czech Republic and is the biggest firm in the area of transport infrastructure construction. SSŽ’s majority stockholder is the company EUROVIA from the VINCI group, the world’s leading construction group with a turnover of more than EUR 24 billion in 2005.

Could you mention the biggest project executed by your company? In 55 years of the operation of SSŽ in the construction market photo: SSŽ archives many prominent works have been implemented. For example, A tramway constructed in Prague the Barrandov and Nusle bridges in Prague or major constructions such as railway corridors, motorway sections, construction of the D1 motorway Mengusovce – Jánovce, that expressways, and other roads. Also some through and ring bypasses the town of Poprad (Slovakia). Work continued on the roads, bridges, mains, pipeline and environmental structures modernisation of the Šenkvice – Cífer railway, which is part of were built under the SSŽ mark. Last but not least, the the Bratislava-Trnava corridor (Slovakia). A tramway has been company’s specialty is the construction of sports complexes and built in Lyon, France. In 2005, SOK Třebestovice, a subsidiary football stadiums. specialised in steel structures, produced MAGEBA bridge expansion joints for clients in Finland and Germany, installed Are you proud of any successes abroad? two chimneys on a coating plant of Eurovia Services in The most important foreign region for SSŽ is the Slovak Wittstock, Germany, and supplied complete dust control construction market. An SSŽ-led consortium has launched the equipment to a bituminous mixture coating facility in Kenya.

GEOSAN GROUP a.s.

U Nemocnice 430, 280 02 Kolín III, phone: +420 246 006 111, fax: +420 346 006 000, e-mail: [email protected], www.geosan-group.cz

Turnover: CZK 6.5 billion - approx. EUR 218.8 million Division, and Škoda Projects) are engaged in a broad range of Number of employees: 286 activities. They include the construction of buildings and Contact: Ms Vlasta Končelová, facilities, roads, reclamation, removal of old ecological damage, e-mail: [email protected] construction of sewage treatment plants, and hydrotechnical projects. GEOSAN GROUP a.s. is a Czech company operating throughout the country. Its different divisions (Prague Division, Kolín You are a company exclusively with Czech capital Division, Foreign Projects Division, Environmental Services that ranks among the leaders in the construction

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industry. How have you attained this success? The success stems from the many years of operation in the Czech construction market, and the supply of quality work. Investors use several criteria to choose building work suppliers and the GEOSAN GROUP joint stock company has quality references and meets all the parameters required by clients. It has a quality pool of experts in the given professions, possesses certificates for quality control systems, occupational safety, environment and social accountability, which motivate them to improve their work constantly.

You have won an important contract in Libya. Can you provide details of this project? The contract is for the construction of a rainwater drainage and sewerage system in Libya’s second largest city, Benghazi. The purpose, as indeed with all sewerage systems, is first of all to photo: Geosan Group archives Concreting of a sewerage system ensure the drainage of sewage and rainwater from where they originate. This will improve the environment in the given area, and allow the construction of industrial facilities that cannot be The investor is the People’s Committee for housing, public built without sewage removal. In the long term, these activities works, and the environment. The total cost of the construction will eventually help improve also the living standard and quality is EUR 22.5 million. The contract was signed in February 2005 of life of the local inhabitants. and the project is to be completed in September 2008.

HOCHTIEF VSB a.s.

Primátorská 36/323, 180 00 Praha 8, phone: +420 283 841 851, fax: +420 283 840 642, e-mail: [email protected], www.hochtief-vsb.cz

Turnover (in 2005): CZK 4 540 million – approx. Any award won by our company is important to us. It means an EUR 156.5 million appreciation for the quality work of our employees and their Number of employees (as of 31 December 2005): 1523 expertise, as well as for the successful strategy of the company Contact: Ms Alena Čechová, in the Czech construction market. From this point of view we e-mail: [email protected] particularly value the Building of the Year award and other prizes awarded in objective competitions. HOCHTIEF VSB a.s. is a building firm with a long-standing tradition in the Czech market. It is part of an international concern, which has subsidiaries located worldwide. HOCHTIEF VSB specialises in the construction of residential housing, public and office buildings, industrial, environmental, and water economy facilities, transport infrastructure, mains, pipelines, and development projects. HOCHTIEF VSB builds on its fifty-year-old history and upholds the best traditions of the Czech construction industry, seeking to promote them and advance them towards the modern concepts of creation of a common space for life.

What latest technologies do you use in the execution of your projects? HOCHTIEF VSB makes use of all the available technologies that can further improve the quality of the work performed and services supplied in all the areas of its activities. Currently we are introducing additional technologies especially in the area of transport infrastructure construction.

