Men of steel - Martifer Polska
Some of the industry sections achieve their success thanks to the revolutionary ideas while the others – like the steel section – require good planning, hard work of reliable people and constant evolution of proven technologies. These are the elements that underlie the quality of the Martifer Polska brand. The company’s beliefs, devotion to their work and its perfectly planned structure are reflected in the steel constructions they produce. The company is on its way to follow the success of Martifer Group, the company that has been a leader on the Iberian market for several years.
No revolution – constant evolution
Martfier Polska Sp. z o.o. was founded eight years ago as a part of Martifer Group. That was the beginning of a gradual development of the enterprise. The first milestone in the history of Martifer Polska was the completion of their first project, Simoldes warehose. That project was so significant to the company because it was finished even before the opening of their factory in Gliwice. The Simoldes warehouse undertaking was coordinated by a few specialist members of Martifer staff. The next important step in development of the enterprise was the moment when the Gliwice factory was finished and they could start producing structures and steel products, having in mind that their success depends on increasing resources and courage to execute the most ambitious projects.
‘We look into future with hope’
The Polish industry market has not always been kind to the company though. Martifer Polska had to face radical changes of Polish and international economy. The years 2005-2006, when the company entered the Polish market, brought the relatively steady increase, despite the typical difficulties that a new player in a steel industry would meet. The demand of their clients and their supply were well adjusted to the extend that allowed them to establish their presence on the market. The next two years, 2007-2008, were the period of the rapid development and growth of the economy and steel industry. Although it was a time of company’s flourishment, from the present perspective the increase of the sector was the cause of the frantic rate of project completion and limited the long-term goals of the company. The outcome of this hectic period on the international market was the crisis in the years 2008-2009 which impacted Martifer Polska as well. Mr. Miguel Borges, the General Director of Martifer Polska, shows optimistic outlook though: ‘We have to be aware of the relatively mild form of the crisis in Poland in comparison to other European countries and considering their unpleasant experiences we should draw proper conclusions and try and take good decisions. The projects we have planned and slight activity of investors allow us to look into the nearest future with hope.’ Dealing with the results of the financial crisis, which impacted not only Martfier Polska but also the whole construction industry and most of its clients, the company takes an advantage of every chance that enables using its assets to the maximum. Among the projects Martifer is currently executing are various complex civil engineering and industrial structures. Company’s priority projects are those concerning infrastructure projects for EURO 2012 and industrial power sector.
International activity:
Martifer Polska is a part of the Martifer Group, who has a twin production plant in the south of Romania. These two plants focus on projects executed in Central and eastern Europe: in Germany, Czech Republic, Moldavia, Slovakia, Latvia, Ukraine. Martifer Polska occasionally supports the production plants in Portugal that attend to western Europe and Northern Africa, it also delivered structures to: Angola, Cameroun, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, Ireland. Future plans of the company concern strengthening its position on the markets where it is already present and seeking ambitious projects in respective geographical regions.
Clients’ trust in Martifer Polska brand
Gaining clients trust is not an easy thing, and people of Martifer Polska know it. That is why they constantly improve their qualifications and raise the standards of production and of the relations with the customers. They managed to do that during completion of respective projects. ‘When it comes to potential clients, our assets are our licenses and certificates, as well the references we receive after completion of various contracts’ says Miguel Borges. ‘Preliminary audits are conducted for individual branches, where before placing an order the client examines all aspects connected with the future project. It is our pleasure to inform you that 100% of audits conducted in our plant were successful.’ The steel industry requires the highest competence and Martifer Polska can prove it with several certificates:
- TÜV Rheinland certificate, ISO 9001:2008 no. 0198 100 00901/01
- TÜV Rheinland certificate, OHSAS 18001:1999 no. 2 03 07020/2
- TÜV Rheinland certificate, DIN 18800-7:2002 no. 01 203 973
- TÜV Rheinland certificate, DIN EN ISO 3834-2 no. 01 3834-2 973-09 0648 – Qualification certificate of the Polish Welding Centre of Excellence no. 326/894/IV/10 - Qualification certificate of the Ministry of Infrastructure no. 02/09 – Certificate Ukraine, ISO 9001:2001 no. UA 2.011.03500-09 – Certificate Ukraine of conformity with GOST standard, no. UA1.022.0017948-09
We protect and take care of the environment we work in
One of the values of Martifer Group is their respect for the natural environment and its protection. They are fully aware of the impact the company’s operations have on the environment. They execute their projects with consideration of the possibilities of environmentally friendly solutions and try to minimise this impact by:
- observing the applicable statutes of the environmental protection law and other requirements concerning the company’s operations
- reduction of pollution released into the atmosphere
- proper waste management
- optimising the use of production materials and natural resources
- preventing environmental disasters by monitoring instruments and installations
- improving environmental awareness of our employees on an ongoing basis.
People who build the success
Like the constructions consists of fitting elements, the structure of the company is built of the individual strengths of its employees. At present the company employs 230 people, 2/3 of which are the production workers. The members of administration staff also work for other companies of Martifer Group operating on the local market. Martifer Polska puts emphasis on human resources, searching for people who present such distinctive features as determination, dynamism, dedication, persistence and motivation. The best professionals can be chosen thanks to the multi-level selection process. Each candidate is interviewed by several company’s representatives which gives them an opportunity to learn about the personality and technical skills of a future employee. A person that successfully completes the application process can enjoy being a part of a team of an international company employing ca. 4000 people. Well defined goals and clear distribution of responsibilities help create great everyday atmosphere in the company’s work environment. What is more, the members of young team (the average age of an employee is ca. 30 years) have several opportunities to take part in bonding events outside the company’s premises, both organised by the company as well as initiated by the employees themselves. The company gives also opportunities of supporting the human potential and introduces various career path programs developing skills which can be used later on in everyday work. Mr. Miguel Borges comments on the professional training system: ‘We regularly organise both, internal and external trainings, funded by our own financial means, as well as with the help from the EU. Moreover, we stand by introducing innovative technologies and the necessity to maintain the quality of our products at a high level – indirectly it also helps improve the awareness of human resources’. Martifer Polska is also one of the very few institutions that invest in young future candidates, presenting special offer to the students – the Summer Internship Program. The company feels also an obligation to increase their employees’ awareness of social problems. Every year during the Christmas period they organise fundraising among our employees to support the institutions we consider to be in need during the time. Up till now they supported orphanages, animal shelters, and other institutions.
Rapid development, new profiles of production and investments – this is the current situation of Gdańsk Shipyard, the company known not only in the marine industry as a manufacturer of ships, but also as a symbol of struggle for free and independent Poland. During 60 years of its history, Gdańsk Shipyard has built over 1000 ships and hulls for companies around the world. Now, the company conquers the market of steel constructions and the renewable energy sector.
According to the restructuring plan, Gdańsk Shipyard is to focus its activity on three types of production: specialized vessels, wind towers and various types of large steel constructions. Those three types of products are to streng...
Since the company began its production activity under Donato Iribecampos leadership, Grupo Condesa has grown from a small, family business to a corporation that spreads its manufacturing facilities in six countries. Its market share in Spain stands at 37% and has a 20% share of the European market. In total, Grupo Condesa has 2000 workers and its current turnover is 1000 million euros per year. Without further ado, here is Grupo Condesa’s recipe for success.
The Father of SuccessDonato Iribecampos began his activity as a small manufacturer in his hometown- Mondragón (Spain), where in 1954 the present Grupo Condesa (Conducciones y Derivados S.A.) was founded. As the company’s growth continue...
Cadolto is counted among the global leaders of the modular construction industry. Present in Germany for more than a century and in Poland for a decade, it specialises in erecting hospitals, laboratories, including the largest projects of that type worldwide. The two projects in question, namely Centre Hospitalier d’Argenteuil in Paris and Federal Centre for Cardiology in Penza, Russia, when put together, take up an unprecedented overall space of 80,000 sqm. Mr Remigiusz Cichocki, Cadolto Poland’s Representative General speaks to Manufacturing Journal about the local peculiarities of this global player.
History in BriefCadolto Poland’s success story began exactly 10 years ago. Newly admitte...
We know this story all to well. First came credit crunch; banks soon experienced cash flow problems; this in turn rebounded on the building industry. And yet there are construction businesses in Poland that have survived the crisis intact. Among these Format is to be found, the Warsaw-based company with more than 500 investment projects under its belt, completed all around Europe. This business never grows tired of success. They are now developing a nuclear power plant in Finland. Soon after that they are setting out to conquer Sweden.
