Thomas Betong relies on precast for housing projects in Stockholm
Thomas Betong, part of the Swedish Thomas Concrete Group, has invested in a carrousel plant for precast concrete elements supplied by Ebawe Anlagentechnik, Germany, one of the seven companies belonging to the precast specialist Progress Group. The Heby plant is certified according to Green Building, SGBC, standards which ensure its energy consumption is at least 25 % lower than the requirements of the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s rules.
Thomas Concrete Group operates a total of 152 plants and is one of the largest independent suppliers of ready-mix concrete in its markets. The Group’s extensive network of plants means it has local operations close to its customers and their construction sites, which results in short transportation distances and a greater regard for the environment. In Sweden, they have 38 ready-mix concrete plants as well as three plants for precast elements. They are also present in other countries, e.g. Poland, Germany and the United States. The precast application range includes slabs, double walls and balconies. The Group has a long tradition and knowledge in working with concrete, as their first production started already back in 1955. Last years they produced around 700,000 m² of precast products.
Prefabricated double-walls and slabs are tailor-made
Key success factors for the Thomas Concrete Group has always included its independence from international construction and cement companies, which makes the Group a reliable long-term partner to the entire construction industry. Another key success factor has been a high level of technical competence, exemplified by the operation of the Group’s own Research and Development Centers i.e. C-lab in Gothenburg and one at each national subsidiary. Besides that, they have a strong focus on serving their customers in the best possible way: being close to the customers and their construction sites, the aim is to be the leader in terms of quality, safety and customer service, considering themselves as “Team Thomas”, who does the utmost to support the customers to be successful.
The plant in Heby, north of Stockholm, Sweden, is run in two working shifts and produces lattice girder elements and double-walls to build approximately 4,000 new apartments per year in the Stockholm area, where there is a severe housing shortage. „The Heby plant enables us to meet the needs of the market and to help solve housing shortages,“ says CEO Hans Karlander.
Prefabricated double-walls and slabs are tailor-made in the Heby plant to meet specific applications, with electrical installations, wiring and pipework, all put in place on an assembly line before the casting process begins. After a controlled curing process in the master computer controlled curing chamber, the prefabricated elements are then delivered to the building site, where they are mounted This construction method is rational, simple and fast, giving shorter build times than conventional methods.
Environmentally friendly production
The Group has a strong focus on environmental responsibility and works hard to reduce their long-term environmental impact in all local and global processes. In 2016, Thomas Concrete Group launched a unique sustainable building system under the brand name Thomas Miljöstomme, with a 30 % lower CO2 footprint than conventional methods. The system is based on prefabricated walls, slabs and balconies in combination with ready-mix concrete. The pre-cast double walls and pre-cast slabs are produced in the carrousel plant provided by Ebawe.
“With Thomas Miljöstomme a building with concrete‘s documented good properties is available during the entire life of the house.” states Carina Edblad, CEO of Thomas Betong AB, the Group’s Swedish subsidiary. “The investment into the Heby factory was an essential next step in the Group’s efforts to broaden its customer offering and is in harmony with society‘s high ambitions for increased sustainable construction.”
