informissue 24 november 2012

THE MAGAZINE OF STRABAG SE

CONCRETELY CONCRETE THE FOuNdATION OF MOdERN CIvILISATION

ZuRICH: MY CITY THE FAvOuRITE pLACES OF STRABAG EMpLOYEES

THE TOWERS ARE dANCING SuCCESSFuL TEAMCONCEpT IN HAMBuRG

FOREWORD

DEAR EMPLOYEES, ASSOCIATES AND FRIENDS,

We belong together! So many new companies and so many new employees have joined our STRABAG team in the past few years. But it takes time for a sense of togetherness to develop. Let’s show the world that we’re a team! Our Swiss colleagues have already taken great steps internally in this direction. Starting next year, they will also send an external signal with a single-brand strategy that you can read more about on page 10 of this issue of Inform. And since we’re in the neighbourhood, they’ll show us their favourite places in Zurich (page 42).

Some of our other colleagues want to show you something, too, and help you while they’re at it: over 120 elected employee repre-sentatives are there for you when you need them. Find out more about how exactly they can help on page 31. Not so much on an individual as on a global level is where our timber construction or central technical employees see their contribution to improving our standard of living. Read more about green technologies (page 28) or how a quarry has agreed to barter with nature (page 4).

But you don’t have to start with a megaproject to change the world for the better. Start with small steps, perhaps with something in your area. Make a list of things under € 10 which could make work more fun for you and your co-workers. For example, our communi-cations colleague in Switzerland sent us chocolates to sweeten up our day. As you can see, the topic of food is very in with us right now. And in this issue of Inform. In our section “People at STRABAG”, we introduce you to some colleagues of yours who have devoted themselves to cooking and baking, which for them – after eating – is the most beautiful thing in the world.

Read more in this issue of Inform about what your colleagues have been doing at work or in private. Wishing you plenty of “spying” enjoyment,

Your Diana Neumüller-Klein

Diana Neumüller-Klein, Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

02

Foreword inform 24

CONTENTS

NEwS 04 GIVING BACK TO NATURE Corporate Social Responsibility 05 FIT FOR THE FUTURE Healthcare at STRABAG 06 EUROPE’S CITIES ARE GROWING Celebration time 08 DID YOU KNOW...? STRAkono 09 YOUNG EUROPEAN ART STRABAG Artaward International 2012 10 BECOMING STRONGER New single-brand strategy in Switzerland 11 5 QUESTIONS FOR... Interview 12 DIVERSE UNITY Career news

COVER STORY 15 CONCRETELY CONCRETE The foundation of modern civilisation

PEOPLE AT STRABAG 23 COOKING IT UP STRABAG employees in the spotlight

STRABAG uNITS 28 SUSTAINABLE BUILDING = BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Green technologies 30 CRANE SPECIALISTS AT WORK Crane assemblies in Austria 31 EMPLOYEE COUNSELLING AS A FULL-TIME JOB Full-time employee representatives

PROJECTS 32 THE TOWERS ARE DANCING Successful teamconcept in Hamburg 34 HIGH-TECH CANCER TREATMENT New therapy centre in Cracow 35 ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUILDING Timber construction in Switzerland 36 BRIDGING EUROPE Building bridges in Romania 38 140 YEARS MARGARET BRIDGE Bridge overhaul in Hungary 39 ALPINE AVALANCHE CONTROL Avalanche defence in Austria 40 FLOOD PROTECTION Building dams against high water

SPECIALS 42 ZURICH: MY CITY The favourite places of STRABAG employees 44 HOLLAND VS. SPAIN STRABAG goes on a company outing 47 SUDOKU Seeking the puzzle king

EVENTS 46 THE OLYMPIC GAMES AT STRABAG Sports events

03

www.strabag.com inform 24 Contents

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

GIVING BACK TO NATuRE

Animal observers on our construction sites are nothing

unusual, but these two stories are truly worth telling.

They bear witness to a special connection with nature

and the animal kingdom.

Austria/Germany. Dolomite has been mined from the quarry of Mineral Abbau GmbH in Gaaden, south of Vienna, since the 1970s. Today the extraction of material has already come to a close in a part of the area.

MORE THAN AN OBLIGATION

The quarry is located within the Vienna Woods protected land-scape, making land restoration and revegetation a legal obligation. “But for us, this obligation didn’t go far enough,” explains Andreas Mittermeir, division manager at the Gaaden quarry. A little more than a year ago, planning began on the restoration of the former mining

04

A new home for bats and beesThe oystercatcher has found its nest on our construction site (left).

area with the aim of providing a new home to various species of animal. Unlike had been done in the past, the focus here is more on full land restoration instead of just revegetation. Rather than creating “nature second-hand”, the restoration process should create the right conditions to allow nature to develop of its own accord, in a site-appropriate manner and with a high level of biodiversity. The goal is to restore an area with a total size of 180,000 m² over the coming years.

THE LIVING QuARRY

As part of the project, students from the technology-focused secondary school HTL Mödling made nests for the animal residents using different types of natural material. Bee hotels and bat boxes were placed in the former quarry in June 2012. Further measures discussed with the appropriate experts will be implemented at a later date. “The thought of giving something back to nature comes first,” says sub-division manager Erik Zechmann.

ANIMAL OBSERVERS

No amount of construction could keep a pair of oystercatchers from caring for their eggs in the middle of the construction site for the JadeWeserPort on the North Sea. Three young birds hatched out at the beginning of summer. After discovering the eggs in a sand pile, STRABAG workers carefully moved them to a quieter part of the site and fenced off the area. In the meantime, the young have already flown the nest. It is unsure whether they will return next year. Perhaps to check out the new harbour?

CONTACT: Andreas Mittermeir, International + Special Divisions, Group Division Building Materials 6V, Sub-Division Stone/Gravel AT/HU/HR/Balkans (RS)

CONTACT: Stefan Windhorst, North + West, Group Division Transportation Infrastructures Germany North 6I, Sub-Division Düsseldorf (DC)

News

News inform 24

HEALTHCARE AT STRABAG

FIT FOR THE FuTuRE

Within the daily work routine, it is easy to lose sight of the

employees’ physical and emotional needs. STRABAG,

Building Construction Upper Austria, responded by

launching the project “Fit for the Future: Maintaining

Work Fitness”.

Austria. Construction is physically strenuous work. STRABAG, Building Construction Upper Austria, in 2010 introduced BauFIT (a component of “Fit for the Future”), a programme of measures for ergonomic work on the construction site for industrial workers. The programme got its start during construction for the Linz Music Theatre, providing workers with exercise as well as tips for occupa-tional safety at the construction site. Site manager Daniel Zeller: “I was the first to start with this programme on a construction site and had mixed feelings at the time. But already that evening I received positive feedback. Several colleagues have said they can already notice a change. BauFIT was especially well received by people when done as a group.”

To ensure the aims of BauFIT in the long term, STRABAG trained internal BauFIT disseminators to observe their colleagues for proper working techniques and to provide assistance if needed. The programme is now being carried out nationwide in Austria. “The physical exercise of work alone is not enough to maintain work fitness. The actions from the ‘Fit for the Future’ programme offer a basis for a successful and healthy future for our employees,” believes Jürgen Bänsch, STRABAG health and safety expert and internal project coordinator of “Fit for the Future”.

ADMINISTRATIVE FITNESS

Of course we haven’t forgotten about our office workers. The programme also helps to prevent stress from long hours at the

05

The wrong way and the right way to lift heavy objects

monitor, working under deadlines or poor eating habits. An external expert helped to reposition and adjust the desks and office chairs and showed employees a number of preventive relaxation and stretching exercises.

Sub-division manager Johann Schmatzer is pleased by the increasing health consciousness and wants to continue along the same path: “It is important for us that such campaigns have a lasting effect, as we are concerned about the health of our workers. The company invests in this initiative and profits from the health of its employees – everyone gets something out of it!”

CONTACT: Jürgen Bänsch, Service Companies, Central Division TPA, Sub-Division Austria/Adriatic (04)

Info + +

Other initiatives related to “Fit for the Future” include: health days, work ability coaching, clothes drying facilities on large construction sites, exercise using the staircase as a fitness studio, nutrition workshops and spinal screenings.

In brief + +

Züblin officially opens new company building in Karlsruhe The Karlsruhe sub-division on 18 July 2012 celebrated the official opening of its new office building in Karlsruhe. The seven-storey building creates room for the more than 160 employees from the sub-division and from other STRABAG group companies.

Tunnelling contract at world’s largest copper mine On 10 July 2012, STRABAG was awarded the contract for a new tunnelling project at the world’s largest copper mine in the Chilean desert. The contract is worth € 100 million. Working with a local partner, STRABAG is building several tunnels to improve the infrastructure of the Chilean copper mine.

News

inform 24 Newswww.strabag.com

CAPITAL MARKET COMPLIANCE

MISuSE OF INSIDER INFORMATION FOR-BIDDEN!

International. Capital market compliance – behind this somewhat cumbersome word lie some important rules for all employees within the STRABAG Group.

Shares of STRABAG SE are traded on the Vienna Stock Exchange. Companies listed on the stock market in Austria are required to regularly instruct their employees that it is illegal to misuse insider information. Insider information is understood as confidential company information, knowledge of which could considerably influence the price of STRABAG SE shares. It is not allowed to use insider information for purposes of stock market speculation. This prohibition is designed to protect investors and to create fairness on the capital market.

The misuse of insider information is a punishable offence that carries a possible prison sentence of up to five years. Even if the insider information is not used for personal advantage, it is a crime to pass it on to others. The offending employee may also face disciplinary measures.

Example: while working on the annual report, an employee learns in advance of an especially high net profit. It is not permitted to use this information to buy STRABAG shares, which would likely gain considerably in value following the report’s publi-cation.

STRABAG SE has put together a set of compli-ance guidelines, available in the STRAnet, to help employees in their dealings with insider information. KONZERN > Managementsystem > STRABAG Compliance Richtlinie.

CONTACT: Mario Grossegger, Service Companies, Central Staff Division CLS

NEwS

06

CELEBRATION TIME

EuROPE’S CITIES ARE GROwING

STRABAG and Raiffeisen have a lot in common. The

working relationship as client and contractor has already

yielded a number of projects that have been crowned

with success. In Vienna, Bucharest and Moscow, the two

companies recently celebrated the completion of three

joint projects.

International. In Austria, a “Gleichenfeier” is held to mark the completion of a building’s main structure. This Austrian topping-out tradition was celebrated in Vienna, Bucharest and Moscow.

wORLD’S FIRST PASSIVHAuS OFFICE IN VIENNA

The celebration in Vienna took place on 24 July 2012 following completion of the main structure of the new 77 m Raiffeisen annex after just nine months of construction. The topping-out ceremony was attended by the management of client Raiffeisen as well as by STRABAG SE management board members Thomas Birtel, Peter Krammer and Siegfried Wanker. The clients thanked the entire con-struction team for their dedication and commitment.

