CPI – Concrete Plant International – 2 | 2013 www.cpi-worldwide.com50

NEWS

German Industrialized Construction: Over 35 years' experience, more than 300 engineers

With Gericon, an affiliation betweenPrilhofer Consulting and Zerna IngenieureGmbH, both located in Germany, one isable to draw on over 35 years' experienceof engineering and consulting in precastconcrete construction technology andindustrial production of buildings on refer-ence projects right around the globe. Morethan 300 engineers are engaged everyday in efficient, sustainable construction.

Anyone today who aims to meet theimmense demand for residential and com-mercial property quickly, affordably yet stillin high quality, will inevitably have to usean industrial method of construction.However, thinking that involves complex

processes and finely-tuned detailed solu-tions in constantly varying boundary con-straints must also be mastered - and this isoften underestimated. The art of engineer-ing planning is to anticipate every conceiv-able difficulty in the overall process ofindustrial construction. Only integratedplanning and consulting can guarantee theadvantages of industrialized construction.This must include the strategy, the feasibilitystudy, the design of the precast elementsand precast production plant, right throughto overall coordination and organisationalset-up.

„Precast is a system. Not a single machine.“

Gericon has devised a special principle forthis: 1. Modular service components alongthe entire process chain, 2. Consistent inte-

gration of local partners such as architects,city-planners or technical building servicesuppliers (HVAC), and 3. Ongoing consid-eration of local prevailing conditions. Allthis turns the complex "precast" system intoa clever, highly efficient method of construc-tion with enormous savings potential.

The Gericon principle: integrated services, excellent results

For each step of the process, Gericon offerscustom-made transparent, modular servicepackages which can be ordered separate-ly. This applies every bit as much for resi-dential as for commercial property, afford-able housing or up-market villas. A distinc-tion can be made between the three mainphases.

Gericon, Freilassing and Bochum, Germany

That it's not enough to simply set up a factory for precast concrete elements on a greenfield-site and start building, is a painful lessonlearned by many companies worldwide. Industrialized construction calls for an entirely new way of thinking: Precast is a complex system,not a solitary apparatus for constructing. Precast calls for 70% preparation and 30% implementation. GERICON sets about the task success-fully with a unique approach in the market place – integrated planning services from a single source. It extends from the initial idea throughto the design of prefab elements and prefab plant and up to the support during the execution of the construction work, including the neces-sary infrastructure. The result: prestigious references and immense potential savings.

Everything from a single source or: Think integrated!Only integrate planning can properly exploit theadvantages of industrialized construction

Affordable housing – Casas Geo/Mexico: Production of 40 houses in 1 day

Suburban Housing – Pruksa/Thailand: Production of 280 villas per month

02-news_38-61_en_Layout 1 07.03.13 12:15 Seite 50

NEWS

Three phases from the initial ideathrough to the finished building

In the first phase, the preliminary designphase, the foundations for project imple-mentation are laid by technical-commercialinvestigation of alternative options and fea-sibility studies. Besides the building archi-tecture, the designing of a suitable precastconstruction system and the associated pro-duction plant, urban planning analyses canalso be incorporated if necessary. In thesecond phase, there follow the actualalong with any infrastructural developmentthat may be needed. The third project

phase begins as soon as the productionplant has been put into operation. Gericonoffers the necessary consulting and super -

visory services for this, including the neces-sary transport logistics and training of per-sonnel.

Urban planning and architecture – the vision is transformed into a model

Project Phase I: Preliminary design, Creation of a project implementation studyTechnical and economical feasibility

Project Phase II: Detail design and preparation for construction

Project Phase III: Consulting for the execution of construction work

15.-21.4.2013Stand C1.412

02-news_38-61_en_Layout 1 07.03.13 12:16 Seite 51

CPI – Concrete Plant International – 2 | 2013 www.cpi-worldwide.com

NEWS

Trouble-free, fault-tolerant and fast

As a competent partner, Gericon supportsthe project developer from the initial idearight through to erection of the buildings. Theadvantages of the complex precast concretebuilding system can be fully exploited as aresult of the integrated approach. The totalplanning and construction processes are sig-nificantly easier to manage by Gericon, andare completed faster – with far less stress forthe building contractor. Precise preliminarydesign work and computer-assisted manufac-turing make this method of construction high-ly robust if any mistakes occur – a rapidresponse can be made to any changes, whilequality remains uniformly high. And above allelse, a considerable amount of time can besaved.

Efficiency improved by a factor of 4-5

Compared to in-situ concrete constructions,the industrialized method of constructionusing precast concrete elements improvesefficiency by a factor of around 4-5. Butalso compared to other precast concretefactories without external planning support,Gericon could improve productivity by upto 15% – very often a potential saving ofseveral million euros.

Custom-made for all types of buildings

The industrialized construction system is thefuture if a lot of residential or commercial

The design of innovative prefabricated building-systems maximizes the project success

Affordable Housing

Suburban housing

Stand C1.126

02-news_38-61_en_Layout 1 07.03.13 12:16 Seite 52

www.cpi-worldwide.com CPI – Concrete Plant International – 2 | 2013 53

NEWS

property of uniformly high quality needs tobe built quickly, economically and in a veryshort space of time.

Affordable Housing

The high degree of standardisation andcomputer-assisted production of prefabri-cated building units make it now possible tocreate sustainable and at the same timeaffordable top quality housing.

Suburban Housing

Suburbs can be developed fast and effi-ciently – with individual villas or with highquality apartments.

Urban Housing

High quality, future-safe housing is built inthe shortest time in very restricted spaceand with as little disturbance to nearby res-idents as possible.

Business Buildings

The highly efficient method of constructionallows fast and economical construction ofcommercial properties of any kind: officesand administration buildings, shoppingmalls, logistics buildings and warehouses,schools and hospitals etc.

Global experience, but local execution

References to Gericon's portfolio of servic-es are to be found worldwide. Their com-mercial success and efficiency is no acci-

dent: projects are clearly structured witheach process step transparent and compre-hensible, all interfaces including those toexternal partners are covered by Gericon,and detailed preliminary planning meansinvestment costs and schedules areadhered to.

Absolutely independent

This only works because Gericon isabsolutely independent and able to offerthe customer the optimal solution to suittheir specific boundary conditions.According to Gericon's partners and cus-tomers, this is the best route to convincing

results. Faster, more efficient and more suc-cessful for both sides. �

Urban housing Business buildings

Advantages of the industrialized building system of Gericon- Transparent module packages, can be ordered separately - The whole process from one source from the first step- State-of-the-art know-how, over 35 years' experience, more than 300 engineers- Customized strategy according to local conditions and partners - No architectural limitations, high quality of design- Flat learning curve in personal training- Long experience from different project, countries and climates

(from -50 °C up to +50 °C)- Increase of production efficiency up to 10 - 15 %*- Increase of plant output up to 12 – 16 % at the same amount of machines*- Reduction of investment costs – savings potential 5 – 15 % (= millions of euros

for only one plant! And easier contract negotiations with machine suppliers.)- Prestigious references worldwide such as: Samsung, Laing O’Rourke, Strabag,

Skanska, Casas Geo, PruksaFurther information about references: www.prilhofer.com

*In comparison with plants build without a consultant

FURTHER INFORMATION

Jana PrilhoferT +49 8654 69080j.prilhofer@gericon.euDr.-Ing. Ingo SpohrT +49 234 92041206i.spohr@gericon.euwww.gericon.eu

02-news_38-61_en_Layout 1 07.03.13 12:16 Seite 53