STRABAG Innovation Day
Stuttgart 2019 – the third STRABAG Innovation Day
After Vienna 2015 and Bratislava 2017, Group employees and external experts interested in innovation were invited to Stuttgart for the third edition of the Innovation Day. More than 1,000 people responded to this call and experienced concentrated group power from many different areas.

The 100th anniversary of the STRABAG subsidiary was recently celebrated in the ZÜBLIN-Haus in Stuttgart, on 10th and 11th of September the two companies focused on the future . “We are proof that long tradition and far-sighted innovation are not mutually exclusive,” said STRABAG SE CEO Thomas Birtel. The 39 market booths showcased new developments, building materials, processes and equipment that will play a greater role on the construction sites of the future. Particularly numerous were the developments in the field of digital construction processes and the more resilient, sustainable or precise building materials.
The “BAGSTAR” robot was a familiar face of digitisation in Stuttgart – although this time new digital gadgets. “SiSSi”, developed by “STRABAG Infrastructure & Safety Solutions GmbH”, is intended to ensure that no negative emotions arise with a (digital) blink of an eye. Drones are still omnipresent and for many the most striking mechanical face of digitisation. The TPA innovation paver and bunker attracted as many spectators as prototypes of the 3D mortar printer “BauProAddi” (printing speed: 1m/s) or a 3D reinforced concrete printer or the trackless and self-propelled VirtuRail® trains for tunnel construction, which had already been successfully used in the Brenner Base Tunnel.

The protagonists behind the scenes are often invisible, but nevertheless immensely important for new paths. Without the technical and intellectual infrastructure of IT and HRD, innovative thinking would be difficult to achieve. Accordingly, a wide range of services and working methods of the future was offered.
Conclusion of the two-day event in Stuttgart: Impressed and satisfied visitors, many conversations, contacts, impulses and the motivation to think outside the box.
Big stage for foresight and lateral thinking within the group – the second STRABAG Innovation Day
Impressions from the 2nd STRABAG Innovation Day in Bratislava
Under the leadership of STRABAG SE Management Board Member Siegfried Wanker, innovation enthusiasts from various group countries met on the 18th of October to present their projects and to learn about pioneering ideas from other fields. The entire Management Board was present in Bratislava, having specially arranged their schedules so as not to miss the second edition of the event (following the premiere in Vienna in 2015). In his opening speech, Siegfried Wanker made it clear that the company both expects and promotes innovations. In brief: There are many excuses and explanations why a department, a division or a company cannot be innovative, but nobody can afford to remain stuck in old patterns.

The concept of the event in Bratislava: The nearly 40 teams introduced themselves at the fair stands and presented their developments in three-minute pitches with a focus on the added value of their innovation. To overcome the language barriers as much as possible, all programme points were accompanied by interpreters.
Some innovative highlights: The earthquake-proof concrete support is an in-house development that not only enables safe but also architecturally appealing construction. The props do not require the usual oversizing and are also more cost-effective than steel or composite props. Another concrete innovation, Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) facades, enables the production of extremely thin concrete shells that are far more robust and resistant to pollution than normal concrete.
Mosses, dry ice and molecular cuisine
In addition, there were many other innovative approaches to experience for the more than 300 visitors. With moss to reduce particulate matter pollution, cold compressed air for mould removal, and rubber-based asphalt, STRABAG has a broad innovation spectrum. In order to pay tribute to the theme in culinary terms, the outstanding buffet was also supplemented with innovative dishes from molecular cuisine.
The first STRABAG Innovation Day
On the 23rd of November 2015, the focus at our group headquarters in Vienna was on improving our construction processes and the necessary upstream and downstream processes. The event format allowed for easy networking across hierarchical and organisational boundaries. Participants from around 40 group entities with quite different expertise and perspectives led lively discussions around the question of how we can assert ourselves as a technology leader for construction services in the future. Special thanks go to the event team – their enthusiastic commitment far beyond the usual job requirements contributed to arousing the interest of the participants.