History

The beginning in Ølensvåg

Ølen Betong AS was set up in 1974 as a cooperative company between Berge Cementstøperi (foundry) and Sunnhordland Støperi & Bygg. Both had traditions going back to around 1950 with the production of various concrete goods. These companies ceased trading in 1977, when Ølen Betong AS took over and moved in to new production premises at Bergsneset in Ølen Municipality, approx. 50 km east of Haugesund, Norway.

The Ølensvåg factory expands

Later major investments were made in terms of buildings, new production machines as well as expansion of the storage areas. In addition to the factory and mixing plants a separate workshop, storage facility and administration building was built as well as a quay facility with covered silos for the various raw materials. In 1994 a silo and depot facility for cement was built, with a capacity of 5500 tons.

Growth in the concrete industry

The production hall for concrete goods was extended by 20 metres in i 2006, to a total area of 3050 m². In addition, there are 2 Rubbhalls (plastic prefab warehouses) used for storage, at 360 m² and 500 m² each and a modern workshop for large vehicles at 750 m².

Ready-mix concrete

Ready-mix concrete has been one of the companies’ most important cornerstones right from the start. From the beginning of the 80s there was a decision to invest in mobile mixing plant which could be moved quickly and assembled for the production of ready-mix concrete directly at large construction sites. The first project was the Kårstø development. In the years that followed, the mixing plants were in use at the biggest developments throughout Norway, including the Snøhvit development and OPS E-18.

In 2001, the company took over a concrete mixing plant at Stord as well as establishing a large mixing plant in Bergen. In 2002, the company established itself with 2 mobile and one stationery mixing plant at Hammerfest, for deliveries to the Snøhvit project at Melkøya in Finnmark. Later the company acquired shares in Ribe Betong AS in Southern Norway, Agder Betong AS and Sandnes Betong AS in Rogaland and Agder, as well as Kirkenes Ferdigbetong AS in Kirkenes and Vadsø.

In 2013, concrete production was going on in 20 places in Norway as well as in Murmansk (Russia).

Tunnel linings in Sveio

In the late 80s Ølen Betong took over a precast concrete unit factory in Mølstrevåg in Sveio municipality. This has been highly modernised and equipped, both when it comes to the production facilities and the yard areas. In 2004-2005, the factory was modernised and expanded to a total indoor factory area of 4,600m². Furthermore, a new major expansion of the storage area was started in 2013 combined with production of aggregate. Today it is Europe’s largest specialized factory for precast units for fire, water and frost proofing of tunnel linings with deliveries throughout Norway.

Precast buildings

In 2011 Ølen Betong took over a modern upgraded precast unit factory designed for all types of buildings in Sandeid. By 2012-2013 this was extended with a 1800 m² hall and production of tunnel linings also began.

Transport and logistics by sea

The continued deliveries and competitiveness of the precast concrete units factories across the country are dependent on having large piers in Sveio and in Sandeid. Boats are loaded with up to 550 units per sailing (3000 tonnes). Further transport into the tunnels is carried out by special vehicles on road. The factory in Ølensvåg also has its own pier where products are delivered by boat, and raw materials for the production arrive by sea to all facilities with a pier.

Setting up in Russia

After the discontinuation of the Snøhvit facility in 2006, Ølen Betong chose to continue with investment in the North. Expecting increased activities in the Barents Sea region, a Russian subsidiary company was set up in late 2007, which opened a factory for ready-mix concrete and precast concrete elements in Murmansk in 2008. Later, aggregate production followed. The company in Russia employs 20-25 people.

By december 2022 OOO Olen Betong and Ølen Betong AS parted ways and no longer has the same ownership.