ULMA Construction

ULMA Construction is a Spanish construction-equipment and engineering business within the ULMA Group. It designs, manufactures, distributes, rents, and supports industrialized formwork, scaffolding, shoring, and work-at-height systems for building, civil-engineering, rehabilitation, and infrastructure projects. Its offering combines physical equipment with technical design, project planning, logistics, assembly support, and on-site consultancy, allowing contractors to use temporary works systems adapted to the geometry, sequence, safety requirements, and logistical constraints of a project. The business originated in Oñati, in the Basque Country, in 1961 as Sociedad Cooperativa Industrial Talleres ULMA. The original activity was connected with packaging manufacture, but the company entered the construction sector in 1963. During that early expansion it introduced prefabricated scaffolding, establishing the basis for a construction-focused business that would later become ULMA Construction. The company subsequently developed systems for concrete formwork, temporary support, access, and collective protection, serving both conventional building projects and technically demanding civil works. ULMA Construction’s international development began with a subsidiary in Portugal in 1980 and continued through expansion into markets including France, Argentina, and Chile. During the mid-1980s, ULMA’s activities were reorganized into separate packaging and construction businesses. The later integration of ENARA Cooperative and the creation of the Oñalán Group provided a broader organizational structure; the group adopted the name ULMA Group in 1992. ULMA Construction now operates internationally across five continents, using a combination of local subsidiaries, rental and sales operations, engineering services, and project support. Its systems are used in a wide range of applications. In building construction, these include foundations, walls, columns, slabs, cores, high-rise structures, residential developments, commercial buildings, schools, universities, stadiums, corporate facilities, and religious buildings. In civil engineering, the company has supplied solutions for bridges, viaducts, tunnels, dams, ports, water-treatment facilities, power infrastructure, and other heavy-construction works. Rehabilitation and restoration work is another important application, including projects involving historic or architecturally complex structures. Safety is a central part of the brand’s proposition. In addition to formwork and support equipment, ULMA Construction supplies platforms, access ladders, scaffolding, walkways, perimeter protection, and other systems intended to provide collective protection and safer access around temporary works. The company states that some of its safety systems have been certified by organizations including GSV, AENOR, and AIDICO. Representative projects associated with ULMA Construction include the 10 Hudson Yards tower in New York, the La Pepa Bridge in Cádiz, the Mané Garrincha National Stadium in Brasília, the Prague Metro, the El Cajón Dam in Mexico, the Palace of Versailles restoration in France, and major developments or infrastructure works in Italy, Poland, Peru, and the United States. These references illustrate the brand’s emphasis on engineered temporary works rather than the sale of undifferentiated construction materials. ULMA Construction is also connected with the cooperative and social-responsibility traditions of the wider ULMA organization. In 2010, it contributed to the creation of the ULMA Foundation, which supports social, sporting, and sociocultural initiatives in the Basque Country. The company’s present positioning is that of an international specialist partner for contractors, engineering firms, and construction organizations requiring temporary-works design, equipment, safety systems, and field support.

ULMA Construction traces its origins to 1961, when Sociedad Cooperativa Industrial Talleres ULMA was established in Oñati, Gipuzkoa. The enterprise initially worked in packaging manufacture. In 1963 it entered the building sector and introduced prefabricated scaffolding, beginning the transition toward construction equipment and temporary-works systems. The construction activity gradually became an important part of ULMA’s development. Its internationalization began in 1980 with the establishment of a subsidiary in Portugal. Expansion later reached France and several Latin American markets, including Argentina and Chile. This international growth established the foundation for a business model based on local market operations supported by centralized product development, engineering, manufacturing, and technical expertise. Between 1984 and 1985, the cooperative organization separated its packaging and construction activities into distinct businesses. In the following year, ENARA Cooperative joined the organization, contributing to the formation of the Oñalán Group. The group was renamed ULMA Group in 1992. ULMA Construction subsequently developed as the group’s construction-solutions business, while the wider group retained activities in other industrial sectors. The company expanded its range beyond basic prefabricated scaffolding. It developed industrialized formwork for walls, columns, slabs, cores, bridges, tunnels, dams, ports, high-rise buildings, and other complex structures. It also provided shoring and propping systems, access platforms, work-at-height equipment, perimeter protection, and engineering services. This broadened offering enabled ULMA Construction to participate in both repetitive building work and technically specialized infrastructure projects. Its project portfolio has included construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance work across multiple categories. Examples cited in company and reference material include the 10 Hudson Yards tower and Empire Outlets in New York, Harborside in Jersey City, Atlantic Station in Atlanta, the Mané Garrincha National Stadium in Brasília, the La Pepa Bridge in Cádiz, the Prague Metro, the Milan Metro, the El Cajón Dam in Mexico, the Port of Bayóvar in Peru, the Jaworzno Power Station in Poland, the Skyliner tower in Warsaw, the Fondazione Prada museum in Milan, and restoration work at the Palace of Versailles. These projects demonstrate the use of the company’s equipment and services in high-rise, transport, industrial, cultural, marine, and hydraulic construction. Safety and access systems became an integral part of the company’s proposition. ULMA Construction supplies working platforms, ladders, scaffolding, walkways, and perimeter-protection systems designed to support collective safety around formwork and other temporary works. Reference material identifies certifications or technical recognition associated with organizations including GSV, AENOR, and AIDICO. The company’s cooperative heritage also has a social dimension. In 2010, ULMA Construction contributed to establishing the ULMA Foundation, which supports projects of public interest in the Basque Country, including social, sporting, and sociocultural initiatives. Today, ULMA Construction operates internationally through sales, rental, technical project development, and on-site consultancy. Its core identity is that of an engineered temporary-works partner rather than simply an equipment manufacturer, combining products with design assistance, project planning, logistics, and field support.

• 2010

  Creation of the ULMA Foundation

  [1]ULMA Constructionen.wikipedia.org

  ULMA Construction contributes to the creation of the ULMA Foundation, supporting social, sporting, and sociocultural projects in the Basque Country.

• 1992

  Oñalán becomes ULMA Group

  [1]ULMA Constructionen.wikipedia.org

  The group adopts the name ULMA Group, the wider cooperative structure under which ULMA Construction operates.

• 1986

  Formation of the Oñalán Group

  [1]ULMA Constructionen.wikipedia.org

  ENARA Cooperative joins the organization, contributing to the formation of the Oñalán Group.

• 1984

  Organizational separation of business activities

  [1]ULMA Constructionen.wikipedia.org

  The cooperative begins separating its packaging and construction operations into distinct businesses during the 1984–1985 reorganization.

• 1980

  First international subsidiary

  [1]ULMA Constructionen.wikipedia.org

  ULMA establishes its first subsidiary in Portugal as its construction activities begin expanding beyond Spain.

• 1963

  Entry into the building sector

  [1]ULMA Constructionen.wikipedia.org

  ULMA begins working in construction and introduces prefabricated scaffolding, creating the foundation for its later construction-equipment business.

• 1961

  ULMA is established in Oñati

  [1]ULMA Constructionen.wikipedia.org

  Sociedad Cooperativa Industrial Talleres ULMA is founded in Oñati, Gipuzkoa, initially operating in packaging manufacture.

An international specialist in engineered formwork, scaffolding, shoring, access, and collective-protection solutions for building, civil works, rehabilitation, and infrastructure construction.

• Formwork

  Industrialized formwork systems

  ULMA Construction’s formwork portfolio is used to shape and support concrete elements including walls, columns, slabs, foundations, cores, bridge decks, tunnels, dams, and other large structures. The systems are intended for repeated and engineered construction sequences, with solutions adapted to building geometry, load requirements, cycle times, access conditions, and site logistics. The company also provides technical planning and project-specific support around formwork selection and use.

• Scaffolding and access · 1963

  Scaffolding systems

  ULMA supplies prefabricated and modular scaffolding systems for construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and work at height. Applications include access around buildings and infrastructure, temporary working platforms, walkways, and support for complex construction environments. Scaffolding is offered together with technical advice, project planning, rental or sale options, and site support depending on market and project requirements.

• Shoring

  Shoring and propping systems

  Shoring and propping equipment provides temporary support for slabs, decks, structures, and other construction elements while permanent components are built or rehabilitated. ULMA applies these systems in building, bridge, industrial, infrastructure, and restoration work, often combining equipment with engineering calculations, layout planning, erection guidance, and dismantling support.

• Construction safety

  Safety, access, and collective-protection systems

  The company provides working platforms, access ladders, scaffolding walkways, perimeter protection, and systems for protecting workers around formwork, slab edges, openings, and elevated work areas. These products extend the brand beyond temporary structural support into integrated site-access and collective-safety solutions. Reference material associates ULMA safety systems with certifications or technical assessments from organizations including GSV, AENOR, and AIDICO.

1. 1ULMA Constructionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ULMA Construction official websiteulmaconstruction.com