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26 40 STRABAG Units / The Many Faces of STRABAG Cologne Projects / STEP Waste Water Project How team spirit can move a brand forward Abu Dhabi steps into the future t eams 10 The Magazine of STRABAG SE No. 2 2014 Cover Story / Alto Maipo Hydroelectric Power Plant Pioneering work where paradise begins 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 1 09.10.14 15:43 02 Contents www.strabag.com 09 News / Concordia The gratitude of the people makes for unforgettable moments 18 People at STRABAG / Up Close and Personal Presenting: STRABAG’s teams Projects / Tychy Waste Treatment Plant Garbage as a green energy source 32 24 STRABAG Units / Apprentice Training On the agenda: Practical applications, tips and teambuilding 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 2 09.10.14 15:43 teams. No. 2 /2014 Contents News Projekte 05STRABAG Artaward International 2014 Abstraction with a touch of concept-driven art 30 Milaneo Quarter A megaproject in the heart of Stuttgart 06Office Templates Independent layouting in the corporate design 32 Tychy Waste Treatment Plant Garbage as a green energy source 06Construction Company of the Year Perfect coordination 34 Rapid Stadium STRABAG building new home for SK Rapid 07Awards Prizes without end in the Czech Republic 35 Rail Line Modernisation Through Slovakia at top speed 07 36LEGO Factory Factory of the future will have children jump for joy Knowledge Management The community is growing 08STRABAG Works Council STRABAG employees helping victims of the Balkan floods 09Concordia The gratitude of the people makes for unforgettable moments Cover Story 10Alto Maipo Hydroelectric Power Plant Pioneering work where paradise begins People at STRABAG 18 Up Close and Personal Presenting: STRABAG’s teams STRABAG Units 22 BRVZ IT User Service Quality service through team-in-team work 23 Technical Head Office A hands - on look at tomorrow’s construction technology 03 37Cityhouse Schwechat Three buildings – Two basement levels – One Project 38EFKON 13 years of teamwork: More than just a business relationship 40STEP Waste Water Project Abu Dhabi steps into the future 42Cross-City Link Zurich Swiss precision – The secret to success in railway bridge building Specials 44Our Favourite Places Warsaw: My city 46Company Outings Off to the sunny south! 47STRARUN Premiere for the first STRABAG running event 24Apprentice Training On the agenda: Practical applications, tips and teambuilding 25IQM/HRD A big responsibility: Occupational safety and health 26 The Many Faces of STRABAG Cologne How team spirit can move a brand forward 44 Specials / Our Favourite Places Warsaw: My city 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 3 09.10.14 15:43 04 Foreword www.strabag.com Dear colleagues, employees and friends, In the past few months, we have successfully introduced our new motto: “TEAMS WORK.” The motto not only is a succinct and concise expression of our vision and strategic objectives, it also serves as an “eye-catcher” and represents a further development of our corporate identity. Naturally, change like this doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time to fully integrate a new practice into the daily business routine and, above all, to fill it with life. Still, we have achieved a lot in a short amount of time. Meanwhile, our transportation infrastructures business in Germany has begun the process of convergence around the STRABAG brand. Companies which we have welcomed into the group over the past few years will now become a visible part of STRABAG (see page 26). The thought behind the single brand identity is for our employees to feel they are part of a large team with their colleagues and co-workers, capable of achieving a lot in a short amount of time. This sense of solidarity and the strategy of broad diversification by region and segment are two substantial pillars which – e.g. despite the crisis in Ukraine – will help to ensure our continued economic strength. Thomas Birtel CEO of STRABAG SE The theory that functioning teams make great things possible is something we also want to prove in practice. This is why, in our previous issue, we solicited entries for the STRABAG Teams Award. In response, we received 22 nominations for outstanding teamwork. In the People at STRABAG section (page 18), we present some of these teams as representative of all replies – regardless of a possible prize award. Their work is a reflection of our values – something we are very proud of. At an upcoming meeting of the management board, we will decide which team nominations will receive the three prizes. Because all of the teams are actually winners, the decision will not be an easy one. The final results will be announced on STRAnet as soon as they are known. A report will follow in next year’s spring issue of teams. Our cover story (page 10) this time takes us on a journey to Chile. As a European-based construction technology group, we operate around the world – but few people know about our Chilean activities. Group subsidiary Züblin has been present in the country “where the land ends” for some time already, but the STRABAG name was in need of some publicity. Thanks to our technical expertise, however, coupled with the untiring personal commitment of our employees working on location, we were able to demonstrate our capabilities at Chile’s biggest hydropower project, Alto Maipo. Another beautiful example of the sorts of things perfect teamwork makes possible. Yours, Thomas Birtel 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 4 09.10.14 15:43 teams. No. 2 /2014 News 05 STRABAG Artaward International 2014 Abstraction with a touch of concept-driven art Following a competition with a record number of applicants, this year’s winners of the STRABAG Artaward International wowed the jury with their new approaches to abstract art. Austria. Minimalism and blank spaces, fragments and traces, a bright surface with shining details – these words help to define the paintings by Anna Khodorkovskaya, winner of the 2014 STRABAG Artaward International. Vienna-based art historian Anja Werkl describes the Russian artist’s works as follows: “Anna Khodorkovskaya takes details from trashy advertising brochures and posters and in her images turns them into abstract compositions. She creates collages from torn scraps of paper, or transforms them into picturesque soft-coloured characters, before attaching them as individual shapes onto the largely unprimed canvas. Within the field of view, these shapes combine with pre-existing, picturesque traces of the canvas and with the remains of the binder to make compositions that often arouse scenic associations.” Anna Khodorkovskaya emerged victorious from a pool of 927 artists – a new record number of participants. The award presentation by Thomas Birtel gave Anna Khodorkovskaya every reason to celebrate. After all, the STRABAG Artaward International is endowed with some of the highest prize money in Austria. Following a review by on online pre-jury, the seven-member international jury of experts evaluated each submission and independently nominated 93 artists. The international jury met on 24 April to judge the 279 original artworks that had been assembled. This year marked the first time that there were four women among the five finalists. The festive ceremony on 26 June 2014 not only saw the main prize presented to Anna Khodorkovskaya; awards of recognition also went to Austrians Doris Theres Hofer and Peter Jellitsch, Romania’s Iulia Sorina Nistor and Masha Sha of Russia. “On the whole, the submissions reflected the enormous range of styles and themes that are to be expected from an international art award,” reports Tanja Skorepa, head of the STRABAG Kunstforum. We join the STRABAG Kunstforum in looking forward to the winners’ individual exhibitions and to their stays at the STRABAG Artstudio in Vienna. A first: four women among the Top 5! Anna Khodorkovskaya’s art is an impressive example of abstract composition. From left to right: Doris Theres Hofer, Anna Khodorkovskaya, Peter Jellitsch, Iulia Sorina Nistor, Masha Sha, Julia Schuster, Wilhelm Weiß, Thomas Birtel, Tanja Skorepa 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 5 Contact: Tanja Skorepa und Julia Schuster, STRABAG Art Forum 09.10.14 15:43 06 News www.strabag.com Office Templates Independent layouting in the corporate design When time is of the essence… the new Office templates in the new corporate design are now available. International. Ensuring a uniform corporate image and maintaining our corporate identity requires us to pay attention to the uniform design of our documents – both internally as well as externally. Things can get especially hectic during the prequalification phase, for example, Check it out for yourself: STRAnet/ Konzern/Konzernkommunikation/ Präsentation/ Office-Vorlage when tender documents and technical data sheets need to be prepared. But important documents have to be drafted or updated in many other areas as well. In order to save you time and give you the possibility of working independently during the editing process, we have created some new Office templates in the new TEAMS WORK. layout. These templates will help you to create your own documents. So log into STRAnet now and check out the new corporate design for yourself. For professional support, our graphics and editorial team is there for you! Contact: Tanja Förster, Corporate Communications Construction Company of the Year Perfect coordination STRABAG wins out against 22 participating companies in the category of Ground Engineering, Civil Engineering and Road Construction. Germany. The Oskar von Miller Forum in Munich has chosen Cologne-based STRABAG AG as best Construction Company of the Year 2014 in the category of Ground Engineering, Civil Engineering and Road Construction. The annual nationwide competition, organised in cooperation with tHIS – das Fachmagazin für erfolgreiches Bauen and the Technical University of Munich, recognises companies for their outstanding design and execution processes, their good interface management, and the high quality of their work. STRABAG AG was chosen the winner for its excellence in contract acquisition, client focus, purchasing and procurement, quality management, and commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Jörg Eschenbach, member of the management board of STRABAG AG: “We are proud to have received this award. For us, success lies not only in the size of a construction project but also in the ability to perfectly coordinate the work of all involved in order to achieve the best possible results.” From left to right: Jörg Eschenbach and Stefanie Harteis with Eugen Schmitz of the trade journal tHIS at the awards ceremony. Contact: Birgit Kümmel, Corporate Communications 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 6 09.10.14 15:43 News teams. No. 2 /2014 07 Awards Prizes without end in the Czech Republic A long list of successes: Top Construction Company of the Year 2013, Transportation Structure of the Year 2013, Site Manager of the Year 2013. Czech-based STRABAG a.s. has received several awards for its work. Czech Republic. Jaroslav Katzer, chairman of the management board of STRABAG a.s., had the great honour of accepting third prize as 2013’s Top Construction Company of the Year from the Czech minister for regional development, Věra Jourová. Some 300 contractors from the public sector voted STRABAG among the top three construction service companies. The results of the competition for the Czech Republic’s 2013 Transportation Structure, Technology and Innovation of the Year were announced in June. STRABAG a.s. won the 2013 Transportation Structure of the Year award for the completion of phases II and III of the main runway renovation at Prague’s Václav Havel Airport. The jury praised the execution of the technically demanding general overhaul project. Work on the 2,814 m main runway was completed in just 123 days with full airport operation maintained on the secondary runway. Tomáš Hajič, director of the Prague office, STRABAG a.s., accepted the award from Czech transport minister Antonín Prachař. Meanwhile, Martin Pánek received the 2013 Site Manager of the Year award. Contact: Edita Novotna, PR Czech Republic / Slovakia Knowledge Management The community is growing connect has solved more than a few problems in its first months of group-wide online access. International. “Does anyone have any tips for successfully removing #CementStains from #PavementSurfaces?” Thanks to the cross-organisational and crosshierarchical communication of connect, it was possible to answer this question successfully in no time. With 1,530 keywords (words defined as hashtags using the number sign) so far, it is easy to see just how varied the topics our colleagues talk about using connect are. In over 205 communities, solutions are exchanged and knowledge is managed on a variety of different themes – from IT (Excel, consite, etc.) to construction machinery (e.g. equipment in hydraulic engineering) to intercultural communities (e.g. working in Turkey). We’re happy to report of new success stories every day. But the real success of our internal network is when all questions have been answered and the information reaches the relevant persons. Try it out for yourself and benefit from our solutions-oriented STRABAG know ledge community. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 7 Visit https:// connect.strabag. com/ Working more effectively with targeted communication. Contact: Karin Wögerer, Technical Head Office, Knowledge Management 09.10.14 15:43 08 News www.strabag.com STRABAG Works Council STRABAG employees helping victims of the Balkan floods Many people affected by the 100-year flood lost everything they had. STRABAG shows solidarity and lends a helping hand. In cooperation with the aid organisation Humanic Relief and the Viennabased Workers’ Samaritan Federation of Austria, the donation drive collected 2,200 dust masks, 3,500 pairs of safety shoes, 1,000 pairs of safety gloves, 23 wheelbarrows and 300 jackets as well as hundreds of safety glasses, pickaxes, spades, shovels and other tools to be sent to the affected areas. Austria. For thousands of people, the unspeakable suffering caused by the 2014 Balkan floods took on existential proportions. The works council of STRABAG AG therefore wasted no time in organising a donation drive to collect monetary donations as well as urgently needed equipment to support the clean-up operations in the affected areas. “Some people lost everything. And the situation remained tense even after the days of rainfall had finally stopped. We can’t just sit idly by, we have to do something,” said Omar Al-Rawi, chairman of the white-collar workers’ works council at STRABAG AG Business Unit East. Within just a few days’ time, employees donated a sum of over € 10,000. It was an international, intercultural donation drive that united the STRABAG employees in solidarity with the affected persons beyond religious and ethnic boundaries. Contact: Omar Al-Rawi, STRABAG AG White-Collar Workers’ Works Council, Business Unit East NEWS IN BRIEF Twice Construction Site of the Year 2013 for STRABAG Poland Certified “Innovative through Research” STRABAG Real Estate presents Upper West Poland. STRABAG twice took home the 2013 Construction Site of the Year award from the final gala of the competition organised by the Polish Association of Civil Engineers and Technicians. The winning projects were the multifunctional transport hub and shopping centre at Katowice Osobowa Station (see teams. 01/2014) and the modernisation and expansion of the coastal protection structures in Kołobrzeg. The Kołobrzeg project was the first in Poland to include a system of coastal protection using underwater stone reinforcement of the beach with an additional stage system. “The award-winning construction sites reflect the outstanding work of our qualified staff,” says division manager Alfred Watzl. Germany. Of the 3.5 million registered companies in Germany, less than one percent does research – but this is an extremely important one percent. After all, only a company that does research can discover new things and so generate innovation and growth. As of 2014, Stifterverband, one of Germany’s largest private sponsors of the sciences, has been honouring companies conducting research with its “Innovative through Research” certification in recognition of the unique sense of responsibility they assume for the state and for society. Now STRABAG has won this award, too. The certification is valid for two years and can be used for any and all PR activities. It also offers access to exclusive, individual analyses of R&D surveys. Germany. STRABAG Real Estate bought the 3,400 m² property around Breitscheidplatz square in Berlin in 2011 and is investing € 250 million in the development of the 53,000 m² Upper West complex on the site. The building will feature a new, web-like façade based on a design by Christoph Langhof. In August 2014, STRABAG Real Estate was able to rent out more than 5,000 m² of office space in the 118 m high tower to the renowned GÖRG legal firm under a long term lease agreement. This brings the amount of rented space in the tower to about 60 % just a short time after the cornerstone was laid. Project execution lies with Ed. Züblin AG as general contractor. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 8 09.10.14 15:43 teams. No. 2 /2014 News 09 Concordia The gratitude of the people makes for unforgettable moments CONCORDIA has been providing support to children, young people and the elderly in Moldova since 2004. The organisation offers assistance to about 3,000 people who would have no future without this help. Moldova. Hans Peter Haselsteiner has been an active supporter of the Austrian aid organisation CONCORDIA for years. This year, he travelled to Moldova to take part in the festivities celebrating the end of the school year. He was accompanied by STRABAG SE CEO Thomas Birtel, who wanted to get a first-hand look at the organisation’s activities and projects for himself. “The warmth of the people, young and old, is impressive,” Birtel said after his return. “It’s hard to believe that, just a one-anda-half-hour flight from Austria, there exists a country of such poverty and need in Europe. It is difficult to imagine how someone can pay for their daily needs with an average pension of only € 35 a month – especially when petrol prices, for example, are much the same as in Austria.” CONCORDIA has been active in Moldova helping people since 2004. At first, the focus was on abandoned and socially disadvantaged children. “Later, however, we realised that children and youth were not the only ones affected by poverty, but that elderly people also had few possessions, suffered hunger and spent their time, day in, day out, trying to make ends meet,” says CONCORDIA board member Ulla Konrad. Yet despite their difficult situation, these people are still able to create unforgettable moments with their friendliness and warmth. Hans Peter Haselsteiner had an especially touching and memorable moment: “A 21-year-old woman, who I have known since she was a child, told me during this visit that she was getting married. She asked me for my blessings. Moments like this touch me deeply and make me happy.” Info Social Commitment In Moldova, 3,000 elderly people and 260 children and youth are served by around 400 local employees and volunteers at ten social centres and 29 soup kitchens with 21 local branches. About 300 children and youth are looked after on an outreach basis. CONCORDIA became active in Moldova in 2004. At first, the focus was on abandoned and socially disadvantaged children. “Later, however, we realised that elderly people also had few possessions and suffered hunger,” says CONCORDIA board member Ulla Konrad. “During our visit to the social centre in Tudora, we were welcomed with music and dance. The people’s warm-heartedness made for unforgettable moments,” explains Thomas Birtel. Contact: Birgit Wagner, CONCORDIA social projects 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 9 09.10.14 15:43 10 Cover Story 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 10 www.strabag.com 09.10.14 15:43 teams. No. 2 /2014 Cover Story 11 Alto Maipo Hydroelectric Power Plant Pioneering work where paradise begins STRABAG is one of Europe’s leading construction technology groups with operations around the world. Yet many people don’t even know that we do business in Chile. That’s why we want to present to you STRABAG in Chile. Our colleagues explain how it all got started, what experiences they have made, and what obstacles they have had to deal with. South America. Snow-covered mountains, radiant blue skies, condors circling overhead... But no, we’re not describing a scene from Lord of the Rings – we’re talking about STRABAG’s first solo job in South America and possibly our most spectacular renewable energy project at this time: the Alto Maipo hydropower plant in Chile. The actual project award and, finally, the groundbreaking ceremony were preceded by three-and-a-half years of preparatory work. It was an intense time and demanded a lot from the team – both professionally and personally. Our colleagues relocated in order to conquer a new market for STRABAG. “STRABAG remains relatively unknown in Chile. The people are surprised to hear how international our company is. This project allows us to send a strong signal. And if we do the job well, it will open the door to further contracts,” summarises Mario Theurl, technical business unit manager and managing director of STRABAG SpA in Chile. The recognition given our tunnelling activities in Niagara encouraged us to seek out further challenging large-scale projects in the Americas. Hannes Truntschnig, Member of the Management Board of STRABAG SE 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 11 09.10.14 15:43 12 Cover Story www.strabag.com We landed the project because we earned the client’s trust during the negotiations. Our tunnelling division took its first steps in Chile in 2009 with the project management for the access tunnels of the El Teniente and Chuquicamata mines. These projects allowed us to gain important experience and to establish first contacts in the country. In a place like Chile, it is essential to have the right contacts and joint venture partners. This preparatory work gave us the opportunity to participate in the prequalification (PQ) for the Alto Maipo project. Given the size of the project, the PQ phase was correspondingly long and proved to be extremely complicated – prequalification began in May 2010 and wasn’t concluded until February 2011. We’re a well-coordinated team with a high degree of technical know-how. Christian Deckert Group Division Tunnelling, Sub-Division IN Construction Management After successfully qualifying for the project, we worked together with our planning offices in Chile to come up with a bid for the project execution of all three contract sections. The tender phase lasted until November 2011. During this time, the client issued 21 amendments to the tender documents. We had to submit the technical part and the commercial part of the tender separately, as the technical bid was evaluated by itself first. After STRABAG was shortlisted for all three construction sections, contract negotiations in Chile began in December 2011 and lasted until October 2012. awarding the contract to STRABAG meant working with a competent, technically experienced and fair partner for the project. The client comes from two cultures: American and Chilean. The Chilean part has a lot of tunnelling experience, having already built the nearby Alfalfal I hydropower plant 20 years ago. The Americans insisted on a custom-made contract that was finalised through intense negotiations with mutual respect. Both aspects are positive for us as contractor. So why was the contract awarded to STRABAG? We are a well-coordinated team with a high level of technical know-how, and the intense negotiations gave the client a chance to see this in person. Also, we always sent the same small group of our people to the negotiating table. We work hard to maintain our internal and external contacts and joint venture partnerships and to remain fair and open during negotiations – aspects that were highly appreciated by the client. In October 2012, after eleven months of talks, the contract was finally awarded for two of the construction sections. But it was another year, 11 December 2013 to be exact, until the financial close and official start of the project – which brings us to another important aspect that was necessary for the project after three-and-a-half years of work: a lot of staying power! The contract negotiations were the decisive phase of the bid processing. In countless technical, commercial and legal meetings, we were able to reassure the client that The Alto Maipo hydropower plant: an international team at work. From left to right: Nicolas Rocca (environmental engineer), Carla Flores (administrative coordinator), Brigitte Straganz (compliance officer) 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 12 09.10.14 15:43 teams. No. 2 /2014 Cover Story 13 At a glance STRABAG tunnel Underwater discharge Water intake Transformer vault and powerplant chamber Rio Las La o lora d Rio C o Portrait Central Alfalfal II 275 MW Central Las Lajas 256 MW jas Ca jón Santiago Rio Alto Maipo Ye Rio El Vo cá l Pacific Ocean o Región Metropolitana so aip lM de o ai p Rio M V Región n Rio ipo Ma VI Región Alto Maipo is Chile’s biggest hydroelectric power project. The tunnels for the project stretch east from Santiago into the Maipo Valley and will have a total length of 80 km. Alto Maipo will provide the people of Santiago with more than 531 MW of electricity. machines will be used to construct the tunnel. The challenge consists in putting together a qualified team – in the middle of the Andes – outside the city of Santiago and far from any infrastructure. The two underground hydropower plants are to operate in parallel to generate a capacity of more than 531 MW of electricity. Our contract value amounts to approx. US$ 500 million and includes the excavation of 46 km of tunnel plus two underground powerplant chambers. Three tunnel boring Contact: Christian Deckert, Group Division Tunnelling, Sub-Division Construction Management (IN) 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 13 09.10.14 15:43 14 Cover Story www.strabag.com The copper mining business is booming in Chile, with unique challenges as a result. teams. spoke with Mario Theurl, a veteran in the field of tunnelling. Mario Theurl Technical Business Unit Manager and Managing Director of STRABAG SpA in Chile Mr Theurl, how would you describe STRABAG’s start-up in Chile from today’s point of view? With our Züblin subsidiary, which can look back on a wealth of 25 years of experience in mining in Chile, we already had enormous know-how in place. Still, it was not easy for STRABAG to gain a foothold in the country. Nobody knew us and hardly anyone was interested in another European construction company. We first had to explain who we were, and we had to prove what we could do. This made networking and public relations extremely important during the first few months. Why go through all the trouble? Why is Chile such an interesting market for STRABAG? Chile has a stable and growing economy with a good infrastructure – a good foundation for us. Currently booming in Chile are the mine business and copper mining – but these segments in particular offer us a lot of new opportunities. Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are relatively new in Chile and everyone in the industry is interested in them: on the one hand, it is an adventure to drill your way through the Andes with a TBM; on the other hand, this is a great opportunity to prove ourselves. The Alto Maipo hydropower plant is being built 50 km southeast of the city of Santiago in the upper reaches of the Río Maipo. What problems did you face besides the recognition factor? The same as in any project: finding the right team. In comparison to the tunnelling business, people working in Chile’s mines earn more – in part because of the dangerous nature of the work. Then there is the lack of tunnelling experience with TBMs in Chile and the language barrier. We had to conduct a lot of interviews, but in the end I can say that we found a good mix of experienced STRABAG colleagues and new staff. As managing director, you are in charge of a team consisting of around a dozen nationalities. How do the many different cultures affect the work? We are an international team that learns from each other. Every problem, no matter how complicated, was tackled and mastered together. For me, that shows that TEAMS WORK. You have said that English is not exactly widely spoken. How do you communicate in the team? We speak “Chileano” (laughs). Some of our colleagues have a few years of Spanish under their belt, but don’t always understand every word when they arrive here. That’s because the Chileans have their own special dialect. My favourite word is “cachai”, which means something like “got it?” The word is derived from the English “catch”. How can our colleagues prepare for new, unknown requirements? In our case, I can only say that our start-up benefited especially from the support and preparation of our employees through language courses and the intercultural activities of our division. But, of course, everyone must inform themselves, be open towards other cultures and learn independently. How do cultural differences influence the work routine? For historic reasons, there are many rules that are applied out of sheer habit. You’ve got to check if something is a legal requirement or just a recommendation. In this way, the work routine is fitted to the legal framework and we can apply our European way of working. In general, however, the Chilean system is quite strictly regulated – very bureaucratic with lots of paperwork. Incorrect or missing documents can lead to long delays. Such rules take some getting used to, but this “orderly” system also has its advantages – because everyone is treated equally. Luckily, we have a fantastic team that is familiar with the local realities and knows what to do. What advice do you have for a newcomer? Follow the rules and talk with the people. If you don’t talk to the people here, they will be offended and you will never achieve your objectives. Don’t let yourself be discouraged: It’s the same strategy, but different tactics, cachai? 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 14 09.10.14 15:43 teams. No. 2 /2014 Cover Story 15 With our dedicated inter national tunnelling team, I am Odi aliquide vel id modi volorepudi qui vel maximpo rescid eatiam acesbe able convinced thatquaswe will eos accuptaepe cum quibercius. Cusa ipsant occulpa dis apera idebis to master the sichallenges of vit il ent volores veniam velit, quis the Alto Maipo project so that we can look forward to doing business in the country in the long term. The scope of the works includes the detail planning and construction of the ground and civil engineering works for the two hydroelectric plants Alfalfal II and Las Lajas. The complete contract consists of tunnels and shafts with a total length of 46 km excavated by drilling and blasting as well as by tunnel boring machines. Hannes Truntschnig, Member of the Management Board of STRABAG SE Inter culture Living & Working in Chile −− Many holidays are observed on the nearest Monday in order to create a long weekend and not interrupt the working week. −− The most important number: RUT (Rol Único Tributario), a personal taxpayer’s number. You’ll be asked for it almost everywhere – at work, at the filling station, while shopping. −− All important documents are signed by signature and fingerprint. −− Here’s a tip for frequent flyers: If you’re flying by LAN within South America, and would like an earlier flight, you can just go up to the counter and ask. If there’s still space, you can rebook for no extra charge. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 15 −− It is common practice – both at work as well as in private – to cheek-kiss as a form of greeting, although this usually only applies to women. Men generally hug or shake hands. Chileans are often irritated if you refuse. −− Women taking a taxi alone will often be asked if they are married and how many children they have. That’s not meant to be impolite – just go with it. −− Most of the wine-growing estates in Chile and around Santiago are open to visitors and offer a relaxing change of pace from the city. −− Emergency vehicles almost always have their beacons on – even if there is no emergency. Don’t let it bother you. −− Get out your dancing shoes on 18 and 19 September, as Chile celebrates its Independence Day and its Armed Forces Day. −− Bureaucracy is a fact of life when shopping, too: you need to pull a number at the butcher’s or baker’s or else you won’t get served. 09.10.14 15:43 16 Cover Story www.strabag.com A land where paradise begins. Chile is a South American nation extending over 38 degrees of longitude in the south-western part of the continent. The result is a remarkable variety of flora, fauna and climate zones all in a single country. Chile supposedly derives its name from the Aymara language and means “where the land ends”. But anyone who has been there would probably say: “Where paradise begins.” For me, Chile is a country of contrasts, of enormous beauty and opportunities. The Chileans are friendly, respectful and happy. Ines Paupie Commercial Group Manager, Sub-Division IN + IP The country borders the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, and Argentina to the east. It stretches over 4,300 km from north to south, but on average is only 180 km wide from west to east. Chile has a rich diversity of nature. Located in the middle of the Andes mountains, there is truly something for everyone. If you like it hot, and are interested in exploring the desert, then the Atacama Chile covers an area of 755,696 km² and has a population of about 16.6 million people, of which some 6.3 million live in Santiago de Chile, the most densely populated area in the country. Desert is the place for you. Here you’ll also find the world’s largest open pit copper mine, Chuquicamata. In the Andes, stargazers will enjoy the clearest skies in the whole wide world – bringing the stars close enough to touch. The Chilean Andes form the longest continental mountain range in the world with a number of peaks rising more than 6,000 m above sea level. Among them is Chile’s tallest mountain, Ojos del Salado (6,893 m), which also is the highest volcano in the world. The Austrian ski team trains here in the winter months. Highly recommended in the summer are hikes with a view of the city. One of the most beautiful vistas of Santiago de Chile is from the Cerro San Cristóbal with its 22 m statue of the Virgin Mary. The Santiago Metropolitan Region is the most densely populated region in Chile, accommodating around 40 % of the Chilean population. The city itself is home to about 6.3 million people, which means that one out of every three Chileans lives in the capital. Definitely worth a visit are the cities of Puerto Montt on the Pacific Coast and Frutillar at Chile’s second-largest lake, Lago Llanquihue. The legendary Teatro del Lago Chile, the land at the end of the world, where the devil lost his poncho. Say the Chileans. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 16 09.10.14 15:43 Cover Story Atacama De sert Bolivia Chile situated at the shores of the lake is famous for its great acoustics – even the Vienna Boys’ Choir has performed here. From Patagonia, the southern half of Chile and Argentina, you can embark on unforgettable journeys to Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic. Easter Island 3,770 km Around six hours west of Santiago by plane lies the remote, approximately 163 km² large Easter Island (Rapa Nui). Experiencing the island’s unspoilt nature with the famous moai figures is not just impressive but also unforgettable. There are 887 moai sculptures on the island, and each one is a work of art for itself. 17 Elqui Valley (starry skies) Given the unique geography of the country, Chile does not have any long rivers. The longest is the Río Loa (443 km). Among other things, the Atacama Desert prevents the formation of watercourses of any size and length. The few rivers in the north which permanently carry water are fed by the snow and ice of the Andean summits. The rivers in Chile are primarily of economic importance for agriculture and energy but also, albeit to a lesser degree, for tourism, e.g. salmon fishing or adventure travel. Santiago Argentina Chile Altanti c Ocea n Pacific Ocean Frutillar Tierra del Fuego 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 17 09.10.14 15:43 18 People at STRABAG 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 18 www.strabag.com 09.10.14 15:43 People at STRABAG teams. No. 2 /2014 19 Up Close and Personal Presenting: STRABAG’s teams In our first issue of teams., we asked our readers to contribute nominations for the STRABAG Teams Award. Here we would like to present to you some of the teams as representative of the great number of replies. International. In your opinion, who worked especially well together, who achieved amazing things, who made the apparently impossible possible? We received nominations for 22 international teams. Their one-of-a-kind teamwork takes place at various levels: internationally, interpersonally or interdivisionally. All of the nominated teams showed hard work, respect, dependability, commitment and many other positive qualities. Now it is up to the STRABAG SE management board to choose three winning teams. The finalists will be invited to Vienna to personally receive their prize: STRABAG will donate € 5,000, € 3,000 and € 1,000 – for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place – on behalf of the winning teams to a charitable organisation of their choice. Now that’s teamwork for a good cause! On the next double-page spread, we present six teams as representative of all nominations. See for yourself the great diversity of our teams and what countries they come from. TEAMS WORK. Our colleagues live and breathe this motto every day. Because only teamwork makes possible what cannot be done alone. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 19 09.10.14 15:44 20 People at STRABAG Proactive ways to make improvements 3-member team from Germany 400-member team from the Czech Republic 1,000-member team from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany Milupa GmbH, a subsidiary of France’s Danone Group, is expanding its factory in Fulda, Germany, in order to double its production capacity. The international threemember project team for Ed. Züblin AG’s Bavaria / Systems Building Sub-Division, Direct Export Europe Business Unit and the Mitte Sub-Division, Dresden Business Unit, was formed in September 2013 to submit a joint bid. The internal cooperation was characterised by an extremely high level of commitment from the beginning. Many special proposals and possibilities for improvement were discussed. The open discourse and the proactive approach towards points of criticism made it possible to establish a relationship with the client that is based on partnership and trust. Our efforts were rewarded with the contract award in March 2014. Many divisions pulling together Deafening noise, baking heat, enormous pressure and, to top it all, airplanes roaring overhead. But these kinds of working conditions were no problem for the project team in charge of the renovation of the main runway at Václav Havel Airport in Prague. Because this ground crew has no fear of flying high. The STRABAG Group handled almost the entirety of the construction works – and project organisation and management included nearly all of the group entities operating in the Czech Republic. More than 400 group employees were part of the project involving the removal of the old pavement and the installation of a new concrete top course (we reported in inform 26). It was the first time in history that such a broad scope of different group entities and divisions were active within the territory of Group Division 6O Transportation Infrastructures Czech Republic / Slovakia. The result was perfect, namely the completion of a demanding job in the shortest possible time. For his hard work and dedication, site manager Martin Pánek received an award from the Czech Chamber of 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 20 www.strabag.com Chartered Engineers and Technicians Engaged in Construction. The Czech transport ministry and the State Transport Infrastructure Fund also recognised the outstanding teamwork by awarding the project the title of Best Transportation Structure 2013. But the partnership won’t end with this project – the teamwork will continue this year under the modernisation works for the D1 motorway, the Czech Republic’s oldest highway. Team strength through diversity Rotterdam – a harbour city and Europe’s largest seaport. In the last four years, the Benelux and Stuttgart Sub-Divisions worked together to construct the unique architectural jewel known as De Rotterdam – a building construction project recognised in the architecture world with a gross floor area of more than 160,000 m². The team involved up to 1,000 people working closely together all the way to the on-time project handover. And what’s more: they all benefited from the diversity of the team. The different nationalities, languages, cultures and personalities, coupled with the necessary expertise, added up to a unique sort of strength. Team members testify to the benefits of working with various nationalities: Belgian diplomacy, German thoroughness and Dutch optimism. Respect and, above all, the willingness to learn the other’s language contributed greatly to a smooth daily discourse. The organisation of activities outside of work further promoted the team spirit. The way our employees live and breathe the STRABAG values of trust, sustainability and modesty also impressed the client. But probably the most beautiful sign of successful teamwork is the continued contact after the end of the project. 