Construction of the CATL factory in full swing: the WHB wins another contract

As is widely known, China's Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) is setting up its second European battery factory in Debrecen. The company, a world leader in energy storage and battery development, has customers such well-known car manufacturers as BMW, Ford, Tesla and Volkswagen. In addition to China, the soon-to-be-launched Shenxing battery, which will offer the most advanced technology and enable 400 kilometres on a 10-minute charge, will also be produced at the plant in Germany and Hungary.

The investment will cost around HUF 3,000 billion, in which - as we reported earlier - Hungarian-owned WEST HUNGÁRIA BAU Kft. played a major role, as WHB won the contract for the construction of the huge 110,000 square metre hall building. In another major achievement, CATL is also working on the secondary steel structures, roof and side wall cladding and finishing works for the giant CATL project near Debrecen. In total, the Hungarian company will have to install at least 5,500 tonnes of steel in the building, which will have a floor area of more than 110,000 m2.

During the construction of the structure, WHB will carry out the construction of a total of 110,000 square metres of hall space as part of the giant project in Debrecen:

• excavation of monolithic reinforced concrete headstocks,
• the construction of monolithic headstocks,
• the placement of precast reinforced concrete elements,
• and the installation of the steel reinforcement.

And in the course of the new tasks that have been awarded:

• the secondary steel structure,
• the roof and side wall cladding
• the siding,
• the installation of windows and doors,
• master-builder works,
• the basic electrical installation and
• carry out the basic assembly work of the mechanic.

Accolades pave the way

WHB is currently one of Hungary's most dynamically developing, fully Hungarian-owned, market-leading construction companies, with headquarters in Biatorbágy, a branch in Győr and Budapest, and a site in Paks. Thanks to continuous development, they provide specialist construction services in all segments of the construction industry throughout the country, from monument renovation to industrial, commercial and logistics facilities, education, healthcare and sports facilities.

Thanks to their outstanding professionalism and commitment to quality, the number of their outstanding references is increasing year by year, including many buildings and large-scale rural developments that have defined the Budapest cityscape and have won prestigious professional awards.

A focus on digitisation

The company's comprehensive digitalisation process is a major contributor to their success. They are setting up a training and innovation centre and a mentoring programme, because a key objective within the group is to design using the latest software and in an interactive way. In this context, there will also be standardised digital communication channels between the members of the group.

Thanks to this, they have already been chosen as a partner by many international companies, including Shanghai-based Semcorp, which is building a factory of more than 100,000 square metres in Debrecen's southern industrial park.

With more than 26 years of experience, the WEST HUNGÁRIA BAU Kft.'s track record and positive customer feedback are testament to the work invested.

A forward-looking approach is key

The WHB's past and present reflect this forward-thinking approach, which is why the group already has a number of subsidiaries to cover all aspects of the project, from the preparatory work to the finishing touches. The most important companies in this respect are the specialised companies, but there are of course companies in the group that can also carry out complete general construction. To sum up, the group has full vertical integration and also significant horizontal extra capacity.

The success of this latest tender is also due to the high standard of work carried out so far and the precise organisation. As a result, WHB has already started work this week on the construction of the battery factory in Debrecen: the crushed stone bedding is progressing at a brisk pace, paving the way for the installation of the industrial floor. The production and installation of thousands of tonnes of steel per month is also progressing at a good pace, a major task, especially in winter, that can only be carried out with conscious organisation.