Construction of the new Raiffeisen building along Vienna’s Danube Canal involved filling an especially difficult space between

Proud: SE management board member Thomas Birtel and apprentice Ivan Baotic at the topping out for the Raiffeisen building in Vienna

the existing buildings. The foundation and earthworks construction proved extremely complicated given the proximity to two shallow foundation high-rise buildings and the requirement for a 6-level underground car park. Various improvements led to a reduction of the originally planned construction time from seven days per level to five, helping to meet the tight schedule requirements. Thanks to the enormous dedication of all involved, it was also possible to achieve pre-certification as the world’s first PassivHaus standard office build-ing from the Austrian Institute for Building Biology and Building Ecology.

BuCHAREST’S TALLEST HIGH-RISE BuILDING

The economic crisis had put the Floreasca City Center (FCC) project in Bucharest on shaky ground. Following entry of Raiffeisen

Property Holding International (RPHI) as an investor in the two com-ponent projects FCC Sky Tower and Office, and thanks to the good working relationship with STRABAG, the project got underway in 2011. The main structure of the FCC Sky Tower was completed on time in May/June 2012, cause for all involved to celebrate this success with a traditional topping out in Bucharest on 28 June 2012. The management of STRABAG, Raiffeisen Property Holding International and Raiffeisen Evolution were on hand to personally extend their thanks to the approximately 800 workers.

The FCC project consists of three building components: the FCC Sky Tower and Office as well as the Promenada Mall. With a height of 137 m, the Sky Tower is the highest tower in Bucharest. The building has a gross floor space of approx. 77,000 m². The tower was built in the record time of just over one year (5-6 days per standard floor) using 11,000 t of reinforcement steel and 49,200 m³ of con-crete. Raiffeisenbank Romania has already been signed as a future tenant for the office buildings and for six floors of the FCC Sky Tower.

MODERN BuILDING IN MOSCOw

Another STRABAG project in a European capital got underway at the end of 2010: the construction of a hotel and office building for Raiffeisen Evolution in Moscow. The topping-out ceremony was held on 4 June 2012. The construction team spent a long time looking forward to this special celebration, which was held strictly according to Austrian tradition. Even the Russian colleagues wore traditional Austrian dress, a tree was placed on top of the roof and a traditional carpenter’s saying was recited in German and in Russian:

‘Tis time to celebrate the work behind us,The workman rests his skilful hand.Hard days of toil they lie behind us,The tree stands proudly o’er the land.

The modern office building with adjoining hotel offers enough room with 16,000 m² of office and hotel space and features an impressive gallery extending from the ground floor to the second level.

CONTACT: Robert Gipfl, South + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Austria 3C, Sub-Division Vienna (AP)

CONTACT: Adolf Steiner, South + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Europe 3H,Sub-Division Romania/Bulgaria/Moldova (NT)

CONTACT: Andre Karkossa, South + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering RANC 3L, Sub-Division Caspian (NP)

Construction of the Floreasca City Center in the Romanian capital of Bucharest is proceeding at a brisk pace.

A unique sight: the topping-out ceremony in Moscow in traditional Austrian dress

07

News

inform 24 Newswww.strabag.com

International. Did you know that our tunnelling staff had to spend more than 500 hours researching general company infor-mation for a tender in the pre-bidding phase because the client had requested the information? This case is not unusual within the group.

Folders with perfectly organised information are often neatly filed away in office cabinets or on shared directories with access limited to a restricted group of users. This is supposed to change.

KNOwLEDGE MANAGEMENT @ STRABAG

Rising competition and innovative pressure, as well as our growing internationalisation, make it necessary to improve the dis-tribution of company knowledge to multiple locations and to provide greater ease of access to these resources. In May of this year, the management board of STRABAG SE resolved to introduce knowledge management across the entire group in order to facilitate the process of information retrieval. STRABAG sees knowledge manage-ment as an integrated process that touches on corporate culture, organisation and tools. Marc Pühringer was nominated Group Knowledge Manager to coordinate the introduction of the various knowledge management measures.

CENTRAL SEARCH

Besides testing an internal communications platform, preparing employee profiles, and identifying knowledge and information, an important first step on the way towards an improved information flow was to set up a central search function. Starting in Q4 2012, a STRAnet search function will allow employees to search the STRAnet database and the Lotus Notes phonebook using Google technology. “Users will find the desired information more quickly and receive a clearer presentation of the search results,” explains Marc Pühringer. In the future, the central search function will allow users to search even more databases in addition to the STRAnet and the Lotus Notes phonebook.

CONTACT: Marc Pühringer, Service Companies, Central Staff Division Contract Management

STRAKONO

DID YOu KNOw...?

Have you ever wondered how much time you spend

every week looking for information or contacts within

the group? Our knowledge management can help you

in your search.

“Long-term success requires a more open culture and more transparency. Only shared knowledge is valuable knowledge.” Marc Pühringer, Group Knowledge Manager

Instruments of knowledge management

08

News

News inform 24

the majority of artists, was surpassed by those from Poland: 340 artists from Poland, 252 from Austria, 176 from Romania and 137 from Russia presented their works to be shortlisted. After several weeks of deliberation by the seven-member jury of experts repre-senting all four participating countries, 78 artists were invited to the final selection in April 2012. Three original works per artist, from the various disciplines of painting, mixed technique and drawing, were collected in the STRABAG headquarters in Warsaw (Pruszkow), Bucharest and Moscow and transported to Vienna. The jury was thus presented with 234 works of art to judge in the art lounge at the STRABAG House in Vienna. “The extensive organisation of the contest required more than six months of hard work, but working together with the artists is always a new and exciting challenge,” says Tanja Skorepa of the STRABAG Art Forum.

THE JuRY DECIDES

Five especially talented artists emerged out of this enormous diversity of applicants: Tomek Baran from Poland, Svenja Deininger from Austria, Egor Koshelev from Russia as well as Maxim Liulca and Tara von Neudorf from Romania.

In the end, Svenja Deininger from Austria was selected prize winner of the STRABAG Art Award International 2012 at the official awards ceremony in June 2012. Hans Peter Haselsteiner, CEO of STRABAG SE, presented the coveted award to the happy winner. The four other nominees received a complimentary award.

CONTACT: Wilhelm Weiss/Tanja Skorepa/Barbara Baum, STRABAG Art Forum

Austria. Founded in the early 1990s, the STRABAG Art Forum has successfully organised the STRABAG Art Award for the past 15 years. 2012 marked the fourth announcement of the STRABAG Art Award International. The list of participating nations was changed three years after the last international award, with Poland, Romania and Russia taking the place of Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Austria, as home to STRABAG’s group headquarters, remains a permanent participant. Rotating the list of participating countries every three years lends the award an enormous sense of dynamism and suspense. “As in the past, the exciting insight into Europe’s young art scene, with a variety of different exhibitions from the new prize winners, will be sure to enrich the STRABAG Art Forum programme,” says Barbara Baum, artistic director of the STRABAG Art Forum.

NEw RECORD NuMBER OF APPLICANTS

More than 900 artists submitted their portfolio for consideration. The Art Award’s great renown meant that the list of Austrian applicants included many artists who had already applied in previous years. This year the number of applications from Austria, which usually represents

STRABAG ART AWARD INTERNATIONAL 2012

YOuNG EuROPEAN ART

The fourth presentation of the STRABAG Art Award

International took place in June 2012 at STRABAG’s Donau

City location in Vienna. The interest among participating

artists was higher than ever before, with more than

900 applicants. This was the first time that young artists

from Poland, Romania and Russia were allowed to apply in

addition to applicants from permanent participant Austria.

STRABAG Art Award International: The 2012 prize-winning artists together with the Art Award team

Hans Peter Haselsteiner presents the coveted Art Award.

News

inform 24 Newswww.strabag.com

NEW SINGLE-BRAND STRATEGY IN SWITZERLAND

BECOMING STRONGER

Beginning in 2013, the group will do business on the Swiss

market under the single brand name STRABAG. Such

an important strategic step also requires the right com-

munication. On 15 June 2012, our Swiss colleagues were

personally informed of the new single-brand strategy.

Switzerland. The name of the project, “Crescendo”, comes from the world of music and means “becoming stronger”. To avoid a “decrescendo”, it is important to be serious about realising the jointly agreed principles, Eduard Dusek, the technical division manager, explained to the Swiss colleagues. He presented the new strategy together with his colleagues Franz Urban, commercial division manager, Peter Murer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of STRABAG Switzerland, and Reinhard Kerschner, technical sub-division manager and the integration representative in Switzerland.

In his presentation, Eduard Dusek pointed out all that has already been achieved. Under the project name of “Crescendo”, the year 2011 was used to learn more about the newly acquired

companies Astrada and Brunner Erben and to get to know each other better. “To be successful, everyone needs familiarity and recognition,” he went on to say. “And just like a family, we also need a common name.” That is an important step towards a common identity.

Peter Murer stressed: “The challenges today and in the near future are so diverse that we will only be able to deal with them together. I therefore ask you all to support our strategy decision.” A friendly chuckle went through the audience as Franz Urban attempted a Swiss “Grüezi” before focusing on STRABAG’s most important three values: quality, sustainability and integration.

Reinhard Kerschner had a personal story to tell: “My Swiss colleagues pointed out to me that our construction sites often looked like the Bourbaki army. As an Austrian, I had no idea what they were talking about since I didn’t know who that was,” he admitted. Charles Denis Bourbaki was the commander of the French Army of the East during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. After several devastating defeats, he and 87,000 hungry and freez-ing soldiers received asylum in Switzerland. “The reference alludes to our brand diversity, which often makes us appear very motley and non-uniform. To change this image required hundreds of different activities. The most difficult part, however, takes place in our heads.”

CONTACT: Carina Leopold, South + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Austria/Switzer-land 3B, Sub-Division Techn. Staff Divisions CH (BN)

10

Info + +

Employee opinions on the new single-brand strategy in Switzerland.

What do you think employees can do to contribute to the new single-brand strategy?“600 years ago, we drove the Habsburgs out of Switzerland – and now they’re back! So we may as well let them in.” Walter Wyssling (Technical Group Manager Ground Engi-neering and about 15 years at Brunner Erben AG)

What does it mean for STRABAG that the other companies will soon have the same name? “We’ve already been playing on the same team; we just haven’t had the same jerseys on.” Roger Stehli (Technical Group Manager Civil Engineering and 5 years at STRABAG AG)

Today you are being informed internally. At a later date, we will also inform the public as well as our clients and business partners. How do you think they will react? “I’m sure they will take the news positively. After all, it makes things easier for them.” Dominik Berger (around 9 years as construction foreman at Astrada AG)

News

News inform 24

Fritz Oberlerchner is director of the STRABAG 2013ff task force.

Profile of Ing. Fritz Oberlerchner BORN 16 June 1948

GRADUATED1968 HTL Hochbau in Villach

1971 joined the STRABAG Group(ASPHALTBAU Ges.m.b.H.)

FROM 1994 member of the STRABAG group management board

MOTTO FOR LIFE Live and let live

You’ve been with the company since 1971 – what are the most important milestones of your career?I began as a building construction engineer at a small building firm in Carinthia. In March 1971, I was presented with the opportunity of switching to road construction. Günter Kerner brought me to Lower Austria to work at ASPHALTBAU. I went to Hungary in 1989, Cologne in 1998, and I have in Vienna in since 2008 – I’ve remained a road builder all this time.