You have won a number of awards, especially in the competition of the 100 Admired Companies of photo: HOCHTIEF VSB archives 2006. Which do you value the most? Integrated Air Traffic Control Centre of the Air Navigation Services, Prague

27 | SURVEY

Manufacturers of Building Materials Českomoravský cement, a.s., nástupnická společnost

Mokrá 359, 664 04 Mokrá-Horákov, phone: +420 544 122 111, fax: +420 544 122 665, e-mail: [email protected], www.cmcem.cz

Turnover (2005): CZK 4.2 billion – approx. EUR 141.4 million experienced extensive modernisation aimed not only at Number of employees: approx. 600 increasing production effectiveness, but also at lowering the Contact: Ms Romana Sommerová, environmental impact of the manufacturing. Although they e-mail: [email protected] represent modern units of a top world standard, we are preparing, together with the HTC technical office in Heidelberg, The company Českomoravský cement, a.s. (Czech-Moravian further projects to increase the technical standard of the Cement), a member of the international group HeidelbergCement, equipment in conformity with the requirements of the BAT (Best is a leading manufacturer of cement in the Czech Republic. It offers Available Techniques). clients a range of various types of highest-quality cement and also provides them with professional logistics and consulting services. The company produces cement in two plants – at Prague-Radotín and Mokrá near Brno. The facility at Králův Dvůr, where cement production was suspended at the beginning of 2003, now serves as a distribution point. Českomoravský cement holds the quality certificate ČSN EN ISO 9001:2001, ecological certificate ČSN EN ISO 14001, and the OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety management certificate.

You belong to the HeidelbergCement transnational group. How do you cooperate within this group? We cooperate inside the HeidelbergCement group in different areas. The most important one is the exchange of know-how among the divisions. This is implemented through the HTC technical office in Heidelberg. Another important factor in mutual cooperation are secondments of the staff within the group, mainly in the area of production.

What new technologies are you using in the

manufacture of cement? photo: Českomoravský cement archives Českomoravský cement production plants have recently Quarrying equipment – Prague-Radotín

Bramac střešní systémy spol. s r.o.

Kolbenova 5a, 190 00 Praha 9, phone: +420 266 770 123, fax: 283 891 531, e-mail: [email protected], www.bramac.cz

Turnover: CZK 1 209 million – approx. EUR 40 million What prospects do you envisage for the Number of employees: 270 manufacturers of building materials? Contact: Ms Radana Tolarová, We are optimistic as far as the future of building materials e-mail: [email protected] production is concerned. We expect increased demand for all Export: 1.5%, we export to all countries of the concern, i.e. building materials with the change of VAT rates on housing Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, and construction in 2007. It should also be noted that many Czech Bulgaria roofs wait for a replacement. Bramac has sufficient production capacity that we are ready to use to meet all the market Bramac střešní systémy spol. s r.o. (Bramac Roof Systems) needs. operates in the Czech market since 1991, and is a leading company in the manufacture and sale of concrete roof Could you mention some examples of the systems. It currently operates three manufacturing plants in innovations that you introduced to the market in the Czech Republic, and employs 270 people. In line with its 2006? company philosophy it aims at a high standard of services and For example the Bramac solar collector, which is a part of the quality of all its products. integrated Bramac roof system. This solar equipment can be

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used to heat service water in a house or swimming pool or support heating in a house. This Bramac innovation, that was introduced to the market in March 2006, can be used with different types of roofing. However, in Bramac roofs the tiles do not have to be cut. The advantages of the Bramac solar collector are easy and quick installation, as the dimensions of the collector are adapted to the Bramac roof tiles. The tiles do not need cutting - the collectors simply take the place of tiles in the roofing. Nor is subsequent flashing necessary because the Bramac solar collector is supplied with an integrated aluminium frame. The solar collectors made of safety toughened and shatterproof glass (4 mm) are offered in four sizes, namely 4.1 sq.m (2.36 x 2.38 m); 6.1 sq.m (3.26 x 2.38 m); 8.1 sq.m (4.31 x 2.38 m), and 10.1 sq.m (5.36 x 2.38 m).

Another innovation is the Tegalit tile, a large-sized concrete photo: Bramac střešní systémy The most popular roofing material from the Bramac range roofing which conforms to the trends of 21st century architecture. Its flat, simple, and sober shape and classical concrete roof tiles from BRAMAC, the Tegalit is made of colours match the appearance of modern buildings. Like all quality natural materials, with a tested PROTECTOR finish.

LASSELSBERGER, a.s.