09.10.14 15:44 People at STRABAG Increasing sustainability through research Austria and Hungary were already closely tied during Habsburg times. Since September 2013, the staff units ZT Vienna STRAsco and Transportation Infrastructures Hungary have been jointly developing processes and strategies, among other things, for the optimisation of quality assurance and construction time controlling in transportation infrastructures. Since March 2014, the team has been complemented by colleagues from BMTI, TA and ZT Vienna AV. With respect and trust, the team has grown and now numbers more than 20 members – with a single common goal: enabling sustainability through teamwork and to develop forward-looking solutions for the transportation infrastructures segment. One example is a research project to optimise resources with regard to asphalt volumes and asphalt finishers. The cooperation of the producing entity and the various staff units is characterised by many nuances including its intercultural nature. Win-win situation by grouping company divisions “Biggest timber construction office block built to the passive house standard in Europe”. That sounds like a complex and exceptional project – like an enormous challenge. For the 35-member team working on the Stadtwerke Lübeck project in Germany, it is recognition of its fantastic teamwork. The project is being realised by Züblin Thüringen, Merk Timber GmbH Aichach, ZTH Köln and Technical Head Office SF B-Stuttgart. Teamwork has been writ large since the tender phase – and the STRABAG values are lived out every day. “Everyone is a part of the whole – the team only works as a whole” – that is the motto of all involved. The team creates amazing things through the bundling of competences and the close working relationship of highly specialised group entities. Peter Gäbler, senior site manager, praises the 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 21 teams. No. 2 /2014 21 team: “The teamwork was characterised by an open, honest and fair working relationship as well as by its goal- and solutions-oriented approach.” And Elias Kuby of Merk Timber GmbH points out that “a high level of dedication and interpersonal skills could be felt at all times, from the project management all the way to the apprentices and trainees. Each group has its own way of working – we were able to determine the differences and so optimise everyone’s way of working.” A win-win situation for all involved. Profit through resource optimisation In school, you learn how to work in a group. But the students of the schoolhouse in Arni, Switzerland, can also learn from the second TU schoolhouse project with exemplary teamwork during project realisation. The 14 members of the team came from order acquisition, project execution and site management. The resources were optimally used and the team profited from the ground civil engineering, building construction and timber construction know-how starting in the estimation and design phase. And thanks to perfect planning and well-organised site management, the schoolhouse wasn’t the only result: there also was some fantastic internal cooperation. So bring on the next joint project! 20-member team from Austria and Hungary 35-member team from Germany 14-member team from Switzerland 09.10.14 15:44 22 STRABAG Units www.strabag.com BRVZ IT User Service Quality service through team-in-team work Teams are made up of people working together on a project with the aim of reaching an objective. Complex task assignments and the division of labour require the interaction of systematically organised teams with the common goal of providing quality end-to-end IT service within the group. transferred to the colleagues in the respective specialist teams. The aim of this organisation is to offer a good availability, a high rate of first-instance solutions, and the targeted transfer of complex problems in order to deal with questions as quickly as possible. Thanks to the excellent team-in-team organisation, the IT department can offer its full and complete service. You can reach us via the hotline, GoAPP or by e-mail. International. “BRVZ IT, Nies speaking. How can I help you?” – “Hello. I’m having trouble accessing my server drives…” Just one case among many for the experts at IT User Service. “We are currently hard at work installing Windows 7 on all workstations throughout the group. More than three quarters of the IT workstations in the group have already been migrated to the new operating system. The only noticeable changes will be a new operating system interface and newer versions of various applications (e.g. Office, Lotus Notes, etc.). At the same time, a new network operating system will be installed in the background. This required intense preparations for working out new systematics for the software distribution, file storage and print services. A lot of consulting and coordination work was necessary with the various user groups as well as extensive communication between the individual specialist teams,” says Robert Sporer, director of BRVZ IT User Service Germany, summarising some of the ongoing projects. IT User Service, whose colleagues are responsible for on-site service, acts as a link between the users and the individual expert teams within the IT department. They offer, among other things, consultation and support regarding the necessary IT infrastructure during site installation and coordinate the internal and external resources to help ensure an optimal start to the actual construction work. Adjusting to the occasionally very different local realities requires some intense planning and a systematic approach. For this reason, Service Desk and User Service are in constant contact and exchange with each other. Within IT User Service, there is another subordinate team: Team ICD (International Client Development). Team ICD handles the evaluation process of new hardware and software in the group environment. As a part of the software evaluation, the focus is less on assessing the content – this is the job of other departments – but rather on looking at the technical functioning within the framework of the group IT infrastructure. The evaluation process is also based on the close cooperation between Team ICD and IT Purchasing as well as with the users and the IT coordinators at the operating units. “We have organised ourselves in such a way so as to perfect the function as service provider. Our team-in-team organisation contributes enormously to the successful realisation of our projects,” says Oliver Punz, director of BRVZ IT User Service Austria. Team-in-team work The first point of contact for IT questions is the IT Service Desk. The team is trained to provide professional solutions in the first instance. More in-depth cases are 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 22 Contact: Oliver Punz und Robert Sporer, BRVZ IT 09.10.14 15:44 STRABAG Units teams. No. 2 /2014 23 Technical Head Office A hands-on look at tomorrow’s construction technology An intermodal container is currently touring through Germany – as an exhibition forum with an important goal: using innovation to interest young people for a job in construction and to present the latest applications of RFID technology in the construction sector. A number of practice-oriented demonstrations invited interested persons to get a first-hand look. Germany. The RFIDimBau research group was established in 2006 as a cooperation between Darmstadt Technical University, Bergische University Wuppertal and the Technical University of Dresden. The research group records, controls, manages and documents construction-related processes using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology in combination with digital Building Information Models (BIM). RFID can be used for the contactless identification of all kinds of objects and its automation potential allows for a new quality of management and control of material, personnel and information flows in the construction industry. Ed. Züblin AG has recognised the potential and has been a practical partner of the RFIDimBau working group since 2008. Over the course of the project, a great number of sample applications were developed that are now being presented as a demonstration module which people can try out first hand at various locations in Germany. The module offers innovative and forwardlooking companies new insights and ideas of how their planning, site processes or facility management activities could be optimised using RFID and BIM. Fuel for debate Following the great success at the Bautec trade fair in Berlin, the first exhibition at Züblin Haus in Stuttgart was organised from 12 to 28 May 2014. It was the perfect opportunity to inform the employees at the location of the research results. The start-up event on 14 May 2014 was a chance for colleagues from throughout Germany to discuss the issue. Related to the results, guest speaker Professor Manfred Helmus of Bergische University Wuppertal delivered further fuel for motivated dialogue. Years of research on the subject of construction management and the construction sector make him an eminent authority in his field. As part of the Zukunft BAU research initiative, the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS), together with the Federal Office of Construction and Regional Planning, is sponsoring the research project “Integrated Value Creation Model with RFID in the Construction and Real Estate Sector”. “It was a particular pleasure for me to organise a university day in cooperation with HRD on 20 May that was attended by more than 70 students. The interest is there and we are already handling first requests for practical realisation,” says Bettina Luik of Technical Head Office. An exhibition and university day gave interested persons a chance to inform themselves of the various applications of RFID technology in the construction sector. Contact: Bettina Luik, Technical Head Office 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 23 09.10.14 15:44 24 STRABAG Units www.strabag.com Apprentice Training On the agenda: Practical applications, tips and teambuilding Our Swiss colleagues are starting another initiative for apprentice training. Getting involved, helping out and learning during the construction of a new service centre for the automotive industry: this is the perfect foundation for the well-grounded professional know-how of our future qualified staff. Switzerland. Getting back to the roots and no longer outsourcing the group’s bricklaying work – that’s a new resolution taken by the New Construction Zurich Business Unit. “We have made it our goal to secure and develop our know-how, which naturally involves performing our own concreting and bricklaying work,” explains group manager Romano Schmid. In recent years, these services have often been outsourced to subcontractors – with the result that a lot of know-how went missing. Apprentices came in contact with these works only rarely and then perhaps only touched on them theoretically. That wasn’t enough for Schmid, which is why he chose to initiate this project. Under the leadership of Andreas Gantenbein, up to twelve bricklaying apprentices are currently working on the Airport Car Center construction site in Rümlang, where they have the opportunity to put theory to practice every day. “We try to impart all the basics as well as many professional tips that go beyond the textbook. The important thing for us is that the apprentices aren’t working at a simulated construction site – this is a real project with real time constraints and quality requirements,” Schmid says. Apprentice training takes an important position in the group. On the one hand, this measure fulfils one of the award criteria for contracts, especially from the public sector. On the other hand, it allows us to secure the qualified training of our future staff. It also increases the motivation of our more experienced colleagues, who have a chance to pass on their valuable experience and show the young workers what exactly is relevant for them in practice. We have also noticed a much stronger sense of team spirit among the young people. They feel understood and motivate each other to work harder. This is positive feedback: people do things well when they enjoy doing them! The apprentices work on a real project with real time constraints and quality requirements as an opportunity to combine theory and practice. Contact: Romano Schmid and Fikri Kosumi, Group Division Switzerland, Building Construction Zurich 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 24 09.10.14 15:44 STRABAG Units teams. No. 2 /2014 25 IQM/HRD A big responsibility: Occupational safety and health Initiated by the Integrated Quality Management Staff Unit, Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection Department, Germany, the e-learning course “Basic Instructions in Occupational Safety for White-Collar Workers” was developed in cooperation with Human Resource Development. A trial run began in August 2014. Mr Voss, what was the reason behind this project? Voss: The many quite specific instructions regarding the occupational safety and health of our workers are usually mandatory for those group entities involved directly in the execution of construction works. Such instructions are issued regularly. Often, however, not all employees in our commercial fields are informed. Our e-learning course is intended to close this gap. How important is the subject of occupational safety and health within the group? Voss: Occupational safety and health protection have always been extremely important within the group – last but not least because our success rises and falls on the basis of our workers. This translates to a special sort of responsibility for us – occupational safety and health protection must be and must remain an integral part of our thinking and of our actions. under consideration of influencing factors such as ergonomics, room climate and lighting. The chapters on accident and emergency organisation treat matters of correct behaviour in cases of emergency, fire and evacuations. When will this training be available? Schwind: Our pilot group started in August. The content and functions were tested prior to that by a group of about 100 people. The training course is scheduled for roll-out in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the coming months. Do I have to register for the course myself? Schwind: No. About 20,000 employees in these countries will be invited to take part in the e-learning training. Invitations will be sent by e-mail per sub-division. Mr Schwind, what form will the basic instructions take? Schwind: We believe an e-learning course will make the most sense. Our employees can complete the training directly at their place of work with the possibility to flexibly organise their time to do it. Developing such a training course must be a complex task. How did you go about it? Schwind: We put together a ten-member project team consisting of our occupational safety and human resource development experts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and jointly worked out the seminar contents for these countries first. This was followed by the development of the course by HRD using an authoring system. The e-learning course is also being used STRABAG Property and Facility Services GmbH offered over its own Learning Management System (LMS). What topics are treated in the course? Schwind: We focus on operational organisation, workplace design, and accident and emergency organisation. Participants are introduced to the people working in occupational safety and health and learn about their tasks. The chapter on workplace design provides information about the proper design of the office workplace 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 25 Günter Voss, IQM Staff Unit, together with Gerd Schwind and Silvia Simoner, reviewing the course content before its transfer to the test group. Contact: Gerd Schwind, Human Resource Development 09.10.14 15:44 26 STRABAG Units www.strabag.com The Many Faces of STRABAG Cologne How team spirit can move a brand forward Take a diversity of talents and add them together to form a homogenous team capable of outstanding performances. STRABAG has been using this formula for some time – so, too, in the German transportation infrastructures business. The various companies acquired over the past few years have now been successfully integrated into the STRABAG Group. Starting in 2015, especially in southern Germany, the focus will shift onto the STRABAG brand. Just a formality? Not at all. A lot more lies behind the single-brand strategy: the identification with a strong team and an attractive employer brand should further consolidate the position of STRABAG Cologne as Germany’s leader in the transportation infrastructures segment. One brand Together they are STRABAG As of 2015, the following companies will do business under the STRABAG brand name: Baugesellschaft Nowotnik GmbH, Bauunternehmung Ohneis GmbH, becker bau GmbH, Eduard Hachmann GmbH, F. Kirchhoff Straßenbau GmbH, Gebr. von der Wettern GmbH, HEILIT+WOERNER Bau GmbH, Helmus Straßen-Bau GmbH, Hermann Kirchner Bauunternehmung GmbH, Kirchner & Völker Bauunternehmung GmbH, Leonhard Moll Hoch- und Tiefbau GmbH, Preusse Baubetriebe GmbH, Robert Kieserling Industriefußboden GmbH, Staßfurter Baubetriebe GmbH, STRABAG Asset GmbH, STRABAG Pipelineund Rohrleitungsbau GmbH, Stratebau GmbH, TSS Technische Sicherheits-Systeme GmbH. The “Together we are STRABAG.” logo has been chosen as a simple way to communicate the new brand integration in Germany. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 26 Germany. In addition to its focus on organic growth, and with an eye on delivering a full range of services nationwide, the group acquired a number of regional and, in part, illustrious companies over the past few years. The initial decision to keep the original brand names, under STRABAG leadership, was the right move in order to maintain the motivation of the newly acquired employees and served as a sign of continuity for the clients. Now, with the integration successfully completed, there is no more need for brand diversity. Especially as it also presents a number of disadvantages. The end of brand diversity Besides the not insignificant extra administrative expense, the public was generally not aware that familiar brands such as HEILIT+WOERNER, Kirchhoff, Kirchner, Leonhard Moll or Stratebau now belong to STRABAG in Germany. Surveys showed that STRABAG AG was significantly behind the competition in employer rankings and in the public awareness. And this despite the fact that STRABAG offers everything a new employee could want: a varied working environment, the possibility for international deployment, stability, and a secure and interesting place of work in a fantastic team. Anyone who expects drastic changes personally as a result of the single-brand strategy can rest assured: from the terms of the employment contract to the boss, everything at the companies affected by our newfound solidarity will remain as before. The only changes are the shift to a single brand identity and an end to the distinctions internally and externally. Now everyone is pulling together 09.10.14 15:44 STRABAG Units teams. No. 2 /2014 27 Our photo shoot On a total of seven large-format posters for offices and construction site containers for the 6H Group Division, our employees explain why they feel like a part of STRABAG. under the single STRABAG brand name in order to provide a clear picture of the company among the public. Becoming “we” But who are the people behind the “We”? 5,000 employees in the 6H Group Division are already working under the STRABAG brand. With the closing of ranks, it will be 4,300 more. To bring them on board, the management board of STRABAG AG first informed the respective management levels, who then explained the motivation for the new strategy directly to their employees – accompanied by a formal letter sent by mail. A central project team worked to develop a number of ideas and measures to support the new brand identity and to provide every employee with the desired information. Starting in 2015, the transportation infrastructures business in Germany will do business under the single STRABAG brand. A button that points the way “Together we are STRABAG.” This simple motto helps to communicate the new brand strategy. The white lettering on a bright red background immediately catches the eye. This is just one of many tools with which the new direction is being promoted and made public. The button shows at first glance what the change is all about: bonding a strong team even more closely together and communicating this strength externally. The employees are united by a common goal, fully in keeping with the motto of TEAMS WORK. And as brand ambassadors, they give STRABAG a public face, publicise it and vouch for it. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 27 09.10.14 15:44 28 STRABAG Units www.strabag.com The mood and the weather were fantastic during the two-day photo shoot for the posters. From the workplace to the photo shoot In order to give the brand a face, the image campaign at STRABAG Germany began with an application for a photo shoot and the question: “Are you STRABAG?” Many people answered “yes” on www.zusammensindwirstrabag.de and are now photo models. They can be seen on posters in all offices and construction site containers as well as in print ads. All participants also had a chance to win a trip to Vienna, the home of STRABAG SE. Connect Group Still have questions? As clear as the new strategy may be for the STRABAG team, a number of questions may still arise among clients and suppliers or among family and friends. Information and ideas for quickly and understandably explaining the matter of “brand unity” can be found as an e-learning offer on the “connect” intranet platform under the group “Zusammen sind wir STRABAG.” 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 28 The objective of the campaign: “We want to show everyone the people behind our brand! STRABAG is not some abstract concept but rather a company that stands for values such as solidarity, honesty and hard work. People live and breathe these values. And when it comes to the successful recruiting of new staff, a convincing and positive employer branding is an important requirement in order to stand up in the competition for the best talents. As a part of a global group, STRABAG Germany is truly attractive for young people: in all areas of transportation infrastructures, we are on the pulse of the times. The possibility to gain international working experience and the outstanding training offering translate into enormous opportunities for personal and professional development. STRABAG is a stable and secure option. We must be aware of this fact and we must convey this fact to the public,” says division manager and STRABAG AG member of the management board Marcus Kaller. 09.10.14 15:44 teams. No. 2 /2014 STRABAG Units At a glance A number of trucks with a conspicuous STRABAG motif attracted some attention on Germany’s streets in September. Obviously a good team Teams are the focus of the posters and advertisements. “Why are you STRABAG?” This question was answered together by a STRABAG employee and a colleague at a subsidiary – in large format, in colour and obviously in perfect harmony. The photo shoot held on 23 and 24 July 2014 was a chance for apprentices, new employees and veteran members of our staff to show their solidarity with one another and with STRABAG as employer. And what about our clients and suppliers? An exclusively designed letter was mailed to them in September 2014 to explain the new unity. While at first glance the company still presents itself as a group focusing on brand diversity, one pull on the tab of the lamella card was enough to show what STRABAG will be like in the future: a single brand delivering the full spectrum of services in the German transportation infrastructures business. The internal campaign is being accompanied by events at the local level or for charitable organisations with which the company publicly demonstrates its sense of social responsibility and solidarity. The most successful projects will receive a prize. A toolbox is available to help STRABAG present itself successfully internally and externally: it contains everything that is needed for the strategy to succeed – from press photos to advertisements in newspapers and trade journals to truck advertising all the way to Christmas presents for employees. The new era in the STRABAG AG success story begins in January 2015. The goal: working together to strengthen Germany’s infrastructure and boost the company’s image, in keeping with the STRABAG Group motto of “TEAMS WORK.” 29 I applied to be a brand ambassador because… …I feel at home in our international group and I enjoy my work with different people from various different countries. Helena Galwas, assistant to the sub-division management, H+W ...I have been a passionate paver since 1978 and many of my works can still be seen all across Germany – from Berlin to Lake Constance. Ivan Talaja, paver, F. Kirchhoff …I am filled with pride every time I see a STRABAG construction site in Germany. Saskia Freitag, trainee, STRABAG …STRABAG is a fantastic employer. And after 25 years with the company, I know what is important in life: a secure job with a future. Frank Zimmer, excavator operator, STRABAG Contact: Marcus Kaller, Group Division VWB Deutschland (6H ) / Board of Management STRABAG AG, Cologne 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 29 Many of our colleagues answered the call to apply as photo models for the brand campaign. Here is just a small selection of their photos and quotes. 09.10.14 15:45 30 Projects North + West www.strabag.com Milaneo Quarter A megaproject in the heart of Stuttgart An entirely new city quarter is being created on the site of Stuttgart’s former central freight and marshalling yard. With its diverse service offerings, MILANEO will bring new life to the city centre. Germany. Among Germans, the Swabians are known as hard workers and home-builders by nature. No wonder, then, that the MILANEO construction site in Stuttgart is buzzing with activity. After all, a special sort of “home” is rising here. In the middle of central Stuttgart, STRABAG Real Estate (SRE), Stuttgart Business Unit, together with its project partners ECE Projektmanagement and Bayerische Hausbau, is building a unique city quarter consisting of a shopping centre, offices, apartments, a hotel and an underground car park. Not exactly an easy task, as SRE business unit manager Uwe Jaggy knows: “Large projects in the city centre are always a challenge. And if the task is a ‘megaproject’ like MILANEO, then it’s something completely special.” around three planted courtyards to create a green rooftop oasis sheltered from the surrounding ambient noise. Another special feature is that the apartments will be completely “decoupled” from any acoustic influences from the shopping centre below. This will be necessary after the mall opens so that during renovation works, e.g. when a new tenant moves into one of the shops, the residents of the apartments are not disturbed by any construction noise. The works being carried out by Ed. Züblin AG, Stuttgart Sub-Division, began in July 2012. The shopping centre will comprise about 200 shops as well as an extensive restaurant offering in the food court. The design of each of the three malls is based on the themes of “nature”, “urban” and “modern” and offers many exciting visual impressions. Winner of Best Futura Mega Project Sustainable building in grand style Alone the investment volume of more than € 550 million shows that this is not your everyday project. MILANEO has already gained international attention, winning in the category of Best Futura Mega Project at the 2013 MIPIM Awards. And a megaproject it is: 30,000 m² property size, 43,000 m² of retail space not counting restaurants and services, 7,400 m² of office space, a 165-room hotel, 415 apartments and 1,680 car parking spaces. MILANEO was one of the first quarter developments to be awarded pre-certification in gold by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). Jaggy is already excited about the grand opening of the shopping centre on 9 October 2014: “I am looking forward to the day when the first visitors will be able to enter MILANEO. I hope to see many excited and impressed faces.” The apartments, and with them the entire project, will be completed in the summer of 2015. “With its varied offer, the quarter is unique in Germany. Besides the boost it will bring to the city’s economy, MILANEO will surely become a new magnet for tourists as well,” says Jaggy. MILANEO, being built near Stuttgart’s Mailänder Platz, will be composed of three separate buildings connected by transparent bridges. The first three floors will house the shopping centre. The shopping complex will then be topped by a total of 17 separate buildings grouped With a property size of about 30,000 m², MILANEO is a mega project in the truest sense of the word that can already proudly call itself an award winner. Awarded precertification in gold! 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 30 09.10.14 15:45 Projects North + West teams. No. 2 /2014 31 Investment volume: € 550 million Construction time: July 2012 – Summer 2015 Property size: 30.000 m² Retail space: 43.000 m² The three shopping malls are unique and designed on the themes of “nature”, “urban” and “modern”. The MILANEO project is an urban quarter consisting of a shopping centre, offices, apartments, a hotel and an underground car park. Contact: Uwe Jaggy, Group Division Property Development (4T) 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 31 09.10.14 15:45 32 Projects North + West www.strabag.com Tychy Waste Treatment Plant Garbage as a green energy source Strong economic growth and higher levels of consumption are leading to a progressive depletion of our planet’s natural resources. We must decide the future and which measures we will take to protect the environment for ourselves. This is where STRABAG’s efficient technologies for selective municipal waste collection can make a valuable contribution. Poland. The environmental burden from waste materials is one of the world’s greatest environmental problems today. More than 2,500 million t of garbage are produced in the European Union every year – statistically, that translates to half a tonne of waste for every citizen of the EU. In Poland, this figure is about 300 kg per person for a total of 135 million t of waste a year, thereof 124 million t of industrial waste and 11 million t of municipal waste. Poland is constantly raising its standards in the field of waste management. Regional treatment facilities for municipal waste are being created in the voivodeships, the country’s administrative subdivisions, in order to provide extensive services in terms of waste recuperation, recycling and removal. These plants must meet certain requirements: for example, they must include suitable technical facilities, fulfil technical BAT (best available technique) standards, and apply proven processes and procedures. Where does our garbage end up? STRABAG meets these requirements with the newly built treatment plant for municipal waste in Tychy in southern Poland. Thanks to the technologies applied by STRABAG Umweltanlagen GmbH, the waste treatment plant in Tychy is one the most state-of-the-art in Europe. STRABAG is general contractor of the facility, developer of the technological concept, and supplier of the advanced waste treatment technologies. It isn’t the amount of garbage that matters, however, but rather what happens to it. 34 % of the waste in the European Union is brought to landfills, though it can also be incinerated, recycled and composted. In Poland, around 75 % of the waste is stored in landfills. Landfill storage is the cheapest but also the most environmentally damaging form of waste treatment. The landfills become a source of uncontrolled methane gas emissions, which is much more harmful for the atmosphere than carbon dioxide and contributes even more greatly to the greenhouse effect. The Tychy plant can process 93,500 t of waste a year. It features the most state-of-the-art waste sorting and treatment system, with a closed air and waste management system, and is capable of producing energy and heat Reactors to produce biogas General contractor for the realisation of this demanding project is STRABAG Umweltanlagen GmbH (Sub-Division EI, Business Unit HH). All construction services were realised in high quality by STRABAG Sp. z o.o., Building Construction (Sub-Division PP, Business Unit HH), as internal subcontractor. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 32 09.10.14 15:45 Projects North + West from biogas. The mechanical waste sorting process uses automatic optopneumatic sorters to separate materials such as paper, glass, plastics, iron and non-iron metals for recycling. “The remainder is used to produce refuse-derived fuels (RDF) for cement plants and to generate energy. Harmful substances are neutralised and transformed into high-quality compost. This solution makes it possible to considerably reduce the amount of waste destined for landfills,” explains Bartłomiej Dąbrowski, project manager at the PP Sub-Division. teams. No. 2 /2014 33 Contract value: € 28.5 million Construction time: March 2013 – November 2014 Capacity: 93,500 t of waste/year Useful space: 14,100 m² The heart of the treatment plant is the proprietary patented LARAN® dry fermentation process. The process was improved by STRABAG technologists through years of research and development and thanks to the wealth of experience gained in the realisation of more than 70 facilities of this kind around the world. LARAN® facilitates the transformation of refuse into valuable biogas. Methane, which is created during the fermentation process of biological waste, is used to create “green energy” in the form of heat and electricity. As a result, the plant is an energy autonomous system with surplus energy sold into the supply grid. “The use of the special waste sorting technology and anaerobic fermentation with methane recuperation contributed to the Tychy project being recognised as one of the best municipal investments in Poland,” reports Martin Hummitzsch, project manager at the EI Sub-Division. The Tychy waste treatment plant will be handed over to the client following successful technological commissioning and subsequent trial runs in the autumn of 2014. It will be able to supply 200,000 people with energy in eight communities. The project was realised through teamwork by the dedicated employees of STRABAG Sp. z o.o. and STRABAG Umweltanlagen GmbH. Contact: Martin Hummitzsch, Sub-Division Environmental Plants (EI) Bartłomiej Dąbrowski, Sub-Division Building Construction Poland (PP) 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 33 09.10.14 15:45 34 Projects South + East www.strabag.com Rapid Stadium STRABAG building new home for SK Rapid STRABAG has won the tender for the construction of a new football stadium for SK Rapid in Vienna. As design-and-build contractor, the company will handle the project from design to turnkey handover. teams. spoke with project manager Roman Hornischer. Mr Hornischer, how can we imagine the process of such a selection procedure? We made our bid as a design-and-build contractor with a design by the German architectural firm ARC-Architektur Concept. Over a period of several months, there were some very intense and time-consuming negotiations from which we managed to emerge as the winner. The assessment criteria included the architectural design, the spatial function concept, the interior access, and the infrastructural issues, as well as the quality of the experience and the atmosphere for the spectator. Why do you think you were awarded the contract in the end? A number of factors most certainly combined here. We were able to score big points for the architectural concept on the one hand but also for the foundation of trust that was created during the many talks. The negotiations were characterised by mutual respect. Of course, the price/performance ratio will also have been fair. STRABAG is a specialist in the field of sport facilities. How was this project a challenge? Naturally, the bar is set quite high as the project involves Austria’s most state-of-the-art stadium and covers several areas such as the stands, the field, the offices, the operating buildings, the technical facilities and the A conspicuous feature is the tubular shape of the main building adjoining the new west stand, which will house the players’ cabins and the business lounge as well as the offices, the fan shop and the club museum. event area. The necessary building installations, escape routes and safety precautions had to be considered for every section of the stadium. We must also take into account the different requirements e.g. of the press, the police, the fire department, the visitors and the club itself. How does the winning design stand out? Visual highlights include the green stadium roof, the Rapid coat of arms on the main entranceway with a 20 m diameter, and the tubular shape of the main building. On the technical side, the building engineering equipment is unique as are the structural qualities of the main building, the stands and the stadium roof. Will the new stadium do away with any remaining memories of the old Hanappi Stadium? No. A unique component will be the last floodlight from the old stadium, which will remain in place as an emotional link to the past. What does the schedule look like for the new stadium? The new stadium is to be built during the next two seasons and should be completed by the summer of 2016. Contract value: € 47.55 million Construction time: until summer 2016 Name sponsor: Allianz Group More information: www.allianz-stadion.at The design of the new single-tiered stadium, with closed corners and approx. 24,000 seats including 2,500 business seats, 40 boxes for VIP guests and two event boxes, won the competition in early May. Contact: Roman Hornischer, Group Division BC+CE Austria East, Sub-Division Vienna (AR) 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 34 09.10.14 15:45 Projects South + East teams. No. 2 /2014 35 Rail Line Modernisation Through Slovakia at top speed On 1 July 2014, after five years of construction, Slovakia’s transport minister Ján Počiatek officially opened the new rail line between Trenčianská Teplá, Ilava and Beluša. The rail line modernisation helps bring train travel in Slovakia up to top speed. Slovakia. The rail line had been in urgent need of modernisation. Not just to allow trains to reach top speeds of 160 km/h, but also to provide improved access to the trans-European traffic networks and good connections to the neighbouring countries. Construction was carried out by the ŽSR – Beluša Consortium led by STRABAG s.r.o. of Bratislava with a significant portion of the works performed by group company Viamont DSP a.s. The works on the 20 km section also included the modernisation of four railway stations, the removal of the old track, the complete upgrade of the substructure using recycled material, and the creation of a new drainage system. The new track was laid with pre-stressed concrete sleepers to allow for speeds of up to 160 km/h. For safety reasons, all railway crossings were replaced by new bridges, underpasses and overpasses. Contract value: € 127.9 million Construction time: November 2009 – June 2014 Earthworks: 566,252 m³ Noise barriers: 6,817 m The modernisation of the rail line now allows for top speeds of up to 160 km/h. An exact schedule as a criterion for success The programme of works had to take into account a number of track closures. To maintain railway operations during construction, work was carried out in stages with one direction of travel – several tracks at the stations – closed along the line. Certain construction measures even required the line to be closed completely. Work was then performed at night and the closures were kept as brief as possible. “One of the most demanding tasks was the closure for four nights of the railway station at Dubnica nad Váhom in order to exchange some old switches. But the work had to be adapted to allow night trains to pass. The good cooperation and coordination of the group companies, especially during closely related and intersecting works, was our strength. In the end, we were able to reduce the total duration of track closures to 27,666 hours – 5,808 hours less than the competition had offered!” says Petr Koval, director of the project. Viamont DSP a.s. possesses top quality railway technology equipment. Rapid progress was made through the use of several road-rail excavators and the company’s flagship UNIMAT 09-4S automatic tamping machine. Contact: Petr Koval, Group Division Transportation Infrastructures Czechia/Slovakia, Sub-Division Slovakia (TG) 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 35 09.10.14 15:45 36 Projects South + East www.strabag.com LEGO Factory Factory of the future will have children jump for joy It’s a dream come true for any child: on 24 March 2014, Danish toy maker LEGO opened the world’s largest toy factory in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. STRABAG played an important role during construction. Hungary. The building complex, constructed as a greenfield investment, has a total floor area of almost 122,000 m². “The land lies outside of the city of Nyíregyháza and was previously used for agricultural purposes. The investment has helped to increase the value of the area on an infrastructural level,” explains project manager Róbert Varga. STRABAG’s share of the project, which has a contract value of € 43 million, comprises a gross floor area of 69,200 m². The project was completed in just ten months. STRABAG began with the construction works immediately after contract award in March 2013. Because of the short period allotted for the completion of the works, all activities had to be perfectly coordinated both within the team as well as with the external suppliers. “LEGO had high demands for the industrial flooring – a difficult task given the rather unfavourable soil conditions, but not impossible. Our experts at TPA and Frissbeton worked together to come up with a solution that was in keeping with the requirements,” says Varga. entrance hall on the ground floor welcomes visitors to the building, which also includes offices and a restaurant. A technical highlight is the corridor system, which plays an elementary role alongside the admin building. It features three levels from which various functions are controlled. The 450 m long corridor system covers a total area of 8,500 m². Material movements are coordinated on the ground floor, while the BSE facilities and the offices can be found on the 1st floor. The 2nd floor houses the piping systems necessary for the energy and water supply. LEGO places enormous value on compliance with environmental requirements. For this reason, special attention was paid to the aspect of environmental friendliness in the choice of construction materials, systems and technologies so that the factory can truly stand for the future. STRABAG was also hired to carry out the technical building services engineering (BSE). The admin building stands out between the separate building components thanks to its attractive façade design. An impressive Contract value: € 43 million Construction time: 10 months STRABAG share: 69,000 m² Corridor system: 450 m Compliance with environmental standards is very important for LEGO and required special attention to be paid to the use of environmentally friendly materials.. With a total floor space of nearly 122,000 m², the LEGO factory is the world’s largest toy factory. Contact: Róbert Varga, Group Division Hungary (6X), Sub-Division Building Construction Hungary 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 36 09.10.14 15:45 Projects South + East teams. No. 2 /2014 37 Cityhouse Schwechat Three buildings – Two basement levels – One Project STRABAG is general contractor for the turnkey construction of the new Cityhouse in Schwechat. Our teams. editor-in-chief Barbara Amon got a first-hand look at the € 13.43 million project. Austria. The construction works for Cityhouse Schwechat are already running at full speed. A large construction site covering nearly 4,000 m² of ground – routine for some, this is something truly special for me. I met site manager Katharina Schaber in her office on the construction site. What I noticed right away was the positive and easy-going relationship between her and her colleagues. But before the tour could begin, I first needed to be outfitted with the right safety gear – no helmet, no tour. The first three of six upper floors have already been built. The first floor was accessible via the concrete stairs formed by our team – for the remaining floors I had to climb a ladder. At the top, I saw how the prefab ceiling elements were being put in place, surveying work was being carried out, and the first wall elements were being assembled. Exciting tasks demanding full physical and mental concentration from the entire team. JUST-IN-TIME The project got going in August 2013. Once the site had been set up, the excavation works could begin. A highlight of the project for Schaber: “The building will receive two basement levels with underground car park, building services rooms and cellar compartments, which means that we had to dig 7.5 m down. Correspondingly difficult was the excavation support, using high pressure soil cementing to underpin the neighbouring buildings, and the reinforced inserted girder support system.” Another unique feature is the interesting architecture of the residential complex consisting of three separate buildings. The façade of the first building rises upwards at a slant. The second building is open and features an external corridor, while the third building encloses an inner courtyard with wavelike façade elements. Due to the central location and limited storage capacities, material orders must be precisely planned. This requires the constant coordination between the site manager and her 24-member team. The core team – site manager, technicians and foreperson – have worked together for three years and operate perfectly well together. The secret to success: “Open communication and the ability to deal with problems as a team,” reveals Schaber. Site manager Katharina Schaber and her team are perfectly coordinated. Contract value (Phase 1): € 13.43 million Construction time (Phase 1): August 2013 – Q3 2015 Residential units: 93, plus 7 shops Highlight: Three separate buildings The Cityhouse Schwechat construction site is in a prominent location at one end of Schwechat’s main square. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 37 Contact: Katharina Schaber, Group Division BC+CE Austria East, Sub-Division Lower Austria (AS) 09.10.14 15:45 38 Projects International and Special Divisions www.strabag.com EFKON 13 years of teamwork: More than just a business relationship EFKON and Toll Collect have maintained a business partnership since 2001. It is a relationship that has grown over the years, with a mutual appreciation that is based upon the common goal of finding custom solutions at a technically advanced level. International. Free to flow – as a global leading supplier of intelligent transport systems (ITS), electronic toll collection (ETC) and enforcement solutions, EFKON AG, founded in 1994, possesses important know-how in this technological field. The communication between a vehicle (in-vehicle equipment) and the infrastructure along the way (roadside equipment) is handled either via microwave or infrared technology. Due to an EU requirement, microwave systems are the standard in Europe. In Asia, on the other hand, infrared is the primary solution. Germany is an exception: the German tolling system still uses infrared technology. To create a system that is compatible in all of Europe, the latest generation of enforcement solutions works successfully with both systems. In this way, enforcement vehicles can communicate with trucks equipped with microwave units as much as with vehicles that have an infrared module on board. The STRABAG SE subsidiary has made a name for itself in the application of both technologies – and is considered a global technology leader in the infrared business. EFKON operates worldwide from its headquarters in Raaba near Graz, Austria: With subsidiaries in Asia and Africa, EFKON does business in countries such as Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, South Africa, India, South Korea and Pakistan. TEAMS WORK. The TEAMS WORK. philosophy primarily reflects the successful teamwork within the group. Yet we should not neglect the importance of external influences on team success, which forms a significant part of the whole concept. EFKON’s intense partnership with Germany’s toll billing company Toll Collect is just one example of good teamwork outside of the group. For the billing of thousands of trucks crossing German territory, Toll Collect is the first company in the world to use a satellite-supported GPS tolling system. This technology requires specialists. EFKON therefore has not only been a dependable supplier of hardware and software components for Toll Collect since 2001 but is also engaged in the development of solutions for the 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 38 toll operator. The secret of this business relationship is the partnership philosophy behind the cooperation. Both parties benefit thanks to the close cooperation, constant exchange of ideas, highly professional dialogue, and collaboration on the creation of individual custom solutions. For EFKON, it is important to be more than just a supplier like any other. The aim is to offer clients not only outstanding technology and quality products, but also added value for their money – solutions that fully and completely fulfil their needs. Unseen enforcement Toll Collect can count on the competence of a specialist for the development of its enforcement solutions. Today there are different systems in use for the stationary, portable and manual enforcement of the correct toll in Germany, and these are constantly being developed further. Through the use of DSRC modules in trucks travelling on Germany’s motorways, there is no need to interrupt the flow of traffic for toll enforcement. Transceivers installed along the motorway communicate with the in-vehicle units and verify if billing has been properly made and if the unit’s settings are correct. There is a saying in German: “Trust is okay, but verification is better.” In order to verify that proper payment has been made, the toll operator needs suitable tools. A truck with several axles, for example, has to pay a higher toll than a vehicle with only two axles. A total of 278 vehicles belonging to the Federal Office for Goods Transport (BAG) have already been equipped for manual enforcement. The enforcement vehicles can access the data stored in the settings of a vehicle’s on-board unit as it passes, compare the data against the vehicle and verify the general functioning of the unit. The wireless connection provided by stationary, portable and mobile communications units deliver to the BAG enforcement teams data from vehicles for which it was not possible to indisputably determine proper toll billing. These in-vehicle DSRC modules are also produced and delivered by EFKON – with around 850,000 units currently in use. An especially attractive feature is the interoperability with the Austrian toll company ASFINAG. Toll2Go makes 09.10.14 15:45 Projects International and Special Divisions teams. No. 2 /2014 39 EFKON AG and Toll Collect – a team that exemplifies good teamwork outside of the framework of the group structure. Business relationship: since 2001 Incoming orders: increase by nearly 40 % in 2013 – 2014 Enforcement systems: portable & mobile it possible to use the same DSRC module (OBM 220) in both Germany and Austria. This only works as a result of the combination of two integrated communications modules within the OBM 220. In this way, the box behind the windshield can communicate both with infrared (the technology currently in use in Germany) and microwave (technology standard in Austria). Both Toll Collect and EFKON intend to continue their intense cooperation in the future for the realisation of new, more advanced projects. The know-how exchange between the two is what makes innovative thinking and the implementation of new solutions possible. Contact: Melanie Almer, EFKON AG 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 39 09.10.14 15:45 40 Projects International and Special Divisions www.strabag.com STEP Waste Water Project Abu Dhabi steps into the future The United Arab Emirates not only impresses visitors with its architectural masterworks, soon the country will also be the proud owner of one of the most complex and biggest waste water systems in the world. Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi, the capital and largest of the seven emirates, has undergone considerable growth in the last 20 years – a trend that will continue into the future. Besides the many positive effects this development means for Abu Dhabi, the government has also been forced to seriously think about the future and sustainability of the country. The master plan for Abu Dhabi 2030 includes extensive urban restructuring to cope with the growing demands facing the city. At the heart of this once-in-a-century project is the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP) consisting of 84 km of gravity-driven waste water tunnels plus an enormous pumping station (60 m across, 100 m deep). The three most important objectives of the project are: to replace the existing pumping stations, create a sustainable overall solution, and deal with future demands. Ed. Züblin AG is playing a key role in this project. In January 2012, the company was awarded the contract to design and build the two gravity-driven waste water networks LS-01 and LS-02 with a combined length of 45.2 km in order to help the desert country prepare for the future infrastructural challenges associated with its growth. Ed. Züblin AG is working on the STEP project in Abu Dhabi. The two tunnel sections were realised under a joint venture of Züblin AG’s Singapore-based pipe jacking division and Züblin’s Abu Dhabi branch. Besides an improved waste water system, the works will benefit the population in other ways as well. On the one hand, the treated water can be recycled to irrigate the surrounding fields and agricultural land. On 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 40 the other hand, the dismantling of the old pumping stations helps the city to regain land for public or private use. Building without digging But as with all such megaprojects, the works must also take into consideration the local residents and the environment. A unique difficulty of this construction project was that many of the tunnels pass directly underneath densely populated areas, which requires enormous precision in the planning. As a result, all works are being carried out on the basis of trenchless technology – an environmentally friendly method of construction causing only minimal disturbances on the surface. Apart from the obvious challenges, such as the project’s size and the high technical demands, the team must also deal with aggressive groundwater conditions and some very hard soil layers. But the bureaucracy was another tough nut to crack. Countless licences and permits had to be secured, and the number of approvals needed for the more than 260 temporary and permanent shafts crossed the 10,000 mark. “We were able to commence operations with the first tunnel boring machine in January 2013. Today, nine TBMs are at work simultaneously. The construction is ongoing 24 hours a day, seven days a week – with summer temperatures that regularly reach 45°C,” reports Christian Isfort. And he goes on: “As the tunnel shafts have a diameter of just three to 14 m, our employees have to work under extremely cramped conditions in tunnels whose deepest shaft lies 40 m below ground.” An average of 1,200 Züblin employees are at work on the project at peak times, 150 of them in the areas of design, structural dynamics, quality, safety and site management. The teamwork is helping to create something of gigantic proportions here, as can be seen by the progress of construction. Despite all of the adversities, 61 % of the works have already been completed. The satisfaction of the client is evidenced by the award of a follow-up contract. Ed. Züblin AG has now been commissioned to also design and build the sewer connec tion to Al Reem Island, a new district of Abu Dhabi. The project foresees a tunnel to transport the waste water from Al Reem Island into Abu Dhabi’s sewerage system. Work on the tunnel shafts has already begun. Pipe jacking of the two tunnels with a total length of 2.6 km started in July 2014 and is scheduled for completion in April 2015. 