Alkern confirms its development and plans to double in size by 2030

Offering solutions adapted to climate change, particularly at the heart of city planning and their infrastructure, Alkern advocates Made in France with a dense regional network of its locations which produce 100% recyclable solutions.

With over 50 production units spread across France and 2 in Belgium, employing a total of over 1000 people, Alkern, the leading independent specialist in precast concrete products, has a 2024 turnover of €246 million. This slight decline (-5,4% vs. the 2023 financial year at €260 million) is explained in particular by the major crisis facing the construction industry, with a drop of almost 50% in the number of constructions between 2022 and 2024!

Regarding the distribution of activity in 2024, construction solutions for the building industry still account for 32% of its turnover, but infrastructure and urban development solutions (now with 34%) constitute the main activity. Finally, comes Exterior Design, with 28%, the balance (5%) being made up of other activities (industrial framework/storage, quarry, etc.).

For Xavier Janin, President of Alkern: "By 2030, we expect our number of employees to almost double (1800), with a turnover that will also double, to around €500 million. We are recognized and a benchmark for our controlled impact on the world and our sustainable positioning. This growth, which should be supported in part by a return to a certain normality in the construction market, will necessarily involve maintaining a strategy of growth through acquisition."

Alkern: a multi-faceted development policy

Participating in the regeneration of cities and the creation of eco-designed and responsible living spaces, Alkern's credo is based on low carbon, sustainability and the circular/local economy, giving pride of place to frugality to offer concrete responses to resilience to climate change. In terms of carbon footprint, it should be noted that the manufacturer thus displays a carbon intensity of approximately 1,2 kg CO₂eq/euros of turnover for the 7000 references in its range of offers. For 2030, it should be noted that Alkern is aiming for an equivalent of 0,85 kg CO₂eq/euro of turnover, a drastic drop of 30% vs 2023…

For Xavier Janin, President of Alkern: "We innovate using precast concrete and beyond to better inhabit our homes and live better in our communities, sustainably. We take on innovative and exciting leadership in the way we build and design our living spaces, making them ever more virtuous, resilient, and easy to live in. We make our profession a source of pride for everyone, and our achievements a benefit for all."

Taking its social responsibilities to heart, particularly towards its employees, Alkern has focused for many years on improving the safety of its employees within its sites with the objective of 0 accidents. As an example, almost 2/3 of the sites have achieved this objective by 2024 and that more than 25 sites have more than 1000 accident-free days, with a current record of more than 8000 days on one of its sites. Moreover, a ritual has been in place for several years with a celebration organized on each site as soon as it reaches a multiple of 1000 accident-free days, including the planting of a tree evoking a sustainable future!

In addition to protecting its employees, Alkern has been strongly committed to a strong environmental approach for many years, with 47 sites already ISO 14001 certified. It should be noted that this policy of continuous improvement aims to reduce its carbon and environmental footprint. It is embodied in particular through the control of its resources (eco-design, integration of recycled raw materials, measurement and then reduction of water withdrawals, etc.) but also by the optimization of binders in terms of carbon content and weight per ton.

A policy that is perfectly in line with the evolution of the current world, since the scarcity of both natural and human resources constitutes a real challenge in the next 10 years, not to mention the consequences of climate change and the technological and regulatory revolution.

Carbon-free production and miscanthus sector: the new Alkern factory in Les Andelys (27)

Let us recall that Alkern was the winner of the “Innov Avenir Filière” call for projects at the end of 2022, with its “Seine-Eure” project. This involves the transformation of a factory (with a budget of nearly 10 million euros) which will be dedicated to the manufacture of bio-sourced and low-carbon products for construction and which incorporate miscanthus fibers. These new miscanthus concrete blocks, combining thermal performance, reduction of carbon impact and the valorization of renewable and local natural resources, are the result of the work of Alkern’s R&D department. A strategic turning point for Alkern whose objective is to eventually produce the equivalent of 3000 individual houses of low-carbon concrete blocks, generating a saving of 2000 to 3000 tons of CO₂.

Within this latest generation site, Alkern has recently deployed 20-level ovens that retain more of the heat created during water/concrete contact (vs. an average of 12-level ovens at other sites). In this low-carbon approach, Alkern has planned to be able to adapt concrete recipes using new generation binders using up to 5 different components to meet all future manufacturing needs.

Also, Alkern will reuse a large quantity of rainwater via 200 m tanks³, has opted for a hybrid construction combining new equipment with second-life parts from the recently dismantled Atton site. This Alkern production unit will be operational from the end of 2025.

Holcim's proposed acquisition, an accelerator of the Alkern strategy

Announced in May, Holcim's proposed acquisition of Alkern is subject to approval by the competition authority. This project is part of Holcim's NextGen Growth 2030 strategy, which aims to increase its presence in construction solutions so that this activity represents 50% of its total revenue by 2030.

Alkern will thus benefit from Holcim's contributions, which will ensure the continued autonomy of its teams, its brand, and its business model. Like other renowned French manufacturers (Lafarge and PRB, acquired by Holcim), Alkern will benefit from targeted synergies and access to new markets.

Innovations to support customers and markets

Exterior design: Signature paving, a real success

Launched at the end of 2023, the Signature paving stone, suitable for light vehicles (Class T5, format 15,2 x 15,2 x 6 cm), available in multiple shades and finishes (aged or classic), confirms its resounding sales success, generating an additional turnover of one million euros. Alkern also aims to double its sales by 2025, thanks in particular to the addition of new colors and a multi-format (7,6 / 15,2 / 22,8 cm x 15,2 cm).

Alkern continues to develop its range of solutions to adapt cities to the issues of sustainable development and control of urban planning costs (solidity, easy maintenance)

The TP offering is structured in particular with regard to the responses provided to the issues of sustainable development and urban planning cost control (solidity; maintenance cost constraints). Enhancing urban spaces and conveying the identity of cities, the Alkern TP offering also adapts to changes in society and soft and alternative mobility, while fully meeting accessibility standards. Thanks to possible custom manufacturing, it meets specific demands. Alkern is further strengthening its responses with the announcement of two new products: Linogreen and Cyclosecure.

LinoGreen: a new draining paving stone

This drainage slab is available in modules measuring 40 x 30 x 10 cm. Developed to provide a very modern and linear visual effect thanks to its bars which remain visible once in place, it offers a new design choice for urban planners. Providing an important drainage function, it can be combined with gravel or turf to be adapted according to its final use for car parks, driveways and public spaces (class BC5 according to PT126).

Cyclosecure: Alkern supports the safety of soft mobility

As part of the development of a new range of curbs dedicated to roads, the Cyclosecure 20 and Cyclosecure 30 corner curbs materialize the separation between traffic and pedestrian lanes. They meet the framework of CEREMA recommendations for cycle facilities and do not have sharp angles on the cycle side (so-called forgiving curbs). They are available in a washed structured finish and two dimensions: 200 wide x 1000 long x 250 mm high or 300 x 1000 x 250 mm.