- Engineering & Construction
- Environment
- Telecommunications
- Renewable energies
- Ventures
- Real estate
Respect. (from the lat. respectu) n. 1. respect; 2. consideration; high regard; 3. deference; compliance; veneration; 4. honour; worship; 5. relation; refererence...
We believe that everyone should be respected for their work, for their attitudes, opinions and options.
Rigor. (from the lat. rigore) n. 1. harshness; strength; 2.fig., severity; punctuality; accuracy.
There is no "more or less levelled", "more or less upright”, "more or less clean" or "more or less safe", but rather “levelled”, "upright”, "clean” and “safe". The rigour is reflected in our procedures, in time and in the rules to follow. In the light of moral and principles, being severe means being rigorous.
Passion. (from the lat. passione) n. 1. intense and usually violent feeling (affection, joy, hate, etc.) which hinders the exercise of impartial logic; 2. derived from a feeling; 3. great predilection; 4. partiality; 5. great grief; immense suffering...
Under the sign of passion – a text of the Portuguese poet Regina Guimarães – is our icon. Passion is to reveal great enthusiasm for something, favourable encouragement or opposite to something.
It is the sensibility transmitted by an architect or engineer through work.
Passion is the dedication to a project. Passion is a state of warm soul.
Loyalty. (from the lat. legalitate) n. the quality of being loyal; fidelity; sincerity.
Respect for the principles and rules that guide the honour and probity. Faithfulness to commitments and agreements undertaken, staunch character.
To remain loyal to the business partners because we depend on them and they depend on us.
Being trustworthy for being loyal.
Solidarity. (from the lat. solidare) n. 1. the quality of being solidary; 2. reciprocal responsibility among the members of a group, namely social, professional, etc.; 3. sense of sharing another’s suffering.
Being solidary is being a friend, offering our hand with genuine generosity and bringing joy and human warmth to those who, somehow, are marginalized. Being solidary is being more human. A solidary company is recognized as a fair and non-selfish company. A solidary company is a preferred choice in business. It is a more competitive company. Volunteering is a vehicle to solidarity. It is modern, fair, cultured, friend, it is a noble gesture of moral elevation.
Courage. (from the lat. coraticum) n. 1. bravery facing danger; intrepidity; to have audacity; 2. moral force before a suffering or setback; 3. [fig.] to input energy when performing a difficult task; perseverance...
Courage is essential in our life. Courage to face less pleasant situations when complex issues come up, not expecting random resolutions.
It is a value that we must highlight as opposed to the fearful, cowardly and laziness.
The courage to react to criticism not with an attitude of demotivation or sadness, but rather to search for the means and the action to overcome its own reason. This kind of courage, which is also an intellectual courage, is highly recommended.
Ambition. (from the lat. ambitione) n. 1. vehement desire of wealth, honours or glories; 2. expectation about the future; aspiration; 3. lust; greed…
Vehement desire to achieve a particular goal. Ambition not to resign ourselves. Ambition to take the best potential from ourselves. Ambition to deserve ourselves. Ambition to be athletes in our top-level competitive jobs. Ambition to beat our brands. Ambition to get the best deals with the maximum value, due to the high levels of proficiency and efficiency.
Esthetics. ESTHETICS (from the Greek aisthetiké, "sensitive") n.f. 1. Philosophy branch of philosophy that studies the beauty and nature of artistic phenomena; 2. author's own style, time, etc.; 3. harmony of shapes and colors, beauty; 4. set of techniques and treatments that aim to beautify the body.
We decided to build the company's economic foundations under a cultured, cosmopolitan and cool image. Because it is a charming state of being. Good taste because we are sustainable and we respect the planet. Good taste because we are sensitive. Good taste just because.
Responsibility. (from the lat respondere) n. the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct; a form of trustworthiness.
We must be certain that, before a choice, we chose what is best for both of us and not just the best for each one. Each employee is responsible for his negotiated activity and co-responsible if the co-worker does not fulfil his own task, thus preventing the common goal. A team is a set of individuals - is a whole. In the business game, as in social or family contexts, everyone must comply with their own relative position and we shall not permit that one of ours fails to be in our team.
Negócios
Prefabricated houses gain ground once more
Far from the image of prefabricated houses in the 1980s, the modular construction that is gaining ground in Portugal today ensures greater control of cost, time, and quality. Industrialization can reduce the time it takes to complete a project by 30% to 50% through allowing separate phases of the project to be undertaken simultaneously. It is also more environmentally sustainable, reduces the risk of accidents and noise pollution and will become cheaper than traditional construction. The initial investment needed for equipment and technology and a certain resistance from customers are also some of the disadvantages pointed out. But for three Portuguese companies that are already putting these solutions into practice, they could revolutionize the market.
dstgroup: “We’re preparing the electric car of housing”
At Smart Studios, 221 bathrooms were built in monoblocks.
“The project we are working on is of an order of magnitude similar to that which was seen in the transition of thermal cars to electric cars. Today, construction is akin to the thermal car and what we are preparing to commercialize is the electric car for the home - construction will be made in a factory environment and assembled at the final address.” This metaphor was put to Negócios by Leonor Afonso, Flávio Cardoso and André Pereira, directors of industrial units at the DST Group, which produces solutions such as 2D modular façades and “pods” (ready-made bathrooms or kitchenettes) in an industrial environment. The group has a monthly production capacity of 120 pods of diverse types and 200 2D façade modules.
The company is also handling the Living Lab project, creating a full-scale research laboratory in collaboration with the architect Norman Foster, with the aim of building around 100 modular units for housing, student accommodation, hotels, hospitals, and senior residences. It also has three new industrial units underway, with advanced technology and automated systems, covering an area of 30,000 square meters.
The three directors of DST assure that these innovative processes and systems “can significantly reduce the total construction time of a housing project.” In their opinion, “while conventional construction methods tend to be more time-consuming and have a greater risk of planning divergences, the new solutions make it possible to reduce time and risk.” This is because, they say, “off-site manufacturing allows the modules to be produced as the foundation work is being undertaken.” In other words, “the industrialization and standardization inherent to modular construction is noteworthy for its ability to undertake different phases of the project simultaneously, and so reduce total execution time by up to 40%.” Moreover, they explain, the manufacture of modules in a controlled environment reduces susceptibility to climatic conditions, thereby increasing process efficiency and reducing costs.
The initial investment needed to industrialize construction, particularly with the purchase of equipment and technology, is one of the disadvantages they point out. However, they believe that “in the long term these investments will pay off through efficiency, reduced operating costs and environmental and social advantages,” while also making up for the shortfall in human resources. Other challenges they underline are related to “a certain resistance” from professionals in the sector and customers, as this is “an innovative and disruptive system,” as well as “the transportation and storage space needed for the completed modules before assembly begins.” Even so, they say that “the benefits in terms of cost reduction, increased efficiency and sustainability are significant, and it is anticipated that the disadvantages will be mitigated through technological advances and the greater acceptance of these approaches in the sector.”