Search

In the mid-1950s the Hoesch steel company invested in the diversification of its products and started to develop plastic-coated steel. This composite material was named Platal, meaning ›plated steel‹. The trademark was registered in the early 1930s and is valid until today; production in the post-war era ranged from powder compacts and containers for the chemical industry to construction elements for prefabricated houses. During a phase of generally intensified advertised building with prefabricated elements in West Germany in the late 1950s/early 1960s, Hoesch started cooperative ventures with companies, engineers and architects experienced in system construction, like Ernst Neufert, and to expand existing production facilities. This chapter discusses the planning, decision-making and production processes of these prefabricated houses from a material and fabrication point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction experience of M.A.N. company was reflected in the M.A.N. steel house in the sophisticated panel construction and the simplicity of the joints. The designers met the requirement of creating a modern functional home with the exceptionally high-quality façade modules, efficient insulation, double-glazing of the windows and integration of the most modern building services for maximum living comfort. With the standardisation of construction elements, M.A.N. chimed with the spirit of the times, and the extremely short construction time of just a few weeks was also advantageous. While the contemporary clients appreciated performance and equipment, the traditional shape imitating cubature and façade design failed. Responding to the clients' wishes by developing variations distinguished the M.A.N. steel house as the most flexible prefabricated house. At the same time, it was precisely the individualisation that brought the manufacturing company disproportionately high production costs and prevented profitable series production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the contribution of one man company Heyde Windtechnik to the small wind force. It notes that small wind turbines are still manufactured products. It adds that the photovoltaic became cheaper and cheaper and the operation of small wind power unprofitable. It states that the price slide in photovoltaics influenced the economic environment negatively for the small wind industry.