Sincere thanks for the hospitality!

One of the main reasons, dear readers, why I like this, my job so very much, is the many business trips within our region, Europe and the rest of the world  - to trade exhibitions, trade fairs, specialist congresses, company events and visits to precast plants. In addition to the professional exchanges, I am again and again impressed by the warm-hearted hospitality I have experienced worldwide and which, over the past many years,  has led to many close personal friendships – in Brazil, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, several Eastern European countries and here in Germany, to name just a few countries. I therefore want to sincerely thank you/all of you for this − also in the name of the entire BFT team.

Just recently my journey led me to China, to the metropolitan region of Shanghai. Initiated by our valued customers of long standing, Peikko (Lahti) and Elematic (Akaa), I visited not only the local subsidiaries Peikko China and Elematic Teeyer, but also China’s – if not all of Asia’s – largest prestressing plant: Shanghai Citi Raise. On no fewer than 16 production lanes, this precaster manufactures prestressed hollowcore concrete floors, each 150 m long. In addition, semi-precast slabs, double-T slabs, wall elements, beams, columns and special components. The daily production output is currently 2,000 m³ of concrete, possible are 600,000 m³ annually.

As least as impressive was the above-mentioned hospitality shown by Wang Hua Jiong, Duan Zongwei and Jiao Hongxiang (Shanghai Citi Raise), of Topi Paananen, Martin Fenčák and Bobo Xie (Peikko), as well as Teppo Voutilainen, Seppo Kauppinen and Sally Chen (Elematic). The first reports on these visits, to Peikko China and Shanghai Citi Raise, were already published in BFT 10/24, with additional reports to follow in this or the next issues.