Ramboll

      Ramboll
      Type Private
      Industry Engineering
      Consultancy
      Founded Copenhagen, Denmark (1945)
      Headquarters Orestad, Denmark
      Key people Jens-Peter Saul, CEO[1]
      Revenue Increase DKK 6,891 million (2011)[2]
      Net income Increase DKK 312.4 million (2011)[2]
      Employees 9,521 (2011)[3]
      Website www.ramboll.com

      Ramboll Group A/S (also known as just "Ramboll") is a consulting engineering group with worldwide operations.

      History

      Ramboll was founded in October 1945 as "Rambøll & Hannemann" in Copenhagen.[4] In 1991 the company merged with "B. Højlund Rasmussen A/S" into "Rambøll, Hannemann & Højlund A/S".[5] In 2003 the company merged with Swedish Scandiaconsult making it the largest consulting engineering business in the Nordics.[6]

      In the summer of 2007, Ramboll broadened its geographical presence by acquiring the UK based engineering firm Whitbybird. When Whitbybird was acquired the company employed 680 people and had offices throughout the UK and in Italy, India and the United Arab Emirates. In April 2008, Ramboll's presence in India was strengthened by acquiring the Indian telecom design company ImIsoft.[6]

      1945–1991: Foundation and initial growth

      Ramboll was founded in October 1945 as "Rambøll & Hannemann" in Copenhagen by Børge Johannes Rambøll (1911-2009) and Johan Georg Hannemann (1907-1980). Both had worked and studied at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Their first projects included a design for the roof of a clothing factory, and the 'Ballongