Modular Construction Instead of Solid Construction
Interview with Stefan Stein, Managing Director of Portakabin Mobilraum GmbH and Portakabin Produktions GmbH
From construction container to sustainable building: Portakabin Mobilraum GmbH is transforming from a traditional renter of temporary construction solutions to an innovative provider of modular architecture. With 135 employees at seven German locations and its own production in Halle an der Saale, the company focuses on sustainability, digitalization, and flexibility. Since being acquired by the private equity fund Antin in 2024, the formerly British family group has pursued a clear expansion course.
Modular Construction vs. Solid Construction
Renting instead of buying, assembling instead of concreting: Portakabin Mobilraum manufactures and supplies temporary buildings such as single containers and container complexes. With 135 employees and its own production in Halle, the company serves industries, municipalities, and sports clubs. The highlight: The modular buildings meet passive house standards and are fully recyclable. The roots of Portakabin Mobilraum go back to the era of OECON, when the first construction containers were produced for construction sites. What began as lounges for construction workers has developed into a versatile business model. "Today, we produce between five and eight containers a day in Halle," explains Stefan Stein, Managing Director of the German business units since 2022. However, the classic container business now only accounts for a part of the turnover. The strategic focus is on modular construction.
Flexibility as a Core Competence
The crucial difference to prefabricated house construction lies in the flexibility. Portakabin Mobilraum rents out its buildings for periods ranging from one month to ten years. "The customer is not tied to long periods," explains Stefan Stein. After the rental period, the modules are dismantled and reused for new projects. The application areas range from industrial buildings to kindergartens and schools to healthcare facilities and sports facilities. The customer base is exclusively commercial, and the company offers complete solutions including planning and support with building applications through partnership architectural offices.
Sustainability in Wood-Steel Construction
The modules consist of a hybrid wood-steel construction. The ecological footprint is additionally improved by shorter construction times, less construction traffic, and minimized waste. In the production plants, Portakabin Mobilraum invests in micro wind turbines, photovoltaics, and green hydrogen. The modular buildings themselves are equipped with heat pumps, intelligent lighting control, and water-saving systems. The technical performance is impressive: With type statics, the modules can be assembled into multi-story buildings.
Digitalization and Expansion
In production, Portakabin relies on robotic welding technology, three fully automated production cells, and digital twins. All components are digitally traceable with BIM. Partnerships with universities such as the University College London drive innovations forward. Additionally, the company is diversifying into new segments: Among others, the sports sector from amateur to professional sports has strong growth potential. "Despite a weakening construction economy, we have a very high utilization rate," says Stefan Stein. Since the takeover by the Private Equity Fund sAntin in 2024, the company has significantly more resources. The goal is clear: "Quality, sustainability, and digital innovation – we want to play a leading role in these areas," concludes the Managing Director.