As Romania embarks on a transformative journey to enhance its urban landscape, Somet’s CEO, Andrei Stanciu, updates us on the company’s pivotal projects which showcase its commitment to innovation and sustainable development in construction.
A BLUEPRINT FOR VISIONARY INFRASTRUCTURE
Since our last interaction with Somet, several noteworthy developments have unfolded for both the company and those venturing to Romania.
“We have begun the execution of the Metro 6 (M6) line on the Bucharest Metro, which will connect our capital city to the largest airport in the country – Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni,” updates Andrei Stanciu, CEO.
The public transport network, which covers almost the entire urban area, will now link part of the subway system to Romania’s busiest airport, situated 10 miles north of Bucharest.
This provides several benefits, including enhanced convenience and accessibility, economic growth, and a positive impact on the community and environment by reducing traffic congestion.
“The contract, known as M6 Package 1.2, involves the construction of six metro stations along with tunnels. This year, we also signed a significant contract for the M6 line, referred to as M6 Package 2,” he adds.
In the two years that have passed following our last conversation with Somet, the company has evidently been busy focusing on various projects.
Another considerable endeavour is the large laser site in Măgurele, part of the Extreme Light Infrastructure – Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) facility which recently reached a record power of 10 petawatts (PW), the highest in the world.
This is a meaningful project for Somet, as Romania is pushing the boundaries of science and technology.
The ELI-NP is an important research centre for areas such as medicine and managing nuclear waste materials, and the company is helping to construct and equip the new High-Power Optics Centre, which, once completed, will manufacture components and mirrors.
This is alongside the modernisation of Henri Coandă International Airport and the consolidation of necessary structures.
“It is a challenging project because it is being done whilst the airport is in operation,” Stanciu declares.
Playing a crucial role in connecting Romania to the rest of the world, Henri Coandă International Airport is an essential part of the country’s transportation infrastructure, with a processing capacity of six million passengers per year. As such, Somet’s work is integral to its operations.
A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT
Successful completion of the M6 line will also greatly benefit passengers, and Stanciu notes that the project is progressing well, with effective advancements and increased production to help tackle the country’s transport challenges.
“Drumul Național 1 (DN1), the road along which the M6 line is being built, and its intersection with the Bucharest Ring Road are the busiest in Romania with the highest daily traffic. Near this intersection, the project includes a multi-story parking lot.”
“Various measures are being implemented to minimise environmental impact during construction, including dedicated truck-washing equipment, building monitoring, and logistics and suppliers with specific certifications,” he adds.
The M6 line is a key project for Somet and exemplifies the positive impact of its expanded management team. The company’s dedication and ongoing investment in training have additionally led to increased efficiency and better project execution.
“We have a growing and very capable team in which we invested a lot of time, and we have continue to search for bright and dedicated people,” informs Stanciu.
“We periodically participate in training modules dedicated to our company. For instance, this year, we had three different ones, with key people being the main focus. Without them, growth is too risky.”
“We have a growing and very capable team in which we have invested a lot of time, and we continue to search for bright and dedicated people”
Andrei Stanciu, CEO, Somet
INNOVATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION
Somet’s sister company, CONSPEC, plays a crucial role in contributing to the business by providing essential services and solutions that complement its offerings.
“CONSPEC manages the construction equipment we have, but recently it has also acquired its own equipment, such as cranes, excavators, front loaders, trucks, concrete pumps, and more. We also have a strategy to grow this business,” Stanciu outlines.
This expansion strategy is part of Somet’s larger vision to enhance its services in the construction industry by demonstrating its dedication to modernising operations through cutting-edge equipment and state-of-the-art machinery.
“The machinery we recently acquired is an excavator capable of digging from ground level to a depth of 25 metres. Additionally, the software we implemented this year includes a couple of IT robots that automate various processes within the company.
“However, one of the standout achievements is the implementation of a prefabricated column launched inside a barrette under bentonite protection, a groundbreaking innovation that, to our knowledge, has not been seen before in Romania,” Stanciu prides.
This significant project has garnered attention in local news, illustrating Somet’s leadership in adopting novel technologies.
The company also conducted thorough research across Europe but found no similar examples, further emphasising its pioneering efforts in the construction industry.
“We have a specific target for next year of around €70 million in turnover, and are entering another sector – wind farms”
Andrei Stanciu, CEO, Somet
MAKING STRATEGIC ADVANCEMENTS
Somet has recently completed various types of hotels and residential projects, whilst facing key challenges in these sectors.
“We have completed works for three hotels in the Romanian capital – Courtyard by Marriott Bucharest Floreasca, The Marmorosh Bucharest, Autograph Collection, and Novotel Bucharest City Centre. As for residential, there are quite a few; the most recent one we completed is Atria Urban Resort Phase 3. A beneficiary just launched the tender for Phase 4, and we are participating.
“One of the key challenges for these types of projects is the high percentage of manpower required from the total selling price, meaning out of the entire turnover, the labour cost is higher than, for example, an infrastructure project,” Stanciu informs us.
The company anticipates strategic developments in the coming years to sustain its position in the underground infrastructure market and remain competitive.
“We are following other upcoming metro projects like the Metro 5 line as we keep expanding our team. Also, we participated in the tender for the Metro 4 line extension, which is currently under evaluation by the beneficiary,” he reveals.
To support this, Somet employs a strategic approach to procuring materials and services for its diverse range of projects.
“We have a dedicated procurement department and are focusing on buying locally as much as possible, but sometimes also from abroad,” comments Stanciu.
Key plans and priorities for Somet in the next 12 months include achieving defined goals.
“We have a specific target for next year of around €70 million in turnover, and are entering another sector – wind farms,” he enthusiastically concludes.
As the company forges ahead with innovative projects such as the M6 line and continues to strengthen its capabilities through a skilled team and advanced technologies, it is making a lasting impact on the region’s infrastructure landscape.
Somet is indeed actively structuring the future of transportation, underpinning its mission to improve connectivity in Romania.