What was your biggest challenge?That was in July 1989. The iron curtain still divided Europe into East and West. We had just purchased the state-owned Hungarian company Magyar Aszfalt. I quickly learned what it means to come from the comfort of the familiar and work in a foreign country. Hungary was the first Eastern Bloc country to move away from a planned economy, privatise businesses and begin the transformation towards a social market economy. There was an enormous spirit of optimism and immense business opportunities. Unfortunately, the Hungarian economy recently took another turn for the worse.

Is there still something new for you to discover in the company?On a professional level, there is little I don’t know. But I am still sur-prised on a daily basis how differently we (our employees) think and work – and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a man or a woman, young or old, Austrian, German or Hungarian…

Are there concrete plans as to the direction in which a restruc-turing of STRABAG should go?My assignment is completely open-ended. All constellations are possible for now and should be openly assessed. Our goal is to find a business model that brings long-term results.

In this issue of Inform we introduce readers to a number of employees who like to cook. What is your favourite food? Do you like to cook?The kitchen is the domain of my wife, and I can’t compete with her there. My favourite food is Carinthian cheese noodles, which are a bit like ravioli. Of course, my wife’s taste the best.

Thank you for the interview!

INTERVIEW

5 QuESTIONS FOR...

Fritz Oberlerchner resigned from the management board

of STRABAG SE on 30 June 2012 to accept a new challenge

as director of the STRABAG 2013ff task force. The task

force will analyse the group’s organisational structure.

Inform met with Fritz Oberlerchner for an interview.

inform 24 Newswww.strabag.com

11

NEwS

Austria. Christoph Lagger dropped out of school at 16: earning money seemed more important to him than learning. He applied for one of the first IT apprenticeship programmes and was chosen as one of 12 trainees. The programme required that he do a period of practical training at a company, and BRVZ-IT in Spittal /Drau offered him a chance to do just that.

Working with computers interests the young software engineer enormously, something which does not go unnoticed by his employer. BRVZ offers him the chance to do his apprenticeship exclusively with the company, and he completes his training in 2004. “That’s when I thought that I have to deepen my knowledge,” says Christoph Lagger. He begins by catching up on his school-leaving certificate, which he obtains in 2005.

Eager to learn more, he stills his thirst for knowl-edge by studying informatics at the University of Klagenfurt. To write his master’s thesis, he even spends five months working as a research assistant in Florida. “Doing research in a foreign country is a truly special experience. It was a big step and I would do it again!” Christoph earned his master’s degree in March 2012.

Twelve years of continuing education and no end in sight

CAREER NEWS

DIVERSE uNITY

Our buildings and structures are not the only things that

are unique and complex – so are the people who work

for us. Our employees come from all over the world,

speak all sorts of different languages, and work on

a variety of different projects, yet they are all connected

through STRABAG.

An international working environment, a diversity of

opportunities, and attractive conditions: STRABAG strives

to offer its employees a wide range of opportunities for

personal and professional development. This diversity

forms the basis of our business success.

“I have worked with people of many different nationalities, and my experiences have always been extremely positive, interest-ing and truly enriching.”

Ilknur Ozmen (39), a native of Turkey, studied at the Technical University in Ankara. In 1996, she began her career as a construc-tion planner, working on construction sites all over Turkey. A project in 2006 took her to Qatar. In 2009, she was hired to work on the construction of the expressway to the Tripoli Airport for STRABAG Libya. Ilknur is currently working on the A15 PPP project as technical onsite manager in the Netherlands.

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING

FROM SCHOOL DROPOuT TO SCHOLAR

NEwS CAREER

News inform 24

12

“My goal for the future is to use my knowledge when working on important structures abroad.”

Marton Györffy (29) was born in Budapest. Right after finishing his studies, the young site engineer got a job working on the Buda-pest Metro. During this time, he also completed an additional aca-demic education in tunnelling. Marton taught himself German and English speaking with his colleagues. Since February 2012, the ambitious young engineer has been working for STRABAG in India on the Rohtang Tunnel project.

“Believe; that is all you have to do.”

Nabeel Khokhar (43) was born in Pakistan. He went to school in England until his family moved to Hong Kong when he was 13. He returned to England to study before gaining his first professional experience in construction dispute resolution in Hong Kong. In 2001, Nabeel joined Züblin International in Lebanon, where he worked on the construction of the Lebanese University. Due to the political situ-ation in the country, he went to Stuttgart in 2006. In 2010, Nabeel was appointed managing director of CLS Construction Legal Ser-vices and head of CLS’s international legal department in Vienna, where he still works today.

Peter Fabo (46) grew up in Slovakia. He studied technical operation of telecommunications at the University of Transport and Communications. Since graduating in 1990, Peter can look back on many years of professional experience in the field of telecom-munications. The engineer joined the STRABAG Group in 2008 with the acquisition of Slovakia-based DeTeImmobilien by STRABAG PFS. In 2012, he received the opportunity to work abroad. Today, Peter works as site engineer for the data centres of STRABAG in the Netherlands.

“Working in Russia was an extremely valuable experience. I participated in some impressive projects and got to know more about a truly fantastic country.”

Siniša Neškovic (34) is originally from Serbia but grew up in Germany. After his studies in construction engineering and business in Stuttgart, he started working for Züblin South-East Europe. In 2007, Siniša was sent to the Moscow sub-division, where he worked in-house as well as with the site management for large-scale projects including the Sky Fort residential complex in Moscow and the sheet steel rolling mill in Vyksa. He came back to Germany in March 2012, where he now is site manager for Milaneo Center Stuttgart.

“Important for me are dependability, openness, ambi-tion and a willingness to learn. It doesn’t matter where a person is from.”

CAREER NEwS

13

inform 24 Newswww.strabag.com

THE FOUNDATION OF MODERN CIVILISATION

CONCRETELY CONCRETE

Thousands of people work with concrete every day,

producing, processing, investigating or researching this

universal material. Whether exposed concrete, wet

concrete, high-tech concrete, shotcrete or standard

concrete, STRABAG uses the material to build structures

of all sizes – both above and below ground.

International. “Opus caementicium” was the name for a con-crete-like material used for centuries by the Romans. But knowledge of this binding substance, which stabilised temples, aqueducts, arenas and houses where people could go about their business protected from the elements, goes back even further than that: as early as 14,000 years ago, craftsmen in Asia Minor used mortar made of burnt lime to set stones. Concrete is not only long-lasting, it also makes it possible to build bigger and more challenging struc-tures. Even today, more than 1,700 years later, the Pantheon in Rome still leads the list of the world’s largest unreinforced concrete domes.

Many different compositions of concrete exist depending on the quality requirements and the scope of application. These are devel-oped in our own research laboratories before they are applied by specialists on site. Hundreds of people are busy in our laboratories, working closely together with the on-site staff, to find the best solu-tion for what often are quite exceptional structures.

In order to carry out projects more efficiently while delivering a higher level of quality, STRABAG invested € 15 million in research and development in the 2011 financial year. The competence centres of our Central Technical Department (ZT) and our TPA Company for Quality Assurance and Innovation (TPA) give us con-stant access to internal experts.

inform 24 Cover Story

15

The Drautalperle aquatic centre in Spittal /Drau: STRABAG not only built the striking reinforced concrete façade, but also delivered the materials itself.

MATERIALSCover Story inform 24

Concrete is characterised by its diversity and simplicity.

THE CONCRETE FACTS

Because of its durability and longevity, concrete has relatively low lifecycle costs. It protects against noise, damp, heat, cold and fire. It is considered a short-distance material because it can be pro-duced locally, is recyclable and energy-efficient, and can be used as an active heat accumulator or cooling element.

CONCRETE DESIGN

Still, as everyone knows, concrete does not exactly enjoy the best reputation. Derogative word creations such as “concrete block” or “concrete jungle” clearly highlight the poor image of the mate-rial.

But concrete can be so much more than cold, smooth and grey. It can open up undreamt-of dimensions in the world of design. In the hands of an artist, concrete becomes a material of creativity shaped into new forms. Its wide range of possible application makes it a favourite among artists and architects alike. Increasingly, concrete is not hidden away from sight, but, on the contrary, is openly pre-sented as an element of style. Kitchens, cabinets, seating furniture are designed, poured, polished and coloured – even small elements such as vases and clocks.

As simple as concrete is in its original composition, it is incredibly varied as to its inner qualities and outer appearance: lean or massive, high-tech or standard – there are no limits to the possibilities.

RESEARCH FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The impact of CO2 emissions on our climate is an important contemporary issue and a problem to which STRABAG, as a con-struction company, has decided to take a responsible approach.

As part of its focus on the reduction of CO2 emissions during the production of concrete, STRABAG is looking to address the call for an environmentally neutral construction material on the one hand while maintaining quality on the other. “Special attention must be given to maintaining the performance of concrete, e.g. in terms of its early strength or curing sensitivity,” explains Marcus Walz of TPA, Concrete Technology International.

Using more additives can help reduce the amount of CO2 emis-sions. Approximately 10 % of concrete consists of binder. The main binding agent during the 20th century was Portland cement, the production of which involves a high level of carbon emissions.

16

HISTORY

MILESTONES IN CON-CRETE DEVELOPMENT

1st century ADConcrete gains its breakthrough. The Romans, recognising the enormous opportunities which this material makes possible, built domes, arches, bridges… structures which do not fail to amaze us to the present day.

2nd century ADConstruction of the Pantheon in Rome. Up to the year 1913, the Pantheon holds the record as the world’s largest concrete dome, with an interior diameter of 43 m.

1824The process to manufacture Portland cement is patented.

1845The first precast concrete elements are made in Germany.

1867French gardener Josef Monier patents his rein-forced horticultural troughs, marking the origins of the principle of reinforced concrete.

1890The invention of prestressed concrete, a variant of reinforced concrete, by German engineer C. F. W. Döhring, makes it possible to build concrete struc-tures capable of supporting even higher loads.

1902The world’s first iron-reinforced concrete sky-scraper is built in the US (16-storey Ingalls Build-ing, Cincinnati, iron-reinforced concrete frame).

1903Ready-mixed concrete is patented, making it possible to transport concrete over longer dis-tances. But it is not until after World War II, with advances in transport vehicles, that ready-mixed concrete gains its breakthrough.

1968Regulated set cement is patented in the US.

…many more developments are sure to follow.

MATERIALS

The recipe for concrete is quite simple, with all the basic ingredients found plentifully in nature: limestone, clay, sand, gravel and water.

The necessary raw materials are mined at one of 187 group-owned stone quarries and gravel pits in Central and Eastern Europe. In this way, the STRABAG Group can cover up to one third of its stone and gravel needs itself.

What is concrete? REC

IPE

As this does not fit with STRABAG’s ecological principles, we are pursuing the development of new production processes for binding agents with lower CO2 emissions.

ENSuRING PROPRIETARY SuPPLY

A long-term company goal is to produce all of the materials required for proprietary construction ourselves in order to increase our independence from external suppliers, prices and fluctuating quality.

The construction of buildings and structures of different types, designs and of the highest quality requires the availability of the necessary construction materials in the required amounts and composition. At best, these should be available regionally. For this reason, STRABAG currently operates 177 concrete mixing facilities in Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania, Switzer-land, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. These concrete production sites produce concrete within the group for large con-struction sites as well as for private buyers – of the best quality, in the desired amount and adapted to fit the specific requirements of the job.

In 2011, some 4.6 million m³ of concrete were produced within the group, half of it in Poland, Germany and Hungary. In the same period, STRABAG and its subsidiaries used the enormous amount of 5.81 million m³. There are plans to cover an even greater share of the need with proprietary resources. Our asphalt production serves as an example, with a degree of proprietary coverage of 83 %. Con-crete also plays an important role in today’s transportation infra-structures segment.

But the basic ingredients are not the only thing of impor-tance; the composition matters as well. When making cement from limestone and clay, the right preparation of the materials and the production process are decisive factors determining the quality of the end product. By adding water, the cement binds the aggregate, hardens and becomes the stronger material known as concrete.

177 group-owned facilities guarantee our concrete supply

17

inform 24 Cover Story www.strabag.com

INNOVATIONCover Story inform 24

The little-known, environmentally friendly side of concrete: energy storage for solar and wind energy.

ENERGY FROM CONCRETE

Sun and wind are the inexhaustible energy sources of the future. One problem with solar, wind and photovoltaic systems, however, has been the unsolved question of how to store excess energy. Our Central Technical Department (ZT), working together with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and TPA’s Concrete Technology International division, has developed an efficient thermal energy storage system using concrete as its basis.

The high-temperature thermal energy storage system for power plants with solar direct evaporation stores the energy from the super-heated steam in concrete to allow power generation even at night. To test the efficiency of the system under real conditions, a test facility was opened in March 2011 in Carboneras, Spain. The construction of the thermal energy storage system was carried out under supervi-sion by TPA.

The goal of the project is to increase the energy conversion efficiency of solar power plants, come up with a storage material for temperatures of up to 500°C and develop a constitutive equation as a model for the thermal and mechanical damage to the concrete during temperature load cycles.

18

ZEN

TRA

LE T

ECH

NIK

In the past, innovative thinking and innovative practice did not appear to be compatible with the construction sector; research and development were the reserve of other branches of industry. But remaining competitive in the construction sector also requires a wide range of technologies and know-how, something which the group has access to thanks to its large number of experts and specialists. Our Zentrale Technik (Central Technical Department) employs more than 600 employees. As

an internal competence centre, Zentrale Technik pursues the goal of expanding the company’s competitive advantage through technically and qualitatively challenging as well as resource-friendly solutions.

Innovative research

Using concrete to store thermal energy

INNOVATIONThe use of concrete at high temperatures affects quality, it is

dangerous and uneconomic.

COOL CONCRETE IN THE DESERT

It is a well-known fact that concrete cracks at high tempera-tures. Not so well-known is that our Mobil Baustoffe subsidiary (Sub-Division RD) has found an efficient solution.

Concrete curing is a chemical reaction between cement and water. This process releases heat. If exterior temperatures are high enough, curing can generate dangerous exothermic heat and, during the cooling process, result in large – and therefore critical – cracks. Preventing this from happening often requires the use of highly inefficient and energy-intensive equipment.

“We have developed a cooling system that can very effectively cool the coarse aggregate in a water bath,” explains Rudolf Kauper, RD sub-division manager and managing director of Mobil Baustoffe. “Nearly all concrete qualities are improved as a result, the consist-ency is more even and additives have a better effect: an improve-ment all along the line.”

This cooling system was initially developed for the market requirements in Qatar. There the system was even made ready for mass production and was used on the construction site for the Ras Laffan port facility.

The system is ideal for all regions in which concrete must be effec-tively cooled. For many large projects, cooling with this system would be the more economic alternative to conventional procedures.

MO

BIL

BA

uST

OFF

E

Always and everywhere The processing conditions of concrete make it desirable to

produce the material on site. Mobil Baustoffe is a specialist in regional concrete production for large construction sites. Always adapted to meet the specific needs of a project, Mobil Baustoffe develops optimal mixing facilities with the right logistic concepts. It sets up and operates the necessary facilities according to the required quality and amount directly on site and handles the full disassembly once construction is over.

The experts at Mobil Baustoffe also serve as consultants for all aspects related to concrete, from the tendering phase through construction all the way to structural maintenance.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxMobil Baustoffe works with concrete in desert regions.

inform 24 Cover Story

19

www.strabag.com

RESEARCHCover Story inform 24

20

TPA analysed and calculated the optimal concreting conditions using finite element programs.

MATHEMATICALLY CORRECT

Storm tides regularly threaten the coast of Northern Europe. Especially at risk are the extensive coastal plains, which reach far into the hinterland and are inadequately protected against the unstoppable masses of water. The flat areas along the Baltic coast are among the most vulnerable regions. The existing flood protec-tion facilities are not enough to properly protect the nearby city of Greifswald from extreme storm tides. The Greifswald-Wieck flood barrier opposes the water masses during storm tides.

A unique aspect of its construction was the use of finite element programs: the calculations and analyses allowed TPA, Concrete Technology International, to use simulations of non-steady-state temperature fields to show under which conditions (weather, the temperature of freshly mixed concrete, etc.) the required values for the optimal use of concrete can be maintained. The process also allowed for the documentation of the effects of cooling the construc-tion elements in case of a worst-case scenario of high air tempera-tures and high concrete temperatures.

Using these simulations makes it possible to optimally adapt the concreting time and implementation to the weather conditions. These analyses yielded enormous cost savings.

TPA

Our TPA Gesellschaft für Qualitätssicherung und Innovation (TPA Company for Quality Assurance and Innovation) offers a very extensive range of services. It all begins with informational consul-tation for our operating units concerning concrete technology at all phases of our work. But TPA also assists in procurement and develops “tailor-made” concrete recipes when needed. Addition-ally, TPA handles quality assurance during concrete production as well as materials receiving inspection at the construction sites.

TPA’s research is extremely broad and covers everything from numerical procedures such as lifespan measurements, quality forecasts or the simulation of non-steady-state tempera-ture and tension fields to the production of special concrete for building construction, civil engineering and tunnelling, the devel-opment of special test procedures, as well as areas of applica-tion in which the unique properties of concrete are optimally used.

Technology of the future

Flood barrier on the Baltic coast: protection from high water

RESEARCHinform 24 Cover Story

21

STRABAG, together with the Graz University of Technology, developed state-of-the-art concrete structures using high-perfor-mance and ultra-high-performance concrete.

uLTRA-LIGHT YET STABLE

Wildbrücke bridge seamlessly integrates itself into the land-scape near Völkermarkt, with no heavy concrete pillars to disturb the natural harmony of the place – made possible thanks to a world pre-miere that was tested here for the first time.

The 157 m long bridge is the world’s first arch bridge of its size built using a new and innovative concrete construction material known as ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). While conventional concrete consists of cement, water and aggregate, UHPFRC is made by mixing several different components together to form a light-weight concrete. The addition of steel fibres not only gives this concrete a particularly high compressive strength, but it can also absorb high tensile forces. Structures made using UHPC are at least five times as durable as those made using standard con-crete. This can help cut maintenance costs in half while clearly extend-ing the lifespan of the bridge.

Wildbrücke bridge was planned and built as part of a research project to test the use of ultra-high-performance concrete and its profitability in practice. The use of UHPC made it possible to prefab-ricate many of the structural components with a significantly higher degree of precision regardless of temperature and weather condi-tions and, thanks to their lower weight, to transport them more economically to the construction site. The bridge was built by Sub-Division IE, Civil Engineering Austria West.

Torsten Göpfert is the group expert for concrete technology. “Mister Concrete”, as he is affection-ately known, is often called in to help when diffi-cult problems arise or innovative and economical concepts are needed.

Concrete has been around for centuries. In what areas can research even help anymore?Thanks to the experiences of the last century, the rulebooks are full of very good descriptions regarding the minimum requirements for concrete composition. However, these requirements are based mainly on experiences with Portland cement. Because of the high levels of CO2 emis-sions involved with Portland cement, tomorrow’s concrete must be produced using only a small amount of this binding agent. Research is needed to find out where the limits for the various replace-ment materials are.

What do you find fascinating about concrete?To be honest, I’m not really interested in concrete in its finished state. I find it ugly, cold and dusty. What I enjoy is the development of application-oriented concrete compositions using all sorts of different source materials. That requires not only expertise, but also creativity and passion. The truly fascinating thing is that, despite its centu-ries-long history, there is still so much research to be done and there always are so many new challenges.

INTERVIEW

MISTER CONCRETE

Torsten Göpfert, concrete technology expert.

Ultra-high-performance concrete was used in the construction of Wildbrücke bridge at Völkermarkt.

www.strabag.com

STRABAG EMPLOYEES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

COOKING IT uP

“Food must first please the eye, then the stomach.” Thus

said Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and nothing has

changed since: Cooking, after all, is far more than merely

preparing a meal. Many of our colleagues enjoy working

as creative chefs or confectioners to conjure up culinary

delicacies.

International. Move over Jamie Oliver, Anthony Bourdain and Eckart Witzigmann! Our STRABAG co-workers can cook it up with just as much verve as the world’s celebrity chefs, putting lots of time and love into their culinary passion. Their focus is as much on spe-cialty dishes from around the world as regional delicacies. Even pastry chefs should look out for our colleagues! Their pastries and cakes, usually made for special occasions, are often colourful, lavish, creative, multi-storey works of art that are delicious too.

Eating and cooking together forges bonds and creates memo-ries we can look fondly back upon. For some, cooking is soothing and relaxing, others simply love the joy of eating. Whether cooking for oneself or for a large group of guests, trying out exotic dishes or preparing vegan fare – everything is done with the ultimate aim of enjoying.

On the following pages, we introduce you to our colleagues’ culinary side. We hope you are inspired.

Tanja Winkelhofer and her artistic cakes

23

inform 24 People at STRABAG

“The best part of cooking is making my family or co-workers happy, for example with my STRABAG cake!”

Tanja Winkelhofer

POSITION: Corporate Communications employeeCOuNTRY: Austria

Chocolate, sugar sprinkles, marzipan: these are the main ingredients for Tanja Winkelhofer’s sweet masterpieces, from colourful tortes to original cakes. Tanja began experimenting in the kitchen when she was 15 to surprise her mother with a homemade Black Forest cake. “Unfortunately, the only thing I ended up making was a big mess,” says Tanja Winkelhofer.

With 18, just before her mother’s 40th birthday, she made her next attempt. After a successful trial run, she began working on the birthday cake. The result was not a simple cake, but a Sachertorte, a chocolate cake three storeys high with sweet floral decorations and sugar sprinkles.

Since that day, Tanja has been baking even for the “smallest” occa-sions. For Mother’s Day, there was a family tree cake with the first letter of each family member; for her cousin’s baptisms, she sur-prised everyone with cake-pops – little round balls of cake, colour-fully decorated and mounted on a stick, a sort of “lollipop made of dough”. Tanja even attended a course on decoration: “Since then, I mainly bake in order to have something to decorate.”

24

People at STRABAG inform 24

Bikers and tough guys – we’re looking for you! Are you often on the road with your Harley, Gold Wing or Kawasaki? Do you love the sound of the roaring engine and the feeling of freedom on two wheels? Then we want to hear from you. For our next issue, we are looking for tough guys and strong ladies. Contact us at: STRABAG SE, Corporate Communications, inform@strabag.com (submission deadline: 31 January 2013).

Gottfried Holatka

POSITION: Head of Purchasing, Stuttgart Sub-DivisionCOuNTRY: Germany

Gottfried Holatka was not born with a passion for cooking, but he did inherit a love for good food. It was through practical necessity that he discovered the hobby of cooking. In 1980, Gottfried was on assignment for Züblin in Baghdad and, besides the usual tasks of his job, there was another moderately difficult problem waiting for him: the hotel still had to organise proper kitchen operations for the German workers. There was an Iraqi chef, but his cooking was not necessarily to Gottfried’s liking.

Gottfried asked his wife for help, and she sent him a “Cookbook for Beginners”. That was the beginning of his cooking passion. One of his first dishes was goulash with spätzle. Because his colleagues liked it so much, he was encouraged to tackle other dishes and to pass on his newly gained experience to the local kitchen staff. Soon the Züblin cuisine was known throughout Baghdad.

In 1984, having completed his assignment, he left Baghdad behind, but took his new hobby home with him. From now on, the home kitchen was his domain – much to his wife’s chagrin. “She soon got used to it, however, and now enjoys it when I cook for the family, even if the portions sometimes end up team-sized.” His team-sized portions are just the thing when he cooks at the Züblin residence, at job parties, or at the annual events of a local social club. The biggest compliment for him after another one of his “kitchen sessions” is to hear his colleagues say: “Holli’s cooking is the best!”

“I simply enjoy cooking in large quantities. My colleagues are especially pleased.”

www.strabag.com

25

inform 24 People at STRABAG

“For me, cooking together, especially with my kids, is a way of sharing an entertaining and creative time.”

Bozena Czekajska

POSITION: Human Resource Development and PRCOuNTRY: Poland

“My children aged three and five are my assistant chefs. They love baking and have already specialised in vanilla biscuits, gingerbread and muffins,” says Bozena Czekajska.

Bozena enjoys cooking for others as much as cooking itself. Already as a little girl, she helped her mother roll and mix the dough, cut out cookies or fold up Polish pierogi (filled dumplings).

Holidays are culinary excursions for Bozena, and she always tries to discover and taste a country’s unique culinary traditions. Often she buys the typical ingredients right then and there in order to organise a theme dinner for friends back home. Bozena completed a cooking course in Tuscany where she learned to cook some Italian specialities.

In her kitchen in Poland, she conjures up dishes from around the world such as Greek moussaka, Moroccan tajine or Indonesian nasi goreng. But national Polish dishes are also among her favour-ites. Stuffed cabbage leaves, bigos (sauerkraut and meat stew) and zurek (sour soup with sausages) are her specialties. But she always gives the traditional dishes a modern touch.

26

People at STRABAG inform 24

Alexander Blickle

POSITION: Team Leader Research & Development 5D Central, 5D PlanningCOuNTRY: Germany

Alexander Blickle loves to have people over for dinner. On the menu are a juicy schnitzel with potato salad and chocolate cake with coffee for dessert. What’s so special about that? All of his dishes are made entirely using vegan ingredients.

Alexander has been eating 100% vegan for 17 years. He eats no animal products at all – no meat, fish, eggs or dairy products. For many people, being vegan appears to be enormously restrictive and possibly even unhealthy, but for Alexander it is not only a way of life, but also an enriching experience.

In addition to the ethical reasons related to industrial food produc-tion, Alexander also cites the positive effects for one’s health, the climate and the environment as benefits of going vegan. “Eating vegan doesn’t mean having to give up all your usual foods. I love sausages and yoghurt. The selection today is greater than ever before,” he says. When he cooks for friends and relatives, he also makes sure that nobody goes home hungry, but with a satisfied smile and a full stomach. And most people are amazed to discover how many delicious, normal dishes one can make without animal products. “For me as civil engineer, the nutrition even makes perfect sense: the point is to use resources in a sustainable manner, to question things as they are, to find good solutions and to observe the entire lifecycle,” says Alexander Blickle.

“Everyone likes my healthy vegan cuisine. None of my guests have gone home hungry yet.”

www.strabag.com

27

inform 24 People at STRABAG

GREEN TECHNOLOGIES

SuSTAINABLE BuILDING = BuILDING FOR THE FuTuRE

The paradigm shift towards more sustainability is chang-

ing the face of the construction industry, with construction

clients increasingly demanding sustainable products

and processes. The Technology Centre for Sustainable

Construction (TNB) at our Central Technical Department

(ZT) has been dealing with this groundbreaking matter

for several years now.

Germany. TNB provides support and optimises buildings over their entire life cycle. Sustainable buildings are not only cost-effec-tive; they are also environmentally friendly and resource-efficient. In the past, the focus was on getting a good price; today, aspects of sustainability are leading to increasing considerations of a building’s life cycle. Some 80 % of a building’s costs arise from its operation and maintenance, with just 20 % due to its construction.

THERE FROM THE START

In 1983, the United Nations established the World Commission on Environment and Development as an independent organisation of experts. Named after its chairman, Gro Harlem Brundtland, the commission in 1987 published the Brundtland Report, which formu-lated the principle of sustainability:

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

The current version foresees a three-pillar model of equally valid objectives:

Ecological sustainabilityEconomic sustainabilitySocial sustainability

The Technology Centre for Sustainable Construction (TNB) was founded in 2008 as a group within our Zentrale Technik (ZT) division

in order to apply these developments to the field of construction. At the same time, Ed. Züblin AG opted for membership in the newly founded German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The Austrian counterpart is the ÖGNI (Austrian Sustainable Real Estate Council), supported by STRABAG SE as a founding member.

SuSTAINABILITY IS KEY

TNB’s main tasks include providing long-term support for inno-vative construction projects. A showcase project is the construction of the new Züblin office building Z3 in Stuttgart. TNB provides the project manager and project coordinator on the client side as well as the DGNB auditor. The tasks include:

Representation of client interests and project coordination Target definition according to the criteria of sustainability Preparation and organisation of the architecture competition Auditing and consultancy work for the certification, with an aim for DGNB gold certification. Z3 has already received gold pre-certification.Consultation as to the choice of materials and toxics avoidance

The TNB team also contributes to handling central staff respon-sibilities of Zentrale Technik, e.g. energy management, carbon foot-

Visualisation of the Z3 showcase project in Stuttgart

28

STRABAG Units inform 24

print or research projects such as “Resource-efficient Buildings for the World of Tomorrow”.

One focus of TNB’s activities is the quality assurance of build-ings according to DGNB or ÖGNI. TNB makes use of accredited auditors capable of offering extensive consultation work in addition to the certification. TNB also offers consultation as to the interna-tional certification systems. “The demand for certification systems is growing, but we can offer extensive support,” explains Ulrich Schweig, director of TNB.

wHAT DOES THE FuTuRE HOLD IN STORE?

For TNB, important topics for the future include research into new possibilities for wood panel construction, the establishment of energy management in the group, and the separation, dismantling and recyclability of building products and elements.

CONTACT: Ulrich Schweig, Service Companies, Central Division Central Technical Department, Sub-Division Central Technical Department Stuttgart (30)

SERVICES:

Certification according to DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council)ÖGNI (Austrian Sustainable Real Estate Council)breeam (BRE Environmental Assessment Method)LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs)

Life cycle assessment (LCA)Analysis of life cycle costs (LCC)Environmental impact assessment of building materials (product catalogue, avoidance of sick building syndrome)Planning of user comfortTransfer of sustainability

The motivated TNB team

Info + +

Our colleagues in our operating units often have questions regarding the choice of environmentally harmless building products, questions that can usually be answered quickly using the materials database developed specifically for this purpose. Inform spoke with Christiane Osterhoff, one of our harmful substances experts.

How relevant are “harmful substances” during turnkey construction?The public has become more aware of the subject. In public buildings and during public-sector construction projects that are to be certified according to DGNB or ÖGNI, we measure and analyse the air pollution levels in the building. The meas-urements often show values for certain substances that are above the critical limits. This could even mean dismantling contaminated areas.

Where does TNB come in?We support the client or contractor in the choice of materials and conduct the necessary measurements. We also inspect the products proposed by the workers before they are installed.

www.strabag.com

29

inform 24 STRABAG Units

CRANE ASSEMBLIES IN AUSTRIA

CRANE SPECIALISTS AT wORK

Cranes are vital for our construction projects. Crane

operators must be unafraid of heights and they must

perform their work with precision and attention to

safety. But even before a crane operator can climb

aboard, our specialists from BMTI are on the job.

Austria. The crane division at BMTI Trumau manages some 230 cranes in Austria. The unit’s 21 crane assemblers conduct around 600 assemblies and disassemblies every year.

It takes several people working closely together to assemble a crane. The crane master coordinates the assembly and sees to it that the machine is set up on schedule and in the right place. This requires ordering the crane in time and overseeing assembly of the individual parts in the proper order by the crane assemblers.

The workers must perform their task with precision and safety, at great heights and at any time of year regardless of the weather conditions. The crane operator may not begin his work until the fully assembled crane is approved by a civil engineer.

THE CHOICE OF CRANE IS A DECISIVE FACTOR

The choice of crane plays an especially important role when it must be assembled in tight spaces or if special conditions apply to the site of crane assembly. The close contact the crane masters have to the construction site results in an optimal price-to-perfor-mance concept. Assembly is carried out by highly qualified BMTI crane assemblers.

The activities of the BMTI Trumau crane division:

Development of crane concepts (depending on specific site requirements)Assembly and disassemblyMaintenance and repair of rotating tower cranes, self-erecting cranes, passenger and goods elevators, and gantry cranes

HuNDERTwASSER ON THE CONSTRuCTION SITE

For the ARGE EWO Spittelau construction site at Vienna’s waste incineration plant, the façade of which was designed by renowned artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the choice fell on the strongest rotating tower crane of our Austrian fleet – a Liebherr 550 EC-H 40 Litronic. The crane had to be positioned with centimetre precision to a pre-defined location and was finally mounted through a shaft on a specially made cross frame foundation in the basement of the building. The heaviest crane element weighed 22 t and had to be assembled at a height of 66 m above the ground. With a radius of 80 m, the crane can hoist up to 4 t of weight.

CONTACT: Arno Enzi /Marcel Klee, Service Companies, Central Division BMTI 01

Tower anchorage in the lower levels on special cross frame

Crane at the Hundertwasser construction site in Vienna

30

STRABAG Units inform 24

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES

EMPLOYEE COuNSELLING AS A FuLL-TIME JOB

Many of our co-workers build, some calculate, drill, plan

or measure. But at the STRABAG Group, we also have

employees who are there exclusively for you: our full-time

employee representatives.

Austria/Germany. STRABAG has more than 120 elected employee representatives in Germany and Austria, helping the nearly 35,000 employees with questions regarding their pension, holiday pay, or wage and contract matters. They handle the admin-istrative work for the group’s social fund and the employee-financed accident insurance, and represent you in group task forces on matters such as continuing education, healthcare management or safety clothing. They also oversee the ordering and distribution of work clothing. And when the “mobile health care truck” pulls up for the next medical check-up, you can be sure that your full-time counsellors had something to do with it.

FuLL-TIME FOR ALL

Independent research has shown that strong employee repre-sentation through social partnership has a positive influence on the working climate and employee motivation, making it a good invest-ment for the company. “A good working climate is in the interest of the STRABAG Group. This is why we spend more than nine million euros a year on our full-time employee representatives,” says Armin Ebner, Director of the Central Division Human Resources of the STRABAG Group.

Currently there is one full-time employee representative for every 540 workers in Austria, around 360 in Germany (without STRABAG PFS) and around 160 at STRABAG PFS in Germany.

You, too, can take advantage of the counselling offered by our full-time employee representatives. Or, in today’s Internet jargon: accept the friend request.

More information is available in the STRAnet at Konzern > Personal > Arbeitnehmervertretung.

CONTACT: Gerhard Springer/Wolfgang Kreis, STRABAG SE Works Council

CONTACT: Armin Ebner, Service Companies, Central Division BRVZ 02

Health check in the “mobile health care truck”

120 full-time employee representatives offer employees helpful tips and advice.

www.strabag.com

31

inform 24 STRABAG Units

SUCCESSFUL TEAMCONCEPT IN HAMBURG

THE TOwERS ARE DANCING

The Reeperbahn in Hamburg, one of the city’s most

important sights, is home to a new attraction. A pair of

“dancing towers” now graces the address Reeperbahn 1.

Germany. The project development company STRABAG Real Estate GmbH realised the award-winning competition design “Dancing Towers” on the approx. 5,400 m² plot of land in St. Pauli. Construction was carried out by Züblin, Sub-Division North, under the “teamconcept” partnering model. The special aspects of the cooperation within the group are united in the “inteamconcept”.

TANGO IN ST. PAuLI

The two tilting towers with 22 and 24 floors, plus another eight-storey building housing a 4-star hotel, were built on top of four base-ment floors. The “tango-dancing couple”, completed in the summer of 2012, was a technically highly complex project. The individual elements within the double-skin façade tilt towards each other in different ways, with the inner skin twisting toward the outer skins.

SEVERAL TEAMS, ONE CONCEPT = TEAMCONCEPT

Züblin carried out the project under the teamconcept partnering model. Especially during complex construction projects, this concept helps to minimise risk over the entire process.

PHASE 1: CLARIFY

Contract phase 1 focused on addressing the partnership aspect of the project. Some basics had to be clarified before the partnership

North + West inform 24

work could begin, for example regarding budget considerations and the general project conditions. STRABAG Real Estate was responsi-ble for all planning and preparation during phase 1. Züblin handled the task of defining each partner’s performance components. The coordination of the project planning engineers was carried out by the planning coordinators at Züblin. Following the motto of “design-to-cost”, the team managed to keep the cost within target.

PHASE 2: REALISE

Following contract signing, just before the start of construction, there was a “role reversal” between STRABAG Real Estate and Züblin. From the point of contract award, general contractor Züblin assumed overall responsibility for the project. “We agreed on a lump sum contract for this project. Cost-plus-fee budgets were chosen for the tenant fit-out services of non-leased areas,” explains Mat-thias Pirschel of STRABAG Real Estate.

A joint kick-off workshop was held before the project start – the workshop was attended by the highest management levels of the partner companies – to establish the common project objectives, discuss the form of cooperation and determine the rules of the working relationship between client and contractor. “This was of crucial importance for the further course of the project,” remembers Olaf Demuth, technical sub-division manager, Sub-Division North.

Of course, these measures cannot entirely eliminate possible conflict potential, but the close cooperation, for example through joint construction offices and joint planning sessions, made it possible to recognise – and solve – conflicts more quickly.

The glass façade characterises this modern building.

Contract value: approx. € 103.9 millionConstruction time: 10.2009 – 08.2012Floor space of basement levels: 20,000 m²Floor space of towers: 32,700 m²

32

inform 24 North + West

SuCCESS FOR ALL

During construction of the Dancing Towers, the operating unit was able to include the group’s engineering specialists from Zentrale Technik at an early point in order to develop the structural, façade and MEP planning. In this way, the project could benefit from the full know-how within the group – from design planning to building main-tenance, from process planning to structural stability, from construc-tion scheduling to cost security. The project team from STRABAG Real Estate and Züblin were faced with the challenge of handling construction site logistics in a busy city district, coupled with the demands of an ambitious construction schedule. “This form of cooperation within the teamconcept results overall in more moments of success. And suddenly, building is even more fun,” Olaf Demuth says, summarising the benefits of the teamconcept.

CONTACT: Olaf Demuth, North + West, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Germany/BNL 2F, Sub-Division North (DO)

St. Pauli is one of the most spectac-ular neighbourhoods in Hamburg.

The two towers are kinked at dif-ferent heights.

www.strabag.com

NEW THERAPY CENTRE IN CRACOW

HIGH-TECH CANCER TREATMENT

The proton therapy centre being built in Cracow, to be

completed by the end of 2013, will meet the latest tech-

nical and medical standards. The new medical centre

will make it possible to carry out proton radiation treat-

ment for cancer in Poland for the first time.

Enormous concentration was required during the cyclotron’s assembly.

Poland. Radiation therapy is becoming an increasingly impor-tant form of treating cancer. The usual treatments have so far involved gamma and electron radiation. But proton radiation therapy is gaining in importance around the world. The precision of proton therapy makes it possible to treat tumours even when they lie near healthy tissue or highly sensitive regions.

THE BuNKER

The new therapy centre in Cracow consists of a building for the cyclotron (a type of particle accelerator) and a laboratory area. An adjoining building will house the scanner assembly known as a gantry as well as medical treatment spaces. The project was com-missioned by the Institute for Nuclear Physics at the Polish Academy of Sciences. Construction is being carried out by the HH unit of the Polish PP sub-division.

The cyclotron creates a proton beam that is transported to the treatment area via the gantries. Gantries are rotating structures with magnets which make it possible to irradiate the patient in a 360° radius. The gantry moves around the patient, allowing the beam to be aimed at the patient from all possible angles. The building, called a bunker, must meet special radiation protection requirements and is shielded with walls and ceilings up to 5.5 m and 4.2 m thick, respectively. Given the proximity of the bunker to the cyclotron building, and the need for both buildings to be closely connected, fulfilling the necessary safety requirements during construction and assembly of the gantry system was a difficult challenge.

A HEAVY LOAD

Special consideration had to be given to the weight of the cyclotron: the 240 t particle accelerator not only had to be installed, it also had to be delivered. The assembly of the cyclotron began in the middle of May 2012. Built in Belgium, the cyclotron had to be transported to Cracow overland on two special platforms with 120 wheels. It was installed at the institute using Poland’s largest truck crane.

“This project helps us to prove our competence in the medical construction sector in Poland,” says Alfred Watzl, technical sub-division manager.

CONTACT: Janusz Siekierka, South + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Europe 3H, Sub-Division Poland (PP)

Contract value: approx. € 14.8 millionConstruction time of cyclotron: 09.2010 – 11.2012Construction time of gantry: 11.2011 – 05.2014

South + East inform 24

Delivery of the 240 t cyclotron

34

TIMBER CONSTRUCTION IN SWITZERLAND

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BuILDING

It is the world’s first large CO2-neutral construction site.

The Umwelt Arena in Switzerland has been setting

environmental standards – not just during the building’s

operation, but also already during the construction

phase. The arena offers 10,000 m² of space for exhibitions

and events related to matters of sustainability.

Construction of the angled roof

construction of the roof was an enormous challenge. Various struc-tural alternatives had to considered and tested using state-of-the-art software before settling on the current variant. The use of prefabri-cated wood elements made it possible not only to finish the roof quickly, but also to ensure the structural precision necessary for this type of roof. The roof consists of a glued laminated timber frame, adapted to the geometry of the roof and supported by wooden beams. The frame is covered by a system of beams and wood ele-ments to form the substructure for the photovoltaic cells, the largest building-mounted PV system in Switzerland.

GIANT 3D ROOF

The arena stands out for its uniquely angled roof. While the building itself is made of concrete, the roof is completely built of wood. The roof has a surface area of 5,500 m², as much as five football fields, and is comprised of 33 individual surfaces at varying degrees of inclination.

CONTACT: Paul Huber, South + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Austria/Switzerland 3B, Sub-Division Zurich & Switzerland West (MV)

The construction of the competence centre required enormous precision.

inform 24 South + East

Switzerland. Environmental protection and the sustainable use of resources were given top priority during construction of the Umwelt Arena (“Environment Arena”) in the Swiss canton of Aargau.

IN DECEMBER THERE ARE NO TOMATOES

The Competence Centre for Ecology handles all questions of environmental sustainability, from the replenishment rate of forest resources in Switzerland, to sustainable products such as clothing, to research with energy-efficient vehicles. The centre not only serves local, seasonal food in its restaurant, but also explains the philoso-phy behind it in a way that is understandable and makes sense.

wORLD PREMIERE IN CONSTRuCTION

The Umwelt Arena already sent an environmental message during the construction phase, having been built with a minimum energy requirement. Solar panels were installed on the top of the construction trailers to generate electricity for the construction site and equipment. A world premiere was the wind turbine mounted on the construction crane to generate a part of the electricity for the crane’s operation.

Of course, reducing CO2 emissions was a consideration not only during construction; above all, the building should be CO2-neutral during its operation. With intelligent facilities engineering, the building is to be kept warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The striking roof features a rooftop photovoltaic system that makes it look like a shiny black diamond. Accordingly, the planning and

Contract value: CHF 1.98 million/approx. € 1.64 millionConstruction time: 01.2011 – 09.2011Roof surface: 5,560 m²

www.strabag.com

35

BUILDING BRIDGES IN ROMANIA

BRIDGING EuROPE

STRABAG is building the new motorway between Deva

and Orăștie in Romania: 33.5 km in length, with a total

of 21 bridges. The centrepiece of the project is the

bridge over the river Mureș, being built using methods

of construction that are a first for Romania.

Romania. The contract with the Romanian Transport Ministry was signed and a consortium led by STRABAG AG (Transportation Infrastructures Sub-Division Romania/Bulgaria ME) was formed in November 2010. With a total length of 720 m, divided into 12 spans of 60 m each, the bridge over the Mureș, being built by the Civil Engineering Sub-Division MT as internal subcontractor, is the most notable structure of the entire project. The bridge is being planned and built as a steel composite bridge with a combined roadway deck composed of precast reinforced concrete sections with some in-situ additions. Completion is scheduled for spring of 2013.

The difficult international environment, the construction time of 24 months, and the production of the 4,200 t steel superstructure combined to make the work an enormous challenge for the project team. “Red tape, administrative inertia, relatively vague planning instructions and unfamiliar mentalities have taught us discipline, patience, calm and flexibility to a great degree, but also the need for insistence and control,” says project manager Karl-Heinz Stelzer of the Civil Engineering Sub-Division MT, describing his work in Romania.

NEw PLANNING

The original client design foresaw the superstructure as a com-posite with prefabricated components that were to be prestressed after being placed in position on top of the superstructure. This design did not correspond to the standards of a modern, long-last-ing construction, however, and the plans were completely revised following contract award. Each of the two superstructures consists of two airtight box girders measuring 2.45 m in height and 1.70 m wide.