Success StoryFormat’s track record is like Polish reality in a nutshell. It has enough room for economic transformation and upheaval; it has room for ownersh...
OJSC UGMK was founded only 13 years ago. In such a short period of time on the market it made its presence noticeable. The company’s successful growth can be attributed to its drive for achieving better results in the fields of quality and customer service.
Current achievementsOJSC Ukrayinska girnycho-metalurgiyna kompaniya (UGMK) was established in 1998. The company’s objective was to deliver steel products in any quantity to the wide range of consumers. Moreover, the company offered related services. In 2002 the UGMK company opened its First Metal Supermarket. The concept was so successful that in a short period of time a whole chain of metal supermarkets grew all over the country. In 200...
Analyzing the stories of companies that, regardless of the industry and times, in which they acted, achieved spectacular success, we can pacely conclude that the organizations, which have succeeded on the demanding, global market, have a lot in common. After such a conclusion, we can easily propose a thesis that, in principle, it is enough to meet several conditions, thanks to which this success could be duplicated. First of all, one should have an innovative business idea, correctly locate a niche in the market, develop an effective strategy for development of the company and its products, and invest a sufficiently high capital. It seems fair to say that the responsibilities associated with...
Everyone was talking about the biggest (since “Wall Street Crash”) financial crisis, which badly hit the global economy a few years ago. Media reported of billions of dollars pumped in collapsing industries, governments were creating pacely huge packages of investments to stimulate the economy, millions of people lost their jobs, countries bankrupted. Inflated without restraint speculative bubble in the U.S. real estates market, the irresponsible actions of the Federal Reserve, poorly designed financial management procedures in banks, and finally, to quote professor Adamus of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, “greed and fear”, led to the most serious collapse of the global economy since...
Aliplast Sp. z o. o (LLC) from Lublin has recently become a success story in the Polish aluminium systems industry. They’ve risen to the top thanks to timely investment, made just after Poland’s accession to the EU, right on the brink of the building boom in Poland. International capital has also played a part: Aliplast belongs to Corialis Group, an international holding present on three continents. Mr Jan Kidaj, Aliplast President, speaks to “Manufacturing Journal” about the company’s achievements and its ambitious investment plan.
Initial GroundworkThe success story started 8 years ago. In 2002, 2 years before Poland’s accession to the EU, Aliplast NV, a Belgian provider of aluminium syst...
The LLENTAB Group designs, manufactures and markets multifunctional steel buildings for a wide range of industries and purposes. The parent company, LLENTAB AB, is headquartered in Sweden. Its story goes back to 1972 and the Lindblad family. Over the years the company has undergone rapid development, growing economically and geographically. At the current moment, the LLENTAB Group has subsidiaries throughout Europe and Scandinavia and a new organization focused on international business. It managed to grow from a small construction company to an international group with branches in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Poland.
First step to the East The first vent...
Grupa Skalski, Kraków, has been present on the Polish construction market for nearly 30 years now. Over this time it has managed to complete numerous investment projects and collect a bulk of prizes. However, as Mr Dominik Wróbel, Grupa Skalski’s Managing Director, reveals, it is not so much prizes or honours but customers’ trust that the company finds most rewarding. The business has won recognition on the strength of its innovative ownership structure and the support of the Luxembourg-based Astron Company.
They Took the RiskIn 1982, when Mr Piotr Skalski decided to set up his own business in Kraków, he began modestly, turning out hollow bricks. The company did not become a roaring success...
SONAROL from Jedwabne (Voivodeship of Podlassia) is a brand duly recognised for top quality window and door joinery as well as Styrofoam production. The business has operated for only 13 years now and already managed to join the leaders of middle-size enterprise in Poland. Decisive factors? Thoughtful investment and entrepreneurial savvy. Evidence? Recently awarded prizes, Gazela Biznesu (Business Gazelle) and Diament “Forbesa” (“Forbes” Diamond). SONAROL’s short and yet thrilling track record is to be found below.
From Seed…SONAROL came into being in 1997. However modest its beginnings (it was a warehouse at first), the business got off to a flying start almost immediately. As is well know...
