Concrete has always been our focus. We have gained over 60 years of experience resulting in a number of innovative concrete products and solutions. We deliver our concrete products to various projects within the residential, commercial and infrastructure areas.
It all began back in 1955 when the first production plant for ready-mixed concrete was set up in Karlstad, Sweden, by Martin Thomas, an engineer with great entrepreneurial spirit.
The company grew quickly and in 1965 the first plant outside of Sweden was established in Flensburg, Germany. At that point the company had 200 employees, fifteen plants and the headquarters had been relocated to Gothenburg.
By 1975, Thomas Concrete Group had grown to 300 employees and 25 plants
In 1985 the company expanded again, this time into the United States. The move attracted much attention and would be of great importance to the group. Soon Thomas Concrete Group had 10 plants in two of the fastest growing states in the American South – Georgia and Florida. These plants alone produced more than twice as much as the Swedish counterparts. In 1988, the group´s American presence numbered 18 plants, 300 vehicles and 500 employees.
In the early 1990’s, we broadened our range of products in Sweden to include precast elements through the acquisition of a precast plant in Lane-Ryr. This purchase allowed us to extend our operations into Norway.
In late 1990’s Thomas Concrete Group expanded into the growing Polish market. Continuous expansion has been one of the most distinctive characteristics of the company’s development since its establishment in 1955.
In March 1999, Thomas Betong AB aquires Kullbergs Cementvaror in Heby, Sweden. The plant produces precast concrete elements.
Jan Thomas, the son of Martin Thomas, joined the company in 1982 and was the CEO of the group from 1987 to 2012. He was succeeded by the current CEO, Hans Karlander.
In March 2015 the group initiated an extensive brand development project. A common brand platform was launched and all companies in the group has from that date the same name and same brand identity.
Thomas Concrete Group AB is located in the same building at Södra Vägen in Gothenburg as in 1957. The group has maintained its local connection by slightly differ the common brand names depending on country: Thomas Betong AB (Sweden and Norway), Thomas Beton GmbH (Germany), Thomas Beton Spz.o.o (Poland) and Thomas Concrete Inc (USA).
We acquired 14 plants in the USA through the acquisition of Coastal and Williams Brothers.
Thomas Cement AB built another terminal in Uddevalla, which was finished in November 2017.
Acquiring 21 additional plants through the acquisition of Vulcan Ready-Mix in and around Atlanta has provided Thomas Concrete Inc. with many benefits. It filled in a few gaps in our service network and gave the company a new customer group. It clearly established Thomas Concrete Inc. as the natural market leader in the high-growth region of Atlanta.
Vierhusen was a strategic investment. A sand and gravel pit operation managed by our company Thomas Sand und Kies GmbH. With a production capacity of 450 tons per hour, this site ensures a long-term local supply of raw materials, enhancing the quality of the end product and promoting sustainable production through short transport distances. The materials from Vierhusen are versatile, suitable for ready-mixed concrete, precast concrete, asphalt, railway construction, landfills, and roadworks.
We acquired a new subsidiary within Precast – Sollebrunns Betongelement AB. The acquisition also includes 38.5 percent of the stock in the Polish precast company Scanbet.
We further expanded our operations in Sweden by in September of 2021, acquiring Stockholms Bulkhamn AB in Stora Vika, south of Stockholm. The company, which is one of the few bulk ports south of Stockholm, was undertaken by Thomas Cement AB.
We are expanding again, acquiring 7 plants in Germany and the USA. The acquisitions include the German concrete company Fertigbeton KUMM GmbH and the assets of the American concrete companies Palmetto Ready-Mix Inc and Benton Ready-Mix of Florence Inc. The plants in both Germany and the USA produce ready-mixed concrete for residential and commercial buildings as well as infrastructure projects.
Through our German subsidiary, Thomas Beton GmbH, we aquired the assets of Massfeller Transport GmbH, a company that delivers ready-mix concrete and certain precast concrete elements. The company is based in Herschbach in western Germany.
In addition to the Massfeller aquisition, we are now also the new majority owner of Polish Scanbet. We have owned 35 percent of the shares in Scanbet since 2021. With the acquisition of additional shares, Thomas Concrete Group has become the majority owner with a total of 84 percent.
Thomas Concrete Group, has during the recent years, been on a journey to further improve its financial results and to build a solid operational platform for the future. The company is creating a stronger group structure with employees working closer together as one united team, Team Thomas, irrespective of plant locations or national boundaries. At the same time, the group has a long term strategy to further develop the local business and local customer focus.
Key success factors for the Thomas Concrete Group has always included its independence from international construction and cement companies, which makes the Group a long term reliable partner to the entire construction industry and to various suppliers. Another key success factor has been a high level of technical competence, exemplified by the operation of the Group’s own Research and Development Centers i.e. C-lab in Gothenburg and one at each national subsidiary.
We care and act in the best interest of our customers, colleagues and company.
We constantly seek possibilities, having high focus on profit and results.
We are responsible and alert, always striving to be the best.
We support each other, sharing energy and having fun.