POSITIONING

The assembly of the box girders was carried out with mobile cranes, starting from the fixed piers in both directions on auxiliary supports. As soon as the beams were welded together, the super-structure was lowered into place by means of presses. This was fol-lowed by the concreting of the pier heads to the fixed piers with

double composite action and the connection with the bridge bear-ings.

DANGER FROM BELOw

In order to withstand the calculated earthquake loading, it was decided to build three axes not with bridge bearings, but to connect the steel superstructure to the substructure using double composite action to form a monolithic structure. This made it possible to main-tain a uniform pier cross-section across the entire bridge and resulted in reduced expansion at the abutments. It also led to a high reinforcement ratio of up to 400 kg of steel per cubic metre of con-crete in the area of the double composite site and required exact planning of the assembly sequence.

South + East inform 24

36

RESPECT

“Respect and tolerance are just as important in Romania when dealing with others,” Karl-Heinz Stelzer says, summing up his impressions. Misunderstandings due to linguistic and cultural barriers are no rare occurrence and one cannot ask enough questions.

Despite the difficult environment and the tight scheduling, the project shows that, with proper planning and professional preparation, new methods can be a success. The MT sub-division is responsible for seven other bridges as part of this project, all of which will be handed over to the client on time.

CONTACT: Karl-Heinz Stelzer/Norbert Luft, South + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Europe 3H, Sub-Division Civil Engineering SEE/Direct Expert (MT)

inform 24 South + East

Contract value: approx. € 31 millionConstruction time: 24 monthsBridge width: 2 x 14.50 mConstruction steel: 4,200 tReinforcement steel: 5,400 t

The bridge over the Mureș will be completed in 2013.

Precise assembly of the bridge elements

www.strabag.com

37

BRIDGE OVERHAUL IN HUNGARY

140 YEARS MARGARET BRIDGE

STRABAG not only builds bridges that live up to 21st century

standards, but also renovates existing structures. An

especially historic bridge is Margaret Bridge spanning the

Danube in Budapest, which recently underwent extensive

renovations.

Hungary. Hungarians are proud of it; every visitor to the city knows it: the talk is of Margaret Bridge in Budapest, completed in 1876. Following renovations in 1948 and 1978, the state of the bridge had again worsened by the turn of the millennium. A consor-tium led by STRABAG began the full-scale overhaul in August 2009.

The festive “barrel rolling”, a tradition to mark the completion of a bridge, took place in November 2010, although full renovations were not finished until November 2011. The goal was to restore the bridge to its original state based on the available documentation. Following the patterns and designs of the 19th century, several details were reworked, such as the truss, the piers, the stone ornaments and the cladding.

The unique atmosphere from the illumination on the renovated Margaret Bridge in Budapest

South + East inform 24

STEP FOR STEP

The renovation and modernisation works were carried out in two phases. The maintenance of public transport services in one direction meant it was only possible to work on one half of the bridge at a time. This presented the team with a special technical challenge. Having to work under traffic made the work even more difficult.

The level of the reinforced concrete structure and the gradient of the new roadway required extreme expert precision. The section of the bridge over the river had to be joined to the new steel struc-ture through composite action, as its height deviated from that of the earlier bridge construction. The new railing built on the land piers were joined to the reinforced concrete construction, and its inner core was anchored in the substructure.

LIGHTS ON

The bridge also received a new set of lights, “which is a new attraction for us Budapesters,” reports László Légrádi proudly. “Now the bridge’s silhouette is especially impressive at night.” It is a popular sight with locals and tourists alike.

Thanks to the team’s precise work, the job could be finished on schedule. Budapest can now boast an attractive, perfectly ren-ovated Margaret Bridge that fulfils the expectations of the 21st century.

CONTACT: László Légrádi, South + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Hungary 3I, Sub-Division Civil Engineering Hungary (JC)

Contract value: HUF 20.8 billion/approx. € 7 millionConstruction time: 08.2009 – 11.2011

38

AVALANCHE DEFENCE IN AUSTRIA

ALPINE AVALANCHE CONTROL

Due to the effects of climate change, and in response to

higher safety requirements, avalanche defence structures

are becoming increasingly important in ski resort areas.

Steel snow bridges were built on Goldeck, the local

mountain for the city of Spittal /Drau, to protect the new

gondola lift from possible avalanches.

Austria. Substantial investment has been put into the facelift and expansion of the Goldeck ski area in Carinthia over the past year. For the rock engineering specialists of STRABAG Felstechnik, that meant building steel snow bridges to protect the new continu-ous loop gondola from avalanches.

STEEP AND INACCESSIBLE

More than 500 m of steel snow bridges were put in place in extremely steep, nearly inaccessible terrain at an elevation of 1700 m. Most of the material could be transported by helicopter, but there was still plenty of manual labour to do. Working with drills weighing

A construction site in alpine terrain

The Rock Engineering department is the STRABAG Group’s specialist for construction work in alpine and rough terrain.

inform 24 South + East

more than 100 kg a piece during all types of weather, including winter conditions in October, was extremely demanding on the team during the short construction time. Only well-trained workers unafraid of heights can do the job in such a difficult high-alpine terrain. The rock engineering department is headed by builder Martin Granig, who has a great amount of experience in this field. He and his team are busy all over Austria and southern Germany.

CONTACT: Martin Granig, South + East, Group Division Transportation Infrastructures Austria + Adriatic 6C, Sub-Division Carinthia/Styria (AC)

SERVICES:

Avalanche defence structures and snow netsShotcrete retentionAnchoring with cable strand anchors, rod anchors and micro pilesRockfall and hillside retentionFastening and anchoring of mesh/netting in steep terrain and onrock surfacesRock scalingRemoval of loose rock on steep slopes and cliffs

Net contract value: approx. € 460,000 Construction time: 09.2011 – 11.2011

www.strabag.com

39

BUILDING DAMS AGAINST HIGH WATER

FLOOD PROTECTION

Flood protection is an important issue in the Arab world.

STRABAG has already completed two flood protection

dams with impressive dimensions in the Sultanate of

Oman. New dam building projects are in the tendering

process waiting for their realisation.

Oman. The Sultanate of Oman is located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of its two-and-a-half million inhabitants live in cities. Typical for Oman are date palms, camels and the frank-incense tree. The country is the largest producer of frankincense in the world. The sweet smell of frankincense, which earned the country its fame and fortune, permeates the air in Oman. However, frankincense has no religious significance here.

CONTAINING THE RISK

The tropical temperatures in Oman produce an increasing number of storms and, as a result, flood disasters. Flood protection is therefore a top priority. STRABAG already completed a dam in Salalah in 2009. Tropical cyclone Gonu had caused extreme flooding in 2007, especially in the capital city of Muscat. The widespread devastation led to the decision by the Omani government to realise an extensive flood protection concept. The initiative foresees seven dams for the Al Amerat basin and the Wadi Adai gorge. Wadis are ephemeral riverbeds that contain water only after very heavy rainfall.

The first dam to be built was the Al Amerat dam. Considered a key element of the flood protection concept, the dam was built by STRABAG from 2009 to 2012.

ENORMOuS DIMENSIONS

With a length of over five kilometres and a water storage capacity of 22 million m³, the Al Amerat dam helps to minimise the risk of floods for the district of Qurum and protects areas set aside for development in Al Amerat. The flood protection dam consists of a main dam and four saddle dams, a diversion dam and channel, two floodwater relief facilities and two ground outlets.

LONG NIGHTS OF wORK

The climate in Al Amerat made for some difficult working con-ditions, with temperatures above 40°C for months. “It was only pos-sible to cement at night; you could burn your hands on the rebar during the day,” explains Reinhard Schmid, project manager for the Al Amerat dam. Work was not possible without air conditioning in the excavators or trucks. Making matters worse, the summer heat was followed by unusually heavy winter rainfalls.

A technical challenge was the varied subsoil conditions, ranging from soft layers of clay to hard calcareous slate. As a result, the foundation depths for the dam and for the concrete structures often had to be adapted, which also required some extensive changes to the design of the construction. “The fact that we were able to respond to these challenges flexibly, with technical skill and by mutual agree-ment, impressed the consultants and the client – certainly a good reference for the new dam construction projects of the coming years,” says Reinhard Schmid.

Observers of a different kind at the Salalah dam project

International + Special Divisions inform 24

Al Amerat flood protection damContract value: OMR 29 million/approx. € 61 millionConstruction time: 08.2009 – 02.2012Excavated soil: 440,000 m³Excavated rock: 1,000,000 m³

The completed Al Amerat dam in Oman

40

MILLION-EuRO CONTRACT IN DuQM

STRABAG Oman in September 2011 was awarded the contract to upgrade the roads and infrastructure within the Duqm port facility. The order is worth € 150 million. Duqm is a tiny fishing village where the wind carries the sand all over the place and the summer months are characterised by constant sandstorms. Then there is the high humidity: the construction site is situated directly on the Arabian Sea. “More than 900 of our people, from Asia, Africa and Europe, work under these inhospitable conditions. They are the true heroes of the Duqm construction site,” says Stefan Altzieber, technical divi-sion manager in Oman. The new port is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012. The construction of 37 km of road includes a 12 km six-lane expressway, an 18.5 km four-lane expressway and a 6.5 km two-lane road, plus five intersections with traffic lights. Construction and handover have been agreed to take place in four phases. Completion of the project is scheduled for May 2014.

The extensive infrastructure works comprise the construction of drinking water and fire fighting water lines, waste water systems, irrigation systems and the electricity and telecommunications infra-structure. Additional works include hillside retention and stabilisa-tion as well as a helicopter landing pad with access road.

CONTACT: Reinhard Schmid, International + Special Divisions, Group Division International (3G)

CONTACT: Stefan Altziebler, International + Special Divisions, Group Division International (3G)

inform 24 International + Special Divisions

Info + +

Flood protection in the land of frankincense and dates Its topographic location between the coast and a chain of mountains puts Muscat, the capital of Oman, at risk of flood-ing from heavy rains. Since 2007, two cyclones have caused enormous damage in the greater Muscat area.

Al Amerat is located in a basin and is separated from Muscat by a mountain range up to 1000 m high. The result is an even more extreme climate in Al Amerat than in Muscat. In Al Amerat, however, the new dam will only control around 20 % of Wadi Adai’s 65 km² drainage basin.

Infrastructure construction measures in Duqm

Duqm Port road and infrastructure project:Contract value: OMR 81 million/approx. € 170 millionConstruction time: 10.2011 – 05.2014Road length: 37 km

www.strabag.com

41

THE FAVOURITE PLACES OF STRABAG EMPLOYEES

ZuRICH: MY CITY

Zurich may not be the capital, but with some

390,000 inhabitants it is Switzerland’s

largest city. With one of the

highest standards of living in the

world, Zurich was also named Europe’s most

expensive city in 2012. Locals call their city

“Limmatstadt” after the local river or “Zwinglistadt” in

honour of Swiss Reformation leader Huldrych Zwingli.

Some 230 of our STRABAG colleagues call Zurich their

home, and still more work here. Inform asked five of

them to describe their favourite places in the city.

Grüezi in Züri!

Special tip + +

Recycle or else!

Everywhere in Zurich you’ll find waste containers with a waste separation system. Take care to recycle properly – otherwise you could receive a fine!

