Construction

A fairly reliable measure of business confidence is the rate of investment in industrial real estate. For Panattoni, a turnkey developer of logistics warehouses and industrial premises, and German office of the Panattoni Development Company in the USA, its full order books indicate that general confidence levels remain high, despite the coronavirus crisis. European Business spoke to Managing Partner Fred-Markus Bohne about the importance of sustainability and a forward-looking approach to real estate investment.

In order to create residential areas that feel pleasant for a long time to come, every urban planning project requires a dedicated approach. One has to enter into a relationship with the local people and surroundings, in order to find the optimal sustainable solution. The project teams of LEVS architecten are always looking for specific answers that suit a particular situation. They work on residential and urban planning projects in The Netherlands and other Western European countries as well as in Russia and rural Africa. The company is based in a former harbour area in Amsterdam and has 40 employees.

Passion fosters entrepreneurial succes – this statement is the perfect opening line for our interview with Johannes Kwizda, Member of the Management Team at Kwizda Group. The Austrian company ranks among the leading conglomerates in the country with its strong focus on healthcare, agricultural products and construction materials. European Business talked to Mr. Kwizda about the continued rise of the Austrian family business and how it manages to keep the delicate balance between honouring past tradition and looking to the future.

Construction accounts for much of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but it is ever more necessary to house growing populations. New solutions are needed to reconcile the need to construct with the need to protect the environment. Additionally, inside spaces, especially in areas where land is at a premium, are required to be increasingly flexible, and adaptable to the changing needs of inhabitants. One of the most innovative responses to these challenges has been through investment in modular building techniques. Its forward thinking in this area has propelled Jan Snel to market leader.

It is a family business through and through: Managed by the third and fourth generations, Bouwbedrijf M.J. de Nijs en Zonen B.V. has successfully completed many outstanding buildings, including the EYE Filmmuseum in Amsterdam, the national film museum of the Netherlands, and the Hermitage Amsterdam in Amsterdam, a local offshoot of the renowned The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. In business for almost a century, the company perfectly combines quality craftsmanship with advanced digital technology and a low environmental footprint.

The world is growing tall. As suitably sized building plots become scarce, skyscrapers are springing up around the globe to meet the housing needs of the growing population and the space requirements of expanding businesses. Their construction, however, presents major challenges. How do you lift heavy building materials to the top of a 300 m building? Czech company STROS – Sedlčanské strojírny, a.s. has the answer. The company specializes in temporary and permanent external lifting solutions to suit a multitude of situations.

Many corporate Italian success stories are family businesses. This is also true for Pessina Costruzioni S.p.A., one of Italy’s foremost construction groups covering everything from new construction and restoration jobs to financing solutions and infrastructure projects. Over six decades, the company has developed into a solid player in the Italian building sector which is now increasingly looking abroad for additional growth. Its origins can be traced back even further and to a completely different activity: a mineral water supplier established in the 1930s.

Costly equipment, such as earthmoving machinery or complex material handling systems, needs to perform reliably to earn money. BIA n.v. is focused on the top brands in this sector and distributes high-quality equipment in the Benelux and Africa. What truly sets the Belgian company apart from the competition, however, is its unrivalled after-sales service where it employs 75% of its staff.

Laying cables along railway tracks is a challenging task requiring specialist expertise and great experience. A declared expert in this sophisticated field is SITS. The French family enterprise has developed two patented, innovative cable-laying systems for telecommunication, signaling and energy applications that ensure highest levels of swiftness, efficiency and safety.

Not many people have the chance to make their lifetime dream come true. Of course, you need a good dose of luck, but even more important is never to lose sight of your dream and to work on its realization with dedication and enthusiasm. Elisabetta Gnudi did exactly this. Today, she is president and owner of Gruppo Caparzo, based in Caparzo, Italy. Her vineyards are recognized for top wines such as Brunello, Rosso di Montalcino, Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva.