immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Bausektor

  • Strategic move in the European construction sector

    Strategic move in the European construction sector

    With the integration, Holcim is expanding its product portfolio to include energy-efficient and circular transformation solutions in a European market with a volume of over 12 billion euros. The move contributes to the strategic initiative “NextGen Growth 2030”, which is focussed on high-margin business areas beyond the traditional cement business.

    In particular, the range of mineral lightweight and aerated concrete products as well as digital platforms such as blue.sprint and Building Companion are intended to strengthen system sales and the interaction between building materials, precast elements and digital planning tools. This will create an integrated value creation model that focuses on efficiency, sustainability and planning reliability.

    Financial perspective of the transaction
    The purchase price is EUR 1.85 billion. This corresponds to a pro forma EBITDA multiple for 2026 of around 8.9 and 6.9, respectively, after planned synergies of 60 million euros in the third year. A positive contribution to earnings per share and free cash flow is already expected in the first year after completion. The return on capital is expected to increase from the third year onwards.

    The acquisition is still subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026. Holcim emphasises that the transaction is part of a disciplined capital strategy that combines sustainable growth with financial stability.

    Significance for the structure of the construction industry
    The move puts prefabricated building systems and modular solutions more at the centre of industrial value creation. Holcim is thus responding to the continuing demand for resource-efficient and climate-friendly construction in Europe, as well as to increasing regulatory requirements in building technology and energy efficiency.

    The combination of building materials expertise, advanced production and digital engineering is pushing the boundaries of traditional materials industries. For the European construction sector, this takeover could become a driving force towards more networked, industrialised construction processes.

  • Der Switzerland Innovation Park Central

    Der Switzerland Innovation Park Central

    At Suurstoffi in Rotkreuz, the SIPC offers an inspiring environment that promotes dialogue and collaboration between over 120 partners from business, science and society. A vibrant innovation ecosystem is created here that efficiently translates new ideas into marketable solutions in the construction sector.

    Diverse formats to promote innovation
    In order to drive innovation, the SIPC works in five thematically focussed Future Labs, which specifically address current challenges such as the transformation to a circular economy in construction or new processing models
    in construction or new processing models. These labs are hybrid working environments with structured processes and formats that promote collaborative innovation. A variety of event and workshop formats as well as the digital community platform Jointcreate – a kind of “LinkedIn for innovation” – provide inspiration, empower participants and support the innovation process. The focus is always on implementation to achieve real impact. Financing and start-up advice as well as office and project space are available for this purpose.
    The SIPC also manages various programmes, such as the Circular Building Charter, an association of major real estate investors who are increasingly focusing on circular procurement and construction methods. The SIPC imparts knowledge in regular experience workshops. The open sharing of experiences in pioneering projects promotes dialogue within the industry.

    A contribution to the construction industry of tomorrow
    With its clear values – openness, fairness and professionalism – the SIPC makes a decisive contribution to the transformation of the construction industry. As a non-profit organisation, it pursues the motto “Building Excellence” and invites all interested parties to become part of this movement. Switzerland Innovation Park Central shows how innovation in the construction industry can promote not only technological progress but also social responsibility. By combining vision and practice, the SIPC is shaping a sustainable future and is an indispensable partner for anyone who wants to contribute to the construction industry of tomorrow.

  • Launch of the EU research project TIMBERHAUS to promote timber construction

    Launch of the EU research project TIMBERHAUS to promote timber construction

    The European research project TIMBERHAUS was launched in Copenhagen at the beginning of November, Empa announced in a press release. It is one of 19 partners from a total of ten countries taking part in the project, which is funded by the EU and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and aims to promote timber construction in Europe. Within four years, innovative timber construction technologies and structures are to be developed with which CO2 emissions in the construction sector can be significantly reduced.

    According to Empa, the construction sector is responsible for 40 per cent of global CO2 emissions. The use of wood could help here. Currently, however, European forest resources, half of which consist of hardwood, are only utilised “very inefficiently” and limited to a few types of softwood for construction, explains project coordinator Anders Kjellow from the Danish Technological Institute. “With TIMBERHAUS, we are trying to overcome this challenge in order to increase the sustainable use of wood in construction.”

    Empa is contributing to the project with innovative prototypes created using digital tools such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. “The prototypes will serve as practical examples of how we can effectively utilise a wider range of wood resources,” Empa researcher Mark Schubert is quoted as saying in the press release. “Our goal is to provide the construction sector with viable and efficient products that meet current building standards while promoting the principles of the circular economy and supporting European climate goals.”

  • Guidelines to strengthen the circularity of construction projects

    Guidelines to strengthen the circularity of construction projects

    The Madaster Switzerland association and partners from politics, business and science have developed a guideline that can be used to measure the circularity of construction projects in terms of their material mass, Circular Hub reports in a press release. The knowledge and network platform for circular construction in Switzerland acts as the coordination centre for the project Making circularity measurable. The guide “Making circularity measurable: a Swiss circularity indicator” is primarily aimed at planners of construction projects.

    “This guide marks a historic moment for the construction and property industry in Switzerland,” said Patrick Eberhard, President of the Madaster Switzerland association, in the press release. “For the first time, it offers the possibility of making the circularity of buildings measurable and thus supports the vision of transforming the Swiss building stock into a circular material store.” The guidelines can be used for the planning of new buildings as well as for building renovations. In addition to European standards, the specific conditions of the Swiss construction industry are also taken into account.

    The guidelines provide clients, architects and planning offices with assistance in integrating quantified specifications into the tendering process. At a political level, the guidelines should make it possible to quantify specifications for the circular economy in the construction sector.

    A complete list of the companies and organisations involved in the project can be found in the press release. The guidelines have already undergone initial practical testing in pilot projects. The Madaster platform is being used to calculate circularity and analyse specific property data.

  • Reputation Study Construction and Real Estate analyses 42 companies

    Reputation Study Construction and Real Estate analyses 42 companies

    In the new 2023 benchmark study on the reputation of construction and real estate companies in Switzerland, Implenia from Opfikon ZH is in first place among construction companies, followed by Halter AG from Schlierem. Steiner from Zurich, Allreal based in Baar ZG and Frutiger in Thun BE follow in the other places, achieving good results overall.

    Mobimo from Küsnacht ZH leads the real estate category rankings according to the survey. It is true that second-placed Swiss Prime Site, based in Zug, has significantly greater visibility than Mobimo and achieves similarly good scores. However, due to the lack of statements on the topic of employers, it was not enough for the top spot, according to the statement. Avobis and UBS Asset Management (both Zurich) as well as Fundamenta Group in Zug follow in the other ranks.

    The reputation rankings were compiled by the consulting firm swissreputation.group together with the Institute for Management and Economic Research(IMWF). According to the statement, 42 construction companies, general contractors, real estate service providers and real estate owners were examined for this purpose. A total of around 17,500 statements in Swiss media and social media from 1 June 2022 to 31 May 2023 were identified and analysed using artificial intelligence.

    The factors product & service, innovation, profitability, sustainability, management and employer shape the good reputation of companies, according to the study. Media-mediated information and communication play an important role in forming opinions.