Frauenmünsterstrasse

Talstrasse

Limmatstrasse

HeinrichstrasseJosefstrasse

Neue Hard

Sihiquai

H

ardb

rück

e

R

osen

garte

nstra

sse

Hornbachstrasse

Zürichhorn

ZÜRICHSEE

Bürtliplatz

Utiquai B

ellerivestrasse

Quaibrücke

Myt

henk

ai

“The lakeside promenade is a popular meeting place in Zurich – for breakfast in the morning, a midday snack or a cocktail in the evening.”Oliver Schwarz

“I know the Josefwiese quite well, having lived just around the corner. I even learned how to walk here.”Thisanthi Thilaganthan

Chilling in the park

With its many parks and gardens, Zurich is an attractive place for children and young people. A park is also where 19-year-old Thisanthi Thilaganthan spends her free time. The Josefwiese has cosy benches, fire-places, beach volley-

ball courts, adventure playgrounds for the kids, and lots more. Here Thisanthi loves to meet her best friends, many of whom she has known since her childhood.

Biking around the lake

Zurich is a Mecca for all outdoor enthusiasts, with Lake Zurich the heart and soul of the recreational scene. Thomas Hoffmann loves the variety – he enjoys going running, cycling or

inline skating and often tries out new sports. The native of Zurich prefers to spend his free time in the outdoors. One of his favourite tours is a trip – or two – around the lake with his racing bicycle, a total of 67 km. And when he’s finished, what could be finer than a refreshing dip in the lake.

42

Specials inform 24

Frauenmünsterstrasse

Talstrasse

Limmatstrasse

HeinrichstrasseJosefstrasse

Neue Hard

Sihiquai

H

ardb

rück

e

R

osen

garte

nstra

sse

Hornbachstrasse

Zürichhorn

ZÜRICHSEE

Bürtliplatz

Utiquai B

ellerivestrasse

Quaibrücke

Myt

henk

ai

“One of my favourite things to do is to sit on the terrace of the Fischstube and enjoy the sunset with fresh fish.” Andrea Jegen

Fresh fish

International cuisine is everywhere in Zurich, with Italian restaurants especially plentiful. Although Andrea Jegen grew up in Zurich, she now lives somewhat outside of the city – but she still loves to come back to the city to spend a leisurely evening by the lake. One of her favourite restaurants is the Fischstube. The unique atmosphere directly by the lake makes this one of Andrea’s favourite places.

Liking the lake

Zurich is surrounded by water. Oliver Schwarz of Austria, who has lived and worked in Zurich for around 1½ years, spends most of his free time at Lake Zurich. He takes advantage of all the different options the lake has to offer: strolling along the lakeside promenade, going on a boat ride, visiting one of the many “badis” or enjoying the good food.

After work

After work, Peter Fringeli, a native of Bern, enjoys going out for a drink with his colleagues. The evening often takes them to the Old Fashion Bar. Located in the centre of Zurich, just a stone’s throw from the famous Bahnhofsstraße, it is the oldest bar in the city, dating back to 1876. The bar has

undergone a facelift in recent years, but it still manages to maintain its cosy, old-fashioned look.

www.strabag.com

43

inform 24 Specials

STRABAG GOES ON A COMPANY OUTING

HOLLAND VS. SPAIN

Even before the “kick-off”, everyone was looking forward

to the big event. Dutch enthusiasm was going up

against Catalonian joie de vivre.

Austria. STRABAG’s long tradition of company trips – dating back to the 1970s – was continued this year with the Works Council East travelling to Amsterdam, while the Works Council West headed for Barcelona.

wHERE THE TuLIPS GROw

Two planes with around 360 of our colleagues on board left for Amsterdam, where the first thing on the agenda was a city tour.

Mention Holland, and most people will think of windmills, cheese, Queen Beatrix and football. And although the country has plenty else to offer, such as outstanding architecture and wonderful beaches, it does live up to all of its clichés. The second day therefore began with a trip to the famous cheese market in Alkmaar and ended with a visit to a windmill village.

44

Specials inform 24

On the third day, the group visited the porcelain factory in Delft before being treated to a delicious lunch in Scheveningen in an even more gorgeous setting, surpassed only by the wonderful view of the beach. On the last day of the trip, the Port of Rotterdam impressed the group with its sheer dimensions.

VIVA ESPAÑA

Off to the sunny south is where 300 employees were headed at the end of June with the Works Council West. The destination? Barcelona! The hotel, just a few minutes from the beach and from the Rambla, Barcelona’s famous promenade, offered a convincing combination of fantastic architecture, gorgeous rooms and a 10th floor terrace with pool and pool-side bar. Over the next few days, several colleagues found it difficult to part with the view from the 10th floor. For others, the pool was a welcome refreshment to swim a couple of laps after the day’s excursions.

Barcelona had plenty of culture to offer. A panorama tour at the beginning gave the group an overview of the city. Destinations on the second day included Park Güell and many other historic build-ings by Antoni Gaudí, such as the famous, unfinished Sagrada Familia. On the third day, the group had the opportunity to visit the Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat. A highlight for football fans on the last day was Camp Nou, the stadium of FC Barcelona, where football greats such as Messi, Fàbregas or Xavi regularly show off their skill.

Our thanks go to the hard-working employee representatives who organised these fantastic events. We can’t wait to find out the next destinations. Perhaps it will be England vs. Italy?

“Besides the good camaraderie, the interesting explanations from our Dutch tour guide were worth the trip to Amsterdam. Now I know that orange is not Queen Beatrix’s favourite colour.” Angelika Schett-Berka, Corporate Communications

www.strabag.com

45

inform 24 Specials

SPORTS EVENTS

THE OLYMPIC GAMES AT STRABAG

2012 was the year of the Olympics in London. But STRABAG

also bore witness to some Olympian feats this summer.

Swimming, cycling, running, football – in Austria and in

Germany, STRABAG’s athletes were reaching for gold.

Austria/Germany. Everything went quickly in June, with one event following the other. But whatever the discipline, the partici-pants were all living out the same Olympic motto: “Being there is everything!”

KICK-OFF

As this year’s Züblin football tournament was organised by the Munich division, the games were held in the Bavarian capital on 1 and 2 June. In all, 28 company teams took part in the title competition.

The deserving tournament winner and recipient of the 2012 Züblin football trophy was the team from Structural Work & Civil Engineering Frankfurt, who beat the Sachsen 1 team from Dresden 1:0. The trophy ceremony was celebrated with musical accompani-ment in the historic Löwenbräukeller in Munich.

The Züblin football tournament can look back on a nearly ten-year history, having been played with lots of motivation, organisation and dedication since 2003. To date, the trophy has been contested in eight cities in Germany. Next year’s tournament will be organised by the Mitte sub-division in Frankfurt. The tenth anniversary tourna-ment will be held in 2014 – where, that remains to be seen.

The winning team of the Züblin football trophy

READY... SET...

The JP Morgan Corporate Challenge took place on 14 June in Frankfurt, where it celebrated its 20th anniversary. Nearly 70,000 runners from 2,761 companies lined up for a good cause in an impressive demonstration of team spirit.

STRABAG PFS sent 35 runners into the race, with another 33 coming from Züblin, STRABAG and Heilit Wörner. Before the race, STRABAG PFS managing director Martin Schenk welcomed fans and runners in the garden of the STRABAG PFS headquarters and wished his colleagues lots of fun and good luck.

Team spirit is important during the JP Morgan Run. Four runners form a team and receive a combined score. The winning men’s team came in 19th overall out of 4,264 men’s teams, while the top women’s team landed in 148th place among 4,626 women’s teams.

Runners and fans met again in the STRABAG PFS garden after the race for a relaxing post-run party. The cosy atmosphere around the grill buffet was a good opportunity to get to know colleagues from other units.

GO!

The 7th STRABAG fun triathlon took place in Vienna on 15 June. Alone or as a relay, 242 athletes from twelve nations set out in the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running to cover the dis-tances of 750 m, 22 km and 5 km, respectively. The contestants were motivated and cheered on by the spectators and fans, who lent their heroes vociferous support. There even was a group of drum-mers on hand to rhythmically carry the runners over the finish line. With few exceptions, all of the participants made it to the end – some more visibly exhausted than others.

The athletes were especially proud to receive the finisher medal, once again skilfully and lovingly made by the children from the Concordia charity in Romania. The medals remain a keepsake of a friendly competition among colleagues.

A fantastic mood among the runners of the JP Morgan Challenge

46

Events inform 24

SEEKING THE PUZZLE KING

SuDOKu

How to play:

Fill in the empty squares so that the digits 1-9 appear

just once in each row, column and 3x3 sub-grid. The

numbers in the small circles show the sum of the

numbers in the four adjoining fields.

Last date for entries: 15 February 2013

All entrants will again participate in a raffle for three

STRABAG watches.

4

6 8

6

7

5 6

2 7

4 1

6 9

7 1 5 6

36 9

14

12

25

24

24

24

18

26

25

27

17

17

22

21

20

24

21

22

17

17

25

25

20

16

16

17

19

21

12

20

20

19

20

16

23

20

Mystery numbers:

Send the 3 mystery numbers or the entire solution to

the puzzle to: inform@strabag.com

A CB

STRAtria initiator Mario Rabitsch (right) crosses the finish line.

C

B

A

750 m swimming 5 km running

SE management board member Siegfried Wanker (right) preparing to pass.

22 km cycling

CONTACT: Ralf Capune, North + East, Group Division Building Construction & Civil Engineering Germany/BNL 2F, Sub-Division Bavaria Systems Building (DN)

CONTACT: Gabriele Renard, Special Divisions and Concessions, Group Division Services 4S, Sub-Division Facility Manage-ment (MQ)

CONTACT: Mario Rabitsch, Service Companies, Central Division Central Technical Department, Central Technical Department Vienna

www.strabag.com

47

inform 24 Specials

www.strabag.com

LEGAL INFORMATION Editing and publishing: STRABAG SE, Villach Editors: Bettina Mattes (editor-in-chief), Carmen Ferner, Angelika Schett-Berka Organisation of national editions: Edita Novotna (Czech Republic /Slovakia), Evelyn Agocs (Hungary), Bozena Czekajska (Poland), Wiktoriya Chimakadze (Russia) Layout and print management: Gundula Schmid Prepress: finishingmove Printing: MACK GmbH, Schönaich Photography: Gerhard Grafl (cover photo, pp. 14–15), BEn/Raiffeisenzeitung (p. 6), Raiffeisen Property International GmbH (p. 7), Royalize (pp. 8, 40–41, 42–43, 44–45), Max Moser (p. 9), Betonwerkstatt www.betonwerkstatt.com (p. 17), Fotolia (pp. 5, 12–13, 17–20, 22–27), Istockphoto (p. 26), MHM/Beyer (p. 28), Tim Hoischen (p. 32–33) Inquiries and mail: STRABAG SE, attn. Bettina Mattes, Tel. +43 1 22422 - 1100, Fax +43 1 22422 - 1177, inform@strabag.com, Donau-City-Str. 9, 1220 Vienna/Austria Equal opportunities for women and men are a top priority at STRABAG. For this reason, we want to point out that terms such as “employees”, “clients” or “experts” used in this magazine always refer to both genders.