AltusGroup Innovation Partner Graphic Concrete, which offers a patented technology for imparting permanent designs, patterns and images onto precast concrete walls, will be one of 10 select Finnish companies to visit the United States this September 17-21 to promote its innovation as part of the Grow to USA effort.
Organized by Kasvun Roihu Oy, a Finnish firm focused on supporting the growth of small- and mid-sized businesses in their country, The Grow to USA Effort centers on internationalization and increasing the success of partner companies from both Finland and the United States through educational opportunities and business meetings that enable learning about each other’s markets and consumer bases. Specifically, the fall 2018 program aims to expand Finnish businesses along the East Coast of the United States. Grow to USA Fall 2018 is Kasvun Roihu’s second go-to-market program. The first program took 10 companies to New York in January 2018 with encouraging results.
AltusGroup, a partnership of 19 precast concrete manufacturers dedicated to advancing innovative precast technologies, is the exclusive North American licensee of Graphic Concrete technology, which offers architects and the building team a vast range of aesthetic possibilities with precast concrete.
“With the help of a local contact (AltusGroup) we have had the chance to present our product to the right people. They saw the product’s potential and the cooperation agreement with the American partner was signed in the summer of 2017. The pieces fell onto place very smoothly,” said Kimmo Knaapila, Managing Director of Graphic Concrete. “(With Grow to USA), we are hoping to get relevant contacts from the constructor, developer and investor sectors. In addition, we hope to receive some help regarding legislation, recruiting, and how to start our own production in the U.S.”
“It is more important than ever to foster deep understanding of markets on more than just a regional level,” said John Carson, executive director of AltusGroup. “Through this partnership, we hope to take a big step forward in growing our business, and to help others do the same.”
Partners of Kasvun Roihu’s Grow to USA Fall 2018 program are the world’s second largest stock exchange Nasdaq, world’s 8th biggest network of accounting and advisory service company Crowe Horwath , a Finnish nonprofit network Boardman Grow, a global insurance broking and risk management company Marsh, U.S Market Entry consulting company Capteeni, a network of public sector actors providing internationalization services Team Finland, marketing agency for internationalizing growth businesses San Francisco, the leading Nordic startup investor Innovestor, research and consulting company Genbu and Finnish accelerator for global growth Business Finland.
About AltusGroup
The first-ever national partnership of precast companies, AltusGroup was founded in 2003 to develop, manufacture and market precast innovations such as the award-winning CarbonCast® line of products, ARCIS ultra-thin precast panels and the Graphic Concrete technology for imparting patterns, designs and images on concrete faces. With more than 30 structural and architectural manufacturing locations in the United States, the 19 North American and two international AltusGroup companies have an unparalleled network of plants, technical staff and sales personnel to ensure architects, engineers and contractors get the help they need as well as the consistent quality and performance they expect. For more information, visit altusprecast.com or call 866-GO-ALTUS.
About Graphic Concrete
Graphic Concrete Ltd manufactures and sells Graphic Concrete, a patented innovative product that enables durable patterns and images to be produced on prefabricated concrete surfaces. The technology was invented by interior architect Samuli Naamanka in the late 1990s. Samuli’s inspiration was to create an industrial product for large-scale surfaces, a tool with which architects could be more visually creative. Graphic Concrete has since been working with a wide range of projects in 25 countries around the world, ranging from industrial buildings to fine art.
