2015 is a crucial year for the Swedish, family-owned Thomas Concrete Group AB. Through its size, independence and high technical competence, the Group occupies a unique position in international concrete markets. After a few financially weak years, the Group is now taking further steps to strengthen its position while celebrating its 60th Jubilee year.
The business was founded in 1955 in Karlstad, Sweden, by Martin Thomas. The Group, still owned by the Thomas family, has grown substantially over the past 60 years. Today, it is the largest independent supplier of ready-mixed concrete in Sweden, Poland and Germany, as well as in the U.S. states of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
In the last five years, Thomas Concrete Group has grown by more than 30 percent. Last year it produced 3.3 million cubic meters of concrete from 120 plants, a volume growth of more than 15 percent. During this year Thomas has the ambition to acquire further concrete plants in Germany and the United States, which will bring the Group even closer to its customers and markets.
Key success factors for the Thomas Concrete Group include its independence from international construction and cement companies, which makes the Group a long term reliable partner to the entire construction industry. Another key success factor is a high level of technical competence, exemplified by the operation of the Group’s own Research and Development Centres in Gothenburg and one at each national subsidiary, which is unusual for a concrete company.
In addition to a clear growth strategy and a continued focus on improving the Group’s profitability during its 2015 Jubilee year, Thomas will create a stronger group structure, with all employees working together as one, united team, irrespective of plant locations or national boundaries. The goal is to ensure Thomas Concrete Group as the best operator in its industry. The subsidiaries will work in a more integrated way, particularly in the field of Research and Development, with enhanced liaison between the Group’s various experts and specialists in different countries. Co-operation in marketing activities will also be intensified. For suppliers and customers alike, Thomas Concrete Group will be perceived as a cohesive and integrated company with strong local presence.
"Economic development has gained momentum in the United States, although growth in Europe continues to be weak,” says Hans Karlander, Thomas Group’s President and CEO. “The situation is stable in Germany, while Poland is showing signs of improvement. In Sweden, there are plans for major infrastructure investments, although these have not yet started, while house building and industrial investment remain at low levels. However, we are hopeful about the future.”
Thomas Concrete Group is an independent family-owned Group which produces and distributes high-quality concrete for cast-in-place construction. The company
operates today in the United States, Poland, Germany, Norway and Sweden. Its headquarters are located in Gothenburg. In 2014, the Group had a turnover of about SEK 3.2 billion and produced 3.3 million square meters of concrete. It has 1,300 employees. Its subsidiary company in the United States is Thomas Concrete Inc.
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