Pioneering technology for precast manufacturing for 60 years

Still looking for unique, smart and efficient solutions for every application

The need for sustainable, efficient and safe structures around the world is the basis for Elematic's activities. In 60 years, the company has grown into a world leader in precast production technology, offering its solutions and services in more than 100 countries on six continents. Even today, the company is still fully committed to innovation, which was again evident at Concrete Day 2019, where Elematic unpacked some cutting-edge systems for the production of precast ceilings and walls.

Today's Elematic was founded in 1959 as Toijalan Teräsvalmiste (TTV) by the two brothers Pentti and Pauli Virtanen. Originally they continued their father's life's work as metalworkers, but they soon responded to the increasing demand for prefabricated products. After all, at that time, urbanization in Finland was high and therefore a fast and efficient way of building was required. As a result, prefabricated construction experienced steady growth. After producing systems for manufacturing facades and wall applications, they received their first major order in 1964. HAKA, a well-known Finnish construction company, then ordered a complete plant for the production of precast elements. It was the first of its kind with production lines equipped with moving molds and conveyor belt technology, immediately a major step forward in the industrialization of precast construction.

Thanks to the enormous growth in construction, Finnish companies developed technologies and know-how very quickly, which made them very competitive on the international market. The introduction of national standards for concrete elements also made their design and realization easier and faster. An important milestone was the development of systems for the production of elements with a hollow core, which allowed the production of longer and lighter pieces, which were typical for the realization of floors. TTV introduced the first such solution in 1971 with the Variax.

Elematic is an industry leader with manufacturing facilities in Finland and India and offices in the U.S., Germany, China, Russia, India and the United Arab Emirates.

Breakthrough abroad

At TTV, however, they knew that demand in Finland would not remain so great in the long run, so they began to look beyond the country's borders for potential markets. In 1966, the Elematic logo was introduced, and a year later the first products were exported to Sweden. In 1969 a branch was opened in Germany, but the biggest international breakthrough for the company, which in the meantime had been acquired by the Finnish company Paraisten Kalkki (later Partek), came in the mid-1970s with exports to Eastern Europe and especially the Middle East. The company became the market leader in production technology for precast concrete elements and hollow-core elements and also continued to invest in new developments and focus on new markets, for example in North America and Asia. Partek merged with the Finnish cement manufacturer Lohja in 1993 under the name Partek Concrete Engineering (PCE).

Innovation as a code word for growth

But at the beginning of this century, Elematic again became an independent company with production facilities in Finland and India and offices in the US, Germany, China, Russia, India and the United Arab Emirates. The continuous growth is a result of the drive for innovation and the focus on internationalization. Today, increasing urbanization around the world and the choice for more sustainability and safety in construction opens new opportunities for precast concrete element producers. Elematic, meanwhile, remains fully committed to the development and production of innovative, smart and efficient solutions. For example, during Concrete Day in Rotterdam, the company presented, among other things, new solutions for the production of precast ceilings and walls.