The most important goal for them? Build and improve our quality of life.How do they do it? With creativity and technical skill they plan, design and operate the facilities essential to modern life, ranging from bridges through sport´s, and urban´ s infrastructure They are problem solvers, meeting the challenges of urban redevelopment and community planning. Who are they? They are people who create the Mostostal Puławy corporation.
Mostostal Puławy S.A – or „know- how”As the technological revolution expands, as the population increases, civil engineering skills will be needed. Whatever area you choose, be it design, construction, research, planning, teaching or management, civil engineering...
POLDIM S.A. is a company known in Poland and abroad owing to maintaining the highest standards of road and bridge construction works, which are always finished on schedule. POLDIM is also noted for its road maintenance services and production of materials for the road building industry.
Written by Aleksandra StrojekProtoplast and first structural changes POLDIM carries on more than fifty-years of operations among Polish road and bridge building enterprises. What is more, it considers itself to be the heir to the rich tradition of road and bridge building in the Lesser Poland region as well as in former Galicia. The beginnings of the company date back to 1952. At the time, as a result of an...
ZBUD Sp z o.o. (Lifting Devices Construction Plant Ltd.) since its founding in Dąbrowa Tarnowska in 1985 has an everlasting story of success. In 1990 the company has introduced hoists and hand winches, which, thanks to high quality and fair price, allowed the company to dynamically develop. The main consequence of obtaining an excellent reputation was broadening the company’s assortment by introducing jib cranes, overhead cranes and electric winches.
In 2005 the company reached even higher level of offered services: ZBUD Ltd. accepted first orders to produce lifting devices for partners acting in the offshore sector. Nowadays ZBUD Ltd. is a renowned, recognizable expert producer of liftin...
Thoni Alutec is a producer of light alloy castings in sand and gravity die. Experience gathered over decades combined with continuous expansion of the product range as well as highly skilled staff have made the company one of the most competent jobbing foundries worldwide.
Diversification of the activity range gives the customers of the enterprise a complete supply chain related to light alloy castings. The customers are individually supplied with castings according to various international standards and thus receiving a complete solution tailored to their requirements. The integration of all processes in-house, provides shortest delivery times and a very high level of quality. Family busin...
Just as life provides each of us with different challenges, the business environment creates unique challenges and opportunities for companies. TMK is the perfect example of a company that capitalizes and thrives on challenges. In just a few short years, its ability to capture opportunities and rapid global growth have allowed it to become one of the world’s top three market leaders in its industry.
Looking back on a short past and long future
TMK’s history doesn’t really go too far back. Following TMK’s creation in 2001, several important events refined its strategic course and shaped its future. At first, the Company was Russia-based and included the Volzhsky, Seversky, Sinarsky, and Tag...
10 years were enough for Vincenzo Munzio to transform a simple Service for tank trucks into a successful business. His brilliant idea was turned into O.ME.P.S, an Italian company headquartered in Battipaglia (in the South of Italy) which became an important producer of all types of self supporting and tipping silotrailers and rigid silo tanks and for the transport of powders. Its large range of products is present in most of European countries and since 1999 the number of its clients has reached 2 thousands.
From a small business to a worldwide trademark
O.ME.P.S. was founded by Vincenzo Munzio, its sole managing director, and initially functioned as a small Service for tank trucks. When i...
For nearly 20 years of its existence, Karmar S.A. (Joint-Stock Company), Warsaw, has proven to have the know-how essential for the success in the building industry. In the right place and at the right time, the business gathered specialists experienced in construction, design, finance, legal matters and construction consulting. Initially, these people focused on construction works. Nowadays, they enjoy the status of a general contractor conducting many lucrative investments, including “turnkey” projects. Since 2007, the business has been operating in close alliance with their French shareholder, Bouyges Batiment International. Their achievements have been duly recognized by the influential “...
Established in 1950, Giletta S.p.A has learnt, during many years of its existence, to increase its productivity in an exponential manner. Building on professionalism and experience gathered over the years, the company has achieved success. It has always maintained a direct relationship with its customers in order to be able to better understand and to satisfy their requirements in that it would offer industrialized but at the same time personalized products of high quality. In fact, characteristically for the company, it has always offered a wide range of products, diversified by high technology content and made in order to meet every requirement. These products include: salt spreaders, snow...
