MKT will this year complete work on a landmark extension at its headquarters in Germany, unlocking an immediate increase in production capacity. The increasingly internationalised business is anchored by a firm grounding in R&D and has a point to prove that sustainability and innovation go hand-in-hand. Torque Magazine speaks with CEO Mr Stefan Weustenhagen about market challenges, specialisations and the future for MKT.
How important is innovation and R&D to MKT?
For us, innovation is not a matter of possibility but necessity. Virtually all our concrete anchor products are made In Germany with raw materials sourced from Germany and neighbouring countries in Europe. While this is beneficial in regards to quality, lead times, supply chain stability and sustainability, this business model puts us in a challenging cost position. Our products have to be really good in order to compete successfully against cheap imports from outside Europe. Therefore, investing in R&D to come up with innovative anchor solutions is very important.
Take our wedge anchor BZ3 as an example: We drove the design strength to a level that was achievable as a maximum at that time. Its approved variable embedment depth was a game changer often copied since then and the ETA for its variation BZ3 dynamic was the first wedge anchor approved for fatigue applications. It is the perfect solution for moderate fatigue loads with real benefits for the user: Price competitive and easy to install. Developing and manufacturing this kind of product comes at a cost, yet its innovative nature allows us to drive our business.
MKT recently launched the BZ3 wedge anchor in HCR steel -is that now available to the market?
That is right. HCR. i.e. high corrosion resistant steel, is a very important steel grade in Europe when it comes to installations in environmentally aggressive conditions. By using 1.4529 material as HCR steel, you can create safe anchorages even in extreme atmospheric conditions like indoor swimming pools, road tunnels with de-icing, or chemical plants. Being able to offer the BZ3 in this steel grade to the customer was key to complete the BZ3 product family that is now available in steel zinc plated, A4 stainless steel and just HCR steel. In parallel, we extended the ETA for fatigue loading to the A4 steel grade.
MKT recently launched the BZ3 wedge anchor in HCR steel—is that now available to the market?
That is right. HCR. i.e. high corrosion resistant steel, is a very important steel grade in Europe when it comes to installations in environmentally aggressive conditions. By using 1.4529 material as HCR steel, you can create safe anchorages even in extreme atmospheric conditions like indoor swimming pools, road tunnels with de-icing, or chemical plants. Being able to offer the BZ3 in this steel grade to the customer was key to complete the BZ3 product family that is now available in steel zinc plated, A4 stainless steel and just HCR steel. In parallel, we extended the ETA for fatigue loading to the A4 steel grade.
Are you currently seeing more development in the fields of chemical anchors, mechanical heavy duty anchors or light duty anchors?
The product development of the entire anchor range has generally achieved a very high level. You can see an increasingly diversified product range in the anchor market. Load performance as well as cost reductions and user-friendliness, are the driving factors for development in our industry. Based on a solid product range that comprises all established mechanical and chemical anchor types, MKT has long extended its product range to serve more specialised applications, e.g. the bonded expansion anchor VMZ, which actually combines characteristics of mechanical and chemical anchors, and its variation VMZ dynamic for fatigue applications.
Based on our experience in this special field of application. MKT recently launched the aforementioned BZ3 dynamic which is quicker to install and can be loaded immediately. Moreover, MKT develops products and approvals for specific regional requirements, including chemical anchors complying with the German water resources act as a so-called WHG-compliant anchorage or glass capsules for chemical anchors fixing safety rails. For Scandinavia, MKT extended its concrete screw range by a line with zinc flake coating to address customer requirements in that market. However, for anchors used at lower load levels, you will see many interesting developments. MKT now offers the nail anchor N also for dynamic applications that allows fixing fire boards in tunnels where cyclic pressure loading matters.
You're working on an expansion of your premises - can you give us a few details and will it be largely for added production space?
Yes, that is a big thing for us that brings MKT's capacities to the next level. With a whopping 15,000 m2 of additional floor area, our new facility nearly doubles our floor area available for production and storage. It is very much needed as we are currently bursting at the seams. Having more space will allow us to optimise operations, and we plan to fill any empty space quickly with additional manufacturing equipment. The building, on our self-owned 50,000 m2 ground area, has been financed without any grants, and we hold options to expand the facility further. The first header machines are already up and running, but the official opening ceremony will be held only after completion in the fall of 2025.
You offer calculation apps to the market too—this seems to be an area that is getting more important—are you seeing calculation apps rise in popularity?
Having our own design software has always been very important to us. It gives you full control and the flexibility to serve the customer best. We just recently launched the next generation of MKT Anchor Design software with many new features. Most importantly, the graphic user interface is very intuitive to use and ensures a good user experience for the design engineer. With the new software, we are meeting requests we received from our customers, and there is more to come. Stay tuned for the release of an anchor plate design in 2025.
MKT has long-established offices in North America. How is the market doing there?
The anchor market in the US is undergoing some much-needed consolidation, yet the market is under immense pressure from Chinese imports, as you know. Everyone is anxiously looking forward to the new US administration's management of international trade, imports, and tariffs in future. This certainly will affect manufacturers in Europe, too. On the other hand, new opportunities might arise for manufacturers in the US. MKT Germany is supporting its sister company MKT USA to modernise and expand their manufacturing capacities. Whatever change the future will bring, MKT is ready for its challenges.
Other geographical areas you are developing business in?
We are increasingly internationalising our business, which historically has been very much focused on Germany and some neighbouring countries. We have successfully developed our business in Europe over the years and are now intensifying our presence in the Asia-Pacific region where today's growth markets are.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers?
MKT is taking sustainability seriously. We source raw materials and components locally with short transportation routes. We use a high degree of recycled steel material and use solely green energy to run our machines, already 15% of which come from our own photovoltaic and heat recovery systems. With newly installed photovoltaic panels we will boost this number to 35%. The new facility is built at the highest environmental standards, saving energy and resources: It will be gold certified by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) for sure, aiming even at the platinum certificate we are very optimistic to achieve. This would be the first ever awarded to a manufacturing plant, demonstrating that sustainability and innovation go hand in hand.
