Business has been on the up in recent years at construction material producer Prefaco after several years of reduced economic activity. Formerly under the Echo banner, their plant in Houthalen-Helchteren produces hollow-core prestressed concrete slabs, always on demand and mainly for use in industrial buildings and warehouses.
“The business was at a low ebb during the crisis years when demand was low and competition fierce,” says the plant’s Technical Team Leader Ben Gysen. “But now we have very busy schedules again, producing 24/7 in a constant rush to deliver on what we promise.”
Longer slabs bring logistical challenges
Business has also changed a bit compared to the pre-crisis years. “There is an increasing demand for longer hollow-core slabs,” explains Gysen. “Back in 2010 we rarely needed to produce slabs of 12 metres or more, but for a few years now we’ve quite often been getting orders for long slabs up to 18 metres with thicknesses up to 40 centimetres.”
This evolution has brought about some logistical challenges. “In fact, we weren’t really equipped for handling these very long slabs. Previously, when we had to deal with such giants, we transported them using our two old portal cranes, but it was rather cumbersome, needing two operators and some special safety arrangements. Good for now and then, but not for every day.”