This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at La construcción industrializada es posible gracias a los prefabricados de hormigón

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Mnza is positioned in optimistic manner given the complicated situation that currently lives in the construction sector

Industrialized construction is possible thanks to the prefabricated concrete

Mnza communication Department, the National Association of precast and derivatives of the cement22/10/2008

Investments in modernization and technology have enabled a great development of the precast concrete, developing global constructive solutions, reliable, and efficient to allow the industrialization of construction with high quality criteria. This company philosophy is the solution that will allow the sector to come out of the crisis prepared to face the future and with consolidated growth potential.

For quite some time the construction has been one of the main engines of the Spanish economy and has experienced two decades of great prosperity. It offered much to many: real estate services, improvements in public infrastructures industry, second residencias… and even the job opportunity to the rising tide of immigrants affecting Europe. The turnover of construction in Spain in 2006 exceeded 372.200 million euros. At the community level was surpassed only by Germany. That year grew by 19 per cent and, although he began to notice some slowdown, grew up still a 18 in 2007. Two-digit growth is a succulent figure when speaking in terms of trade. That same year the level of investment in construction was from 17 per cent relative to GDP, although if we consider all economic activities related to the construction, exceeded 40 per cent.

The need to meet demand with reliable solutions and shorter delivery time was fundamental so that will increase the development of the industry of precast concrete with high strength and dynamism. In addition, this industry offers a wide variety of solutions because it is able to make the most of the necessary elements for the construction: paving, large prefabricated for construction and public works, enclosures, pipes and sewers and other general goods such as artificial stone, street furniture, Poles, etc.

Corporate building of the firm Boehringer in Sant Cugat (Barcelona).

A fast-growing industry

During 2006 the turnover of precast concrete in Spain was about 7,400 million euros. In 2007, increased 18 percent, reaching 8,800 million. Today this sector has more than 1,300 factories and they are several large groups that can be billed more than 100,000 million per year, some exported to more than a dozen countries as France, Sweden, Argentina or United Arab Emirates. In general, it is used each year an average of 40,000 workers between fixed and temporary. The most important productive group is that of structural elements with nearly 55 per cent of the total national production whose elements are mainly aimed at industrial and commercial buildings, logistics centres or civil works such as tunnels or bridges.

The forecast is of a more competitive building market that will lead to increased price competition

Unfortunately, the construction is going to suffer a sharp decline in growth in the next two years, at the international level by the trend downwards and at national level due to the fall in demand caused by high prices, an excess supply of new housing and difficult to finance the purchase. But this drop will not affect all areas of the building. It is expected that infrastructure and non-residential building maintained the level of growth, although not at the same pace as in the last two decades. The forecast for the end of the 2008 and 2009 is therefore of a more competitive building market that will lead to increased price competition, which will be beneficial for all, especially for the final consumer, because that will help to stabilize the situation.

During and after use sustainability

One of the most important competitive advantages of the precast concrete is its sustainability. Its use in the construction contributes to fulfil the commitments of reducing the emission of CO₂ acquired by the European Union at the international level thank you, for example, to the use of elements with a capacity of autolimipiable and descontaminante. The reduction of emissions of CO₂ and the energy efficiency of buildings designed and built with precast concrete are not only applicable to the initial phase of production, but they are extended to the entire lifecycle of the structure or building. These aspects make this sector the best solution to meet the future challenges of climate change and global warming. We must stress that once the element has fulfilled its mission and should be discarded, it does not becomes a waste but can demolish it and recycle for later use as aggregates for the production of other elements.

Detached house in Pravia (Asturias) made of precast concrete plates.

Claims for the future

To alleviate the crisis, the demands of the sector are various: first take measures to revive the construction; they have to reduce late payments from materials supplied, far exceeding the legal established, because the sector can not devote more resources to finance the sales, to the detriment of technological innovation and job creation. And, finally, the most important claim, which is valued quality effectively, because the fulfilment of all the rules is expensive and it is illogical that, even in works of public promotion, this is the last factor to take into account.