Adelova 2549/1, 320 00 Plzeň-Jižní Předměstí, phone: +420 378 021 333, fax: +420 378 021 309, e-mail: [email protected], www.rako.cz

LASSELSBERGER company currently covers 50% of the ceramic 25 x 33 cm or larger, such as the new Salsa series based on the tiles market in the Czech Republic and ranks among the largest tile size 25 x 45 x cm. An innovation in the bathroom series is European producers of tiling materials. LASSERSBERGER’s also rich colours, where even prominent trendy shades such as Ceramics Division maintains and develops the tradition of the pistachio or wine are used. A modern appearance is also Czech RAKO brand with a comprehensive range of housing achieved by a wide spectrum of the shades of a single colour in ceramics. System solutions for commercial and heavily used one bathroom. New RAKO brand kitchens are typically in the non-commercial buildings are ensured by LASSERSBERGER with rustic style, with the exception of the Baleary series, which its products under the LB OBJECT brand. creates kitchens or bathrooms in modern luscious pastel colours. The floor series come in larger sizes for the 2006 season. You are a leading manufacturer of building 40 x 40 cm and 30 x 60 cm tiles have now become a standard. materials and ceramic products. What is the basis Another highlight of floor tiles is the new lively surfaces. They are of your company’s success? accentuated with glittering effects, fine reliefs or mild sheen and The RAKO brand, which celebrated its 120th anniversary three matte contrast. One exclusive innovation for 2006 is calibrated years ago, represents complete sets of wall and floor tiles, tiles with an irregular, delustred surface, known as lappato. including a wide range of decorative accessories for bathrooms, Ceramics for buildings are available from LASSELSBERGER to kitchens, and floors of home interiors. Regarding lifestyle, it is specialists, architects, and designers under the LB OBJECT oriented at end users with high demands on the design and use brand. value of the offered materials. For system solutions to buildings LASSERSBERGER produces ceramic tiles under the LB OBJECT brand. They are integrated systems of wall tiles and flooring designated mainly for architectural and investment purposes. In these types of brands the main emphasis is on diversity, function, excellent qualities, and high use value. In order to meet the requirements and needs of customers effectively, the company is organisationally divided into three divisions: the Ceramics Division the Building Materials Division the Raw Materials Division.

What innovations are you planning for 2007? In March 2006, LASSELSBERGER introduced to the market, under the RAKO brand, a new 2006 series of ceramics for residential interiors. The bathroom series were inspired by the photo: Lasselsberger archives present trends of size enlargement and all are offered in the sizes The Samba collection from Lasselsberger

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Building Industry Exhibitions and Trade Fairs in the Czech Republic in 2007

IBF Official participation of the Czech Republic in international International Building Fair trade fairs and exhibitions abroad 17– 21 April 2007, Brno Exhibition Grounds Veletrhy Brno, a.s., e-mail: [email protected], www.bvv.cz CONECO - RACIOENERGIA - CLIMATHERM 2007 International Building Fair FOR ARCH 2007 20 – 24 March 2007, Bratislava 18th International Building Fair INCHEBA EXPO BRATISLAVA, e-mail: [email protected], 18 – 22 September 2007, www.incheba.sk Prague Exhibition Centre Letňany, ABF, a.s., e-mail: [email protected], www.forarch.cz

more at: www.veletrhyavystavy.cz

Important Contacts

Ministries Ministry of Industry and Trade www.mpo.cz [email protected] Ministry for Regional Development www.mmr.cz [email protected] State Institutes Czech Standards Institute www.csni.cz [email protected] Associations and Unions Association of Building Industry Contractors in the Czech Republic www.sps.cz [email protected] Centre of Building Construction, Engineering, a.s. (CSI) www.csias.cz [email protected] Czech Chamber of Certified Engineers and Technicians Engaged in Construction www.ckait.cz [email protected] Research Organisations and Institutes Research Institute of Building Materials, a.s. www.vustah.cz [email protected] Construction Technical and Testing Institute Prague, s.p. www.tzus.cz [email protected] PAVUS, a.s. – Construction Fire Attestation and Research Institute www.pavus.cz [email protected] National Research Institute for Materials – SVÚM, a.s. www.svum.cz [email protected] National Research Institute for the Protection of Materials, s.r.o. (SVUOM) www.svuom.cz [email protected] Research Institute of Binding Materials, Prague, spol. s r.o. www.vumo.cz [email protected] Universities Czech Technical University, Faculty of Civil Engineering www.fsv.cvut.cz [email protected] VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava www.vsb.cz [email protected] Acadamy of Arts, Architecture, and Design Prague www.vsup.cz [email protected] Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering www.vutbr.cz [email protected]

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