09.10.14 15:45 teams. No. 2 /2014 Projects International and Special Divisions 41 The works in Abu Dhabi present the team with extreme physical challenges such as temperatures of up to 45°C, narrow tunnel shafts and working at depths 40 m below ground. Contract value: US$ 389 million (approx. € 290 million) Construction time: 1,342 days (incl. Reem) Tunnel boring machines: 9 Shafts: 260 The client, clearly satisfied with the work of the up to 1,200 Züblin employees in Abu Dhabi, awarded Züblin AG another contract for Al Reem Island. Contact: Jens Nagel und Christian Isfort, Group Division International, BC+CE Middle East, Abu Dhabi 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 41 09.10.14 15:45 42 Projects Country Report www.strabag.com Cross-City Link Zurich Swiss precision – The secret to success in railway bridge building Besides chocolate and cheese, the Swiss also have a reputation for precision, punctuality and conscientiousness. This is more than just a cliché – it’s everyday working practice. Switzerland. Zurich Central Station – with more than 2,900 trains a day one of the busiest railway stations in the world. In order to get passengers to their destinations even more quickly, Switzerland is building the so-called Cross-City Link at the main station. The 9.6 km rail link across the city will connect the Altstetten, Zurich and Oerlikon stations so as to relieve the burden on Zurich Central and to optimise the rail connections. The project involves the construction of two new single-track bridges in the middle of the field of approach tracks in order to avoid level crossings and to save time. In 2008, the ABD joint venture consisting of the com panies STRABAG AG, Stutz AG, Anliker AG, Kibag AG and Frutiger AG, and led by Markus Meier (Business Unit IB Zurich and New Construction), began with the construction of the 30 piers for the troughs of the Letzigraben and Kohlendreieck Bridges. At more than 1 km in length, the Letzigraben Bridge will be the longest bridge in Switzerland’s rail network. Work on the piers was completed in July 2013. Precision under traffic In the second of half 2011, the joint venture began with the assembly of the movable scaffolding system needed to begin construction of the Letzigraben Bridge. This self-supporting scaffolding system “pushes” itself along the finished parts of the bridge and piers, making it possible to build a bridge without the need of ground supports – and allowing construction to be carried out with no interruptions to rail service. Thanks to this scaffolding system, works on the Letzigraben Bridge could be performed with almost no external influences and the bridge trough was completed in 2014. Contract value: CHF 58 million (approx. € 47.8 million) Construction time: June 2008 – December 2015 Height of bridge piers: 6 – 16 m Diameter of bridge piers: 2.5 m Each bridge field required between 50 and 70 truckloads of concrete. For the concreting itself, the mixers had to drive backwards up onto the bridge. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 42 09.10.14 15:45 teams. No. 2 /2014 Projects Country Report 43 Info Germany France Zurich Liechtenstein Austria Switzerland Italy One country with many languages Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Salutations in the German-speaking part of the country range from “Grüezi” or “Grüessech” (more formal) to “Hoi” and “Sali” (among friends). In French-speaking Switzerland, acquaintances are greeted with “Salut”. In Romansh, the typical salutation for strangers is “Bun di” and “Buna saira”. Both Romansh and Italian speakers prefer a simple “Ciao” among acquaintances. The main challenge in building the Kohlendreieck Bridge was the tight radius required to bypass an electrical substation belonging to the Swiss Federal Railways. Old met new during the construction of the bridge’s superstructure, which began in July 2012, as the bridge passes over a historically listed building designed by Swiss architect Hans Hilfiker at a distance of just 80 cm. Special steel scaffolding was used to span over the building without any further supports. The programme of works for the two bridges not only had to take into account the high safety requirements as well as the maintenance of rail services during construction, but also had to come to terms with the local logistics challenges. But safety comes first – and so too on this construction site. Using so-called safety guardians, the employees received regular safety training from the Swiss Federal Railways and the joint venture partners. The commitment by all involved paid off: since construction began, there have been no serious accidents at either of the bridges. Protected areas for wildlife “The local residents aren’t the only ones whose needs we must take into account during construction – attention is also being paid to the animal kingdom. A number of environmental measures were undertaken to maintain the special habitat that exists in the track field,” reports project manager Hubert Bähr. The warm, dry, nutrient-poor environment is the ideal habitat for wall lizards, yellow-bellied toads and wild bees. Several different measures are being carried out to protect the animals and their environment, such as gabions to provide shelter at the edge of the tracks, sandy areas for nesting, and a number of seepage ponds. The works performed by STRABAG AG at Zurich Central Station are progressing rapidly and – thanks to the high safety standards – have been particularly accident free. The Swiss Federal Railways will install the necessary rail technology after handover of the structural works by the joint venture. The Letzigraben and Kohlendreieck Bridges will be opened to traffic in December 2015. Contact: Markus Meier und Hubert Bähr, Group Division Switzerland (6X), Sub-Division Switzerland (MV), Civil Engineering Zurich and New Construction 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 43 09.10.14 15:45 44 Specials www.strabag.com Our Favourite Places Warsaw: My city The history of the Polish capital can be seen in its architecture. This includes its nearly complete destruction during the Second World War. The rebuilt Old Town is the only reconstruction that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, modern architecture complements the face of the city and makes Warsaw well worth seeing. A place to chill Impressive baroque architecture “It’s green, magical and, above all, peaceful and serene. I discover new places every time I’m there. Local products, healthy foods, an eco-market, countless cafés – it’s my absolute highlight,” exclaims Monika Golebiowska about Saska Kępa. The neighbourhood, centrally located on the right bank of the Vistula River, is a place with a special atmosphere and a magnet for young and old alike. Marek Grzeszczyk enjoys Warsaw’s parks for walks and photography. Strolling through the “orderly” lanes is the best way for the hobby photographer to relax after a stressful day. “My favourite park is Wilanów. The place is enchanting and captivating, especially thanks to the baroque architecture of King Jan III Sobieski’s summer residence, a historical monument,” says Marek Grzeszczyk. The way of kings Relaxation in the park A district with history “My favourite place in Warsaw is a section of the city’s Royal Route, namely prestigious Krakowskie Przedmieście, which was pre viously known as Bernardyński Square,” says Piotr Jakubczyk. Krakowskie Przedmieście has been the Polish capital’s most representative street for centuries, with famous sights along the way such as the Presidential Palace, historic churches, the University of Warsaw, and other majestic monuments. “After a stroll through town, or for some rest and relaxation on the weekend, I like to visit the tree-lined avenues of Ogród Saski, the Saxon Garden,” explains Justyna Krupa. On hot days, she cools off in the Marconi Fountains in this centrally located garden. And when the sun dial points at noon, she heads to her favourite restaurant, St. Antonio, which serves excellent Polish and Italian cuisine. Marcin Maź loves to stroll through the district of Praga. Here every town house and every cobblestone has a story to tell, having remained unchanged over the years. The district is full of pre-war pavements, old lanterns and traditional architecture, with a special highlight being the Russian Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene. “What I love most is to relax in a café with a great atmosphere and take in the authentic Warsaw flair”, says Maź. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 44 09.10.14 15:46 teams. No. 2 /2014 Specials 45 Name day in Poland is especially important – in many places even more important than one’s birthday! Justyna Krupa, Sub-Division Building Construction Poland Wars aw : My C ity Special tip Good to know! Careful! Many toilets in Poland are marked with a circle for ladies and a downward-pointing triangle for men. 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 45 09.10.14 15:46 46 Specials www.strabag.com Company Outings Off to the sunny south! Sardinia and Monaco are two of Planet Earth’s lovelier little spots. And in the middle of it all – some of our Austrian colleagues and co-workers. The food of the Sardinian shepherds was the highlight of my trip. International. For four full days, the white sandy beaches and varied cultural offerings of Sardinia, the Mediterranean’s second-largest island, cast their spell over some 388 colleagues and co-workers from our Austria East Region. Meanwhile, 160 employees from Region West were on a four-day holiday of their own to Monaco. Thanks to the outstanding organisation of the works council, the company outings this year once again were an opportunity for our colleagues to get to know a different country and culture, and each other, a little better. Elisabeth Deinhofer, Knowledge Management The visit to the Sardinian “bandit region” of Orgosolo as well as the boat tour to a secluded Mediterranean cove and a picturesque port town were among the unique experiences for the colleagues of Business Unit East. Monaco – principality, second smallest country on Earth, and a darling of the rich and beautiful. Along with Cannes, St. Tropez, Nice and four days of sunshine, this place left its impression on the colleagues of Business Unit West. The Principality of Monaco was very impressive for me, and the atmosphere was simply unique! Mario Schäfer, BMTI GmbH 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 46 09.10.14 15:46 Specials teams. No. 2 /2014 47 STRARUN Premiere for the first STRABAG running event Some 129 runners from 11 nations defied the elements and lined up for the start on 16 May 2014. A premiere for the event – but long since routine for the organisational team working behind the scenes. Austria. “The competitive conditions for the first STRABAG running event were quite difficult. The rain threatened to turn the race into a washout, which unfortunately scared off many of the participants – especially those who would have had a longer arrival,” explains Mario Rabitsch, initiator of the STRABAG triathlon. Still, 129 runners defied the bad weather forecast, which luckily did not come true. The cool temperatures failed to dampen the mood among the runners and did not keep the fans from providing their vociferous acoustic support. Among the elite distance runners, STRABAG employee Constance Mochar was the first to sprint across the finish line after 43 minutes and 8 seconds. In the 5 km race, Sebastian Grabs was the fastest STRABAG runner with a time of 20 minutes and 32 seconds. The fastest relay team were the STRABAG Water Runners, alias Andreas Heindl and Christian Messinger, with 42 minutes and 39 seconds. pressed between two glass plates. The wooden trophy pedestals were – this is almost a tradition – made by our carpenters’ team in Gerasdorf. Whether concrete or formwork plates, our creativity knows no bounds. The medals – and this is also in keeping with tradition – were lovingly handcrafted by the street children from the charity organisation CONCORDIA in Romania and Moldova. The registration site was programmed by the BRVZ IT/Notes Group, and the T-shirts were selected and ordered in cooperation with our Corporate Communications. The start numbers were printed and the starting bags were filled, and the busy hands of FM ensured a professional event set up and take down. They say that too many cooks spoil the broth – but not here. The harmonious cooperation is a perfect example that TEAMS WORK. Backstage The sweat was pouring long before the day of the race. Weeks before the start, Petra Burger, assistant to the sub-division management at Technical Head Office Vienna, was sweating along with her busy helpers. What many don’t know is that the organisational requirements of a company event like this are in every way equal to those of a large event. For the first time, we have been able to take a closer look. The starting shot for the organisational team fell at the end of October. The White Collars’ Works Council East, which sponsored the trophies, began with the design, production, assembly and polishing of the cups in 2012. In this way, a conventional bricklayer’s trowel was re-functioned into a beautiful trophy. The cup’s concrete pedestals were made by our apprentices. The trowels were then covered with metal colour foil, a plaque was attached to the pedestal and the whole thing was assembled, glued and polished by hand. “It took me about 20 hours, and I finished with the polishing one hour before the first runners crossed the finish line,” explains Burger with a smile. It doesn’t get any more individual than this. A glass element served as the trophy symbol in 2013. In 2014, it was an inlay in the certificate design We’re proud of our STRABAG athletes and congratulate all finishers. Contact: Petra Burger, Technical Head Office 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 47 09.10.14 15:46 Legal Information Editing and publishing: STRABAG SE, Villach • Editors: Barbara Amon (editor-in-chief), Carmen Ferner • Organisation of national editions: Edita Novotna (Czech Republic/Slovakia), Mónika Varjú (Hungary), Bozena Czekajska (Poland), Michail Atamanenko (Russia) • Layout and print management: Gundula Schmid (graphic-artist-in-chief), Steffi Härtel • Prepress: R12 Spannbauer Ges.m.b.H. & Co KG, Vienna • Druck: MACK GmbH, Schönaich • Photography: Carmen Ferner (pp. 6, 7, 47), Christian Deckert, Ines-Jeanne Paupie, Nicolas Rocca (pp. 10 – 17), iStockphoto (pp. 15, 17), Fotolia (pp. 20 – 21), DIE KREADIVEN (p. 29), Allianz (p. 34), illustrations by Royalize Medienproduktion (pp. 13, 17, 43, 45), Openstreetmap (pp. 44 – 45) • Inquiries and mail: STRABAG SE, Corporate Communications, Tel. +43 1 22422 - 1154, Fax +43 1 22422 - 1177, teams@strabag.com, Donau-City-Str. 9, 1220 Vienna 14-10-09_STRA_teams_2_14_Oktober_engl_final_K1_r12.indd 48 09.10.14 15:46