Chemnitz? That fits!

Annegret Haas

Whether it's CVAG trams or buses, the Berlin S-Bahn or the Swiss railway: there's a good chance that you'll be standing on precast concrete elements from Chemnitz-based Railbeton Haas on the platform. The company has been synonymous with reinforced concrete construction for more than 75 years. Annegret Haas, Managing Partner - and our Maker of the Week - explains to us that not all concrete is the same and why it sometimes crackles when you walk over it.

Where can you see what Railbeton does?
Annegret Haas : Anyone travelling by bus, tram or train through the country and getting on and off the train will stumble across our concrete elements. We produce reinforced concrete structures for transport infrastructure. This is our speciality, which has developed well over the past 25 years. We have built up a very wide range of products that can be used to build complete platforms, equip track systems and design track crossings.

In recent years, we have done a great deal of development work in the area of barrier-free construction. Public transport companies must comply with laws and standards so that all people with limited mobility can use buses and trains without assistance. Our engineers and transport planners are experts in this field and have made a name for ourselves with transport companies throughout Germany. We have developed numerous new construction systems, such as the white floor indicators at road crossings and bus stops, and have now led to system construction methods being used throughout Germany. But our concrete plant can of course also produce many other precast concrete parts and special constructions.

Specifically: Where can you see concrete from Railbeton in Chemnitz?
We were recently involved in the new CVAG railway tracks on Annaberger Straße - the kerbs and track crossings are made by Railbeton. This year, numerous new bus stops in the city were built with our Euro kerbstones and guide plates for the blind. In addition, we are currently working with CVAG and VMS on a concept for the future stops of the next expansion stage of the Chemnitz model along Reichenhainer Straße to the university. To this end, the platforms need to be adapted to the boarding heights of the new trams. We have planned a 3D study and a model stop for the CVAG depot.

You also work together with universities and colleges on research projects. The layman might ask "What's there to research about concrete, it's been around for 100 years" ...
(Laughs) Concrete already existed in ancient Rome! Precast concrete parts have been around for a good 120 or 130 years. Today's concrete looks very different, of course, a lot has happened. The material is currently very popular with architects again, but that doesn't really affect us.

What else can be developed?
For one thing, the demands on surfaces have increased. The focus is on exposed concrete with an almost non-porous surface. Concrete doesn't just have to be grey. White, red, yellow and anthracite have become typical standard colours in our range. We recently produced a solid green seating block for a school playground. Durability is another issue, as is resistance to frost, de-icing salt and chemicals. None of these topics are new, but there is still room for improvement. We are also working on the optimisation of economical production technologies, formulations with fibre reinforcement for high wear requirements and for special loads. Together with Chemnitz University of Technology, we are currently investigating an alternative to steel reinforcement, which is particularly interesting for track areas with stray current insulation.
An interesting project that we completed some time ago is the so-called Soundstone slabs. Floor markings are intended to warn pedestrians in particularly dangerous areas with an audible noise - a crackling sound - when they step on them. Here we worked together with a sound designer from the Ore Mountains, a specialist in the optimisation of industrial sounds - from the slamming of car doors to the crackling of sausages. Mechano-acoustic hollow bodies - which therefore work without a power supply - are permanently integrated into special concrete.

The test area for the stones, which emit a clearly audible crackling sound when stepped on, is located at the central bus stop. It has even made it into the 3sat science programme "Nano" and thus onto TV screens across Europe. Railbeton is not only active in Saxony. The Hamburg elevated railway relies on "Made in Chemnitz", as does the Zugspitzbahn and railways in Poland and Austria. The company has 125 employees, 113 of whom are men. It is therefore somewhat surprising that the company was honoured with the "Family-friendly company" award in the summer ...

What makes Railbeton a family-friendly company?
We are a family business: My father has worked for the company for almost 50 years, my partner is plant manager, I practically grew up here ... The connection to the company has always been there. It's the same with many of our employees, some sons have followed their fathers. The feeling of togetherness is important for a healthy working atmosphere. In recent years, we have increasingly encouraged this. We have taken up suggestions from employees, such as the children's Christmas party at the theatre or participation in sporting events. The latter of course also promotes health and strengthens team spirit. It's not just eleven footballers on the pitch, half the company is watching! Our boys almost regularly win the city's annual charity marathon with the relay team. These are also important and enjoyable events for my family. As far as we can, we also provide financial support, for example by paying the kindergarten costs. Of course, not every wish or idea can be realised. We have to work economically. We deliver for the seasonal construction business. Ten-hour shifts are unavoidable in the summer months. The shift system is also sometimes difficult for family fathers. At least a longer winter holiday is guaranteed...

The average age of 39 is quite low for the industry. Annegret Haas: "Word has already got around that we take such aspects into account. Applicants from our circle of friends and family are always our favourite. " And the company has a very informal atmosphere, which also becomes clear during the photo tour of the company. The boss knows practically all the employees and is greeted in a friendly manner ...

Railbeton Haas is now a family business again, but was nationalised in GDR times. How did you experience the reunification period and the reprivatisation in 1990?
The company was "state-owned" from 1972 to 1990, but my father also worked in the company during this time. The reprivatisation took place quite quickly. In 1990, we started the new era with all 60 employees. Some of them are still with us today, 40 years of service is not uncommon ...

The fact that Railbeton is a co-partner of the Küchwald park railway, supports the railway financially year after year and also supplies railway sleepers is almost obvious. But you'll have to explain to us that Railbeton's vans are on the road with advertising for the art collections.
Besides sport, art and culture are also very important to us in our private lives. In recent years, we have supported the art collections in one project or another, depending on the opportunity. In this specific case, Mrs Mössinger can be quite convincing. The tarpaulins on our lorries used to be mainly grey, so we came up with the idea of advertising the art collections on the back. Now the beautiful statue, otherwise only to be seen in the art collections (cast in concrete, of course), adorns our lorries. It's a great eye-catcher and a nationwide advert for our city.

Talking about leisure time, you said you do a lot of sport. Where is your favourite place to be?
We should be very happy that we live in a big city that is so green. Especially that it's so close to green spaces. I myself live on the Schloßberg, the Küchwald with its tennis court and park railway for the children is of course ideal. Otherwise, we like to go to the opera and theatre. The great museums and galleries that we have in Chemnitz are an enrichment for me personally.

... and as always: Do you really have to encourage people from Chemnitz?
Well, why? Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz? We are one of the cities that initially had great difficulties after reunification. But so much has happened in the meantime: the city has a new centre, we have repurposed historic buildings - the Gunzenhauser, the Schocken. This is a development that everyone can see and that you can't ignore. As I said, I see Chemnitz as a green city with short distances, we have everything here - art, culture, sports facilities. And of course, my family and friends and the company are the most important things for me in terms of my ties to Chemnitz. Chemnitz is my hometown, I was born here and only left the city to study. I'm not sad about that at all, on the contrary, it suits me! If we do feel like travelling to a bigger city, we can quickly get to Dresden, Leipzig, Berlin or Prague. At least by car it's good, but unfortunately the lack of long-distance train connections is a major drawback. But to give us courage? All in all, the city presents itself quite confidently to me. Chemnitz has a strong economy and is a distinctive city in its own way. A successful, green industrial city with so much culture - we need to talk about it a lot more and be proud of it!