KREAR, a joint venture between Casais Group and Secil, welcomed Minister of Infrastructures and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz to its factory in Estarreja, Aveiro, on Tuesday 29 October. KREAR’s main objective is to develop innovative industrialised construction solutions. The factory is set to take a significant step towards transforming the construction sector in Portugal. Backed by an investment of EUR 15 million, the new plant will occupy a total area of 30,000 square metres, of which 10,000 will be dedicated to the production of structures for medium-sized buildings.
The KREAR factory in Estarreja has a highly automated production line. Some 60% of the 10,000 square metres earmarked for production will be taken up by an automated line—similar to the kind used in the automotive industry—that incorporates robotics to optimise the carousel production process. The other 40% of the production plant will be used to focus on creative and architectural aspects, enabling the company to maintain the high quality and bespoke nature of its projects. This makes the production unit one of the most advanced of its kind in the country.
KREAR managing director Daniel Ganjo says, “With the KREAR factory, we are taking another step towards transforming the sector. We are bringing a large part of what traditional construction does on site into the factory, where we produce structural elements in concrete that are then assembled on site. Using this innovative method contributes to the sustainability of the sector and avoids waste since industrialised construction is both precise and scaled. What is more, we are making a faster method of construction available to the country and so mitigating the housing crisis.”
The company predicts that this new production method could reduce the time it takes to build an infrastructure by up to 50% when compared to traditional construction exclusively in concrete. Officially launched in May 2024, KREAR is focussing in this first phase on Portugal as its main market. In its second phase, however, it plans to expand its activity to other countries such as Spain and France. The company intends to develop the business by catering mainly to the multi-family and single-family buildings segment of the sector, and also engage in projects to build hotels and student residences.
The factory is expected to employ around 50 people, promising not only innovation in the construction sector but also a significant contribution to job creation in the region.
