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Lindab continues to operate as an air technology company in Hungary

Published

2026. 01. 01. 12:14
Photos: magyarepitok.hu / Tamás Andrónyi
Following the international reorganisation of the Lindab Group, the company's operations in Hungary will also change: the company has sold its profile business and will in future be present on the domestic market exclusively as an air technology company. This may lead to the strengthening of sustainable, energy-efficient building engineering solutions, and the use of recycled raw materials may also play a greater role in Hungary.

From January 2026, Lindab will continue to operate in Hungary with a focus on aerospace technology, as the company's profile business has been sold. In recent years, the Lindab Group has undergone a global reorganisation that has had a particularly significant impact on the Central and Eastern European region. The Swedish group's strategic focus is on ventilation technology.

 

Photo: magyarepitok.hu / Tamás Andrónyi

From a Hungarian perspective, the most significant change, apart from the sale of the profile business, is that it has become part of the Central European region, under German management. This is a step forward and a good opportunity, as the Hungarian economy is strongly influenced by the German market, Zoltán Csipszer, managing director of Lindab Kft., told our portal.

Explosive growth in the industry

Ventilation technology is one of the most dynamically developing industries, driven by a number of factors, such as the increasingly noticeable effects of climate change and the radical transformation of our lifestyles. We now spend 80-90 per cent of our time in enclosed spaces, Zoltán Csipszer pointed out. A large percentage of Europeans work, play and exercise in indoor environments. This change goes hand in hand with rising expectations. We like to visit places where we feel good and comfortable, and clean, fresh air is a basic requirement for this. With the rise in energy prices, another consideration has emerged: ensuring indoor comfort in an energy- and cost-efficient manner.   

 

Step by step towards a fossil-free value chain

As one of Europe's market-leading ventilation technology companies, Lindab is a pioneer in making clean air, which is essential for our health, available in enclosed spaces in a sustainable manner. The CEO emphasised:
„Lindab has a serious, internationally renowned development team. Within the group, Lindab Steel is able to purchase large quantities of raw materials through its extensive network of contacts and has the potential to engage in joint development with large steel companies. The aim of these developments is to create a fossil-free value chain from the mine to the finished steel product.”

 

Reuse: an option beyond recycling

There is so much steel in circulation in the world that it could almost render new production unnecessary, according to the CEO. The most energy-intensive stages in the steel production process are iron ore mining and steel manufacturing. This is another reason why it is important to return all possible steel products to the cycle, to recycling.

 

Zoltán Csipszer added that the ideal situation would be to eliminate this process altogether, not recycling but reusing products. However, even the European market is not yet fully ready for this due to people's desire for new things. According to the managing director of Lindab, this feeling is present in the majority of people, for example, in relation to housing. In other words, they think that they would rather buy and renovate a new property than build or have a new one built. This desire-driven thinking is difficult to translate into more conscious decisions. The first, said the managing director of Lindab, is to point out that

With products made from recycled materials, users do not receive something inferior or used, but rather something sustainable, good and high-quality.

 

Retrofitting instead of waste

Decisions taken at regulatory level could give significant impetus to processes such as the reuse of buildings through change of function.

In the case of public buildings, for example, we could set a good example by converting old, empty office buildings into schools, nurseries or even healthcare facilities. Their structures will remain sound for 50 to 100 years, and the wall structures and mechanical systems can be renovated and made energy efficient. The retrofit concept could be a viable and cost-effective solution in our country.

After all, there are currently many empty buildings that are wasting energy instead of being used by the community again.

 

Europe can overcome its dependence on raw materials and competitive disadvantage with a new way of thinking

The change in attitude is becoming increasingly important not only from a climate protection perspective, but also from an economic point of view. There are many strong opinions on whether action should be taken against climate change. Zoltán Csipszer pointed out that some of the world's major economic players have moved away from sustainability and towards high fossil fuel consumption. Europe has chosen the former path for cultural and other reasons, which poses economic challenges. At the same time, perseverance in the sustainability process is also a kind of compulsion. The managing director of Lindab emphasised:

„Europe does not have sufficient quantities of fossil fuels and raw materials needed for basic production. This shortage causes significant market and political dependence for the European economy, which is why it is important to talk more widely about recycling, reuse and sustainability.”

 

Cooperation, education

The Lindab places great emphasis on raising awareness and education in the field of sustainability. To this end, it cooperates with one of the leading sustainability players in the domestic construction industry, Magyar Környezettudatos Építés Egyesület (Hungary Green Building Council, HuGBC). The professional organisation has prepared the Zero Carbon Roadmap. This professional material, compiled with great care and professionalism, supports players in the construction industry, from decision-makers, designers and building material manufacturers to contractors, in working together to move step by step towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

 

Products made from recycled materials are manufactured in Biatorbágy

This year, the Lindab factory in Biatorbágy also began manufacturing air ducts made from 75% recycled steel. Zoltán Csipszer said that, from a manufacturing perspective, recycled steel behaves no differently from conventional steel, so there was no need to purchase new manufacturing technology or machinery. Air ducts made from recycled steel have the same airtightness, corrosion resistance, strength and durability as those made from traditional materials.

Environmentally friendly air ducts are continuously available in large quantities for the Hungarian market.

According to the plans, this „green product group” will be expanded with pressed and constructed fittings following the circular cross-section straight air duct elements.

 

The managing director informed us that the only disadvantage at present is that the raw material is slightly more expensive than conventional materials due to the recycling process. However, this can be offset by the fact that the carbon footprint of the entire building will be significantly lower during end use due to the incorporation of recycled products. This represents a competitive advantage in obtaining value-adding building certifications.

The first domestic pilot project is being implemented

Lindab has tested its recycled steel products in numerous international pilot projects. Hungary will soon join this group. In January, the first air duct elements made from recycled steel manufactured in Hungary will be installed as part of an investment by a food industry company. Lindab helped to implement the pilot project in order to set a good example and promote the acceptance of ventilation products manufactured with a lower environmental impact on the domestic market. Zoltán Csipszer said that the initial feedback from the contractors has been positive: there are no dimensional deviations or strength issues. After installation, the pilot project will continue to be documented with airtightness and other measurements. Our portal will also report on this according to our plans.  

 

Sustainability from the perspective of investors and contractors

With the spread of sustainable solutions, it is difficult to find any objections other than price in Hungary, according to the managing director of Lindab. This issue appears differently from the perspective of investors, for whom

The use of recycled products is an advantage in terms of green loans, rentability and ESG reporting. In the latter case, it can be converted into forints or euros to show what the use of sustainable solutions means in terms of selling or renting a building with a higher value at a higher price.

This is different in the general contractor phase, where less emphasis is placed on making the building more sustainable. After all, price competition and other market economy factors do not currently place this aspect at the forefront. But what is delayed is not lost, and the time may soon come when the use of green solutions will also be a competitive advantage at the general contractor level.

 

Instead of hypocrisy...

The managing director of Lindab emphasised that we should never be hypocritical and say that we will do everything we can for sustainability without any economic interest, because that does not work and is not sustainable. Companies are set up to generate profit, which is normal, as this is how further developments can be financed, new products and new raw materials can be brought to market, and our everyday lives can be improved. Zoltán Csipszer added, however, that sustainability is the key to our future. It will only be able to operate at full steam if it is economically viable. Until then, however, we must prepare for it, examine what we can do for a greener future, and those who can do something about it must engage in the application of greener solutions, because every step counts.  

Source: Link

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