With decades of experience and sales in over 100 different AAC plants in 20 countries on 6 different continents, Aircrete Europe is the recognized global leading developer and manufacturer of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) machinery and technology for the production of AAC panels and blocks.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
AIRCRETE: We design and deliver the most innovative turn-key AAC plants and cutting-edge plant technology around the world. Being a long-term exclusive project partner, we guide our customers through all the steps of planning, building and operating an AAC factory. We are a full technology partner, not just a machine supplier. In addition to building turn-key plants, we have a profound experience with upgrading and refurbishing many different plant technologies.
E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?
AIRCRETE: Looking at 2021 and beyond, we expect highly automated, versatile and volume production of AAC panels will keep on driving the industry. Therefore, the demand for our recent innovative solutions for the reinforcement area automation, automatic mould door manipulators, thin panel production and plant control systems will keep on being on the rise.
Additionally, with the COVID–19 outbreak, remote and virtual solutions will be more imperative and important than ever before. This also applies to the AAC industry. Therefore, we have further optimized our existing AAC plant services under Stay Connected program. The program includes remote and virtual solutions such as Virtual Aircrete Plant Scan and Remote Equipment and Plant Commissioning services.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
AIRCRETE: Today, Aircrete Europe is the only global vertically integrated company with decades of tradition and expertise in developing AAC production technology and building applications for panels as well as blocks. Based on flat-cake technology and supported by vertically-integrated approach resulting from its involvement in own plants, Aircrete Europe has positioned itself as the most experienced production technology player for panels in the world, with strong operational know-how and capabilities.
Our organization constantly invests in innovation and process technology to optimize the AAC production process and product quality. A dedicated team of production managers, mechanics, operators, chemists, mechanical, electrical & software engineers as well as business developers is ready to share their in-depth expertise covering the entire AAC value chain. As a result, the Aircrete brand is globally recognized for quality and reliability.
In addition to building turn-key plants, we have a profound experience with upgrading and refurbishing many different plant technologies such as Hebel, Stema, Siporex, Durox, Ytong, other Tilt-Cake versions and other systems.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
AIRCRETE: Until very recently, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) was widely used in the construction industry mainly as a relatively simple wall building material like a commodity. The need and regulatory pressure for green, energy neutral buildings for residential housing and non-residential constructions is becoming stronger every day in many countries around the world. This requires a new generation construction method, or a building solution designed with pre-fab, modular AAC panels. Standard-sized panels of different use, such as floor panels, load-bearing wall panels, roof panels, partition panels, cladding panels and lintels are the elements of such an integrated building solution.
Anticipating this shift towards AAC panels, away from blocks, we have well positioned our technology to produce all the above mentioned AAC panels range in a single factory.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
AIRCRETE: “Sustainable building solutions” or “green buildings” are gaining more and more traction and importance in many countries through all layers of the society. It is not a trend spoken of in developed building markets like Europe, USA, and Japan anymore, but sustainable building has become a necessity on a global scale with countries like China, Argentina, Mexico, South Africa actively pursuing to build “greener” supported by regulatory changes to the local construction standards. The reality is that in several countries around the world, this modular Aircrete Building System using panels is already acquiring more market share successfully, for example, Japan, Australia, and even South East Asia and China are moving in the same direction of using AAC panels for modular applications.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
AIRCRETE: One of the most important innovations brought to the market by Aircrete Europe is the Flat-Cake cutting technology which allows for the production of the largest variety of AAC products (including thin panels) with high dimensional accuracy and SUPER SMOOTH surfaces to minimize finishing requirements. Aircrete Europe brand is widely recognized for its quality and exceptional finishing and – as a result – products from an Aircrete factory are sold against premium pricing.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?
AIRCRETE: In a changing global market where fast and efficient building becomes more and more important and where dealing with natural disasters like storms and earthquakes are a key part of the building design equation, we will keep on seeing a switch to using more innovative AAC products like panels instead of traditional blocks.
Producing AAC panels, however, requires a completely different mindset and approach of running a plant compared to blocks. Based on our Flat-Cake cutting technology and supported by our vertically-integrated approach resulting from our involvement in our own plants, we have positioned ourselves as the most experienced production technology player for AAC panels in the world, with strong operational know-how and capabilities for 2021 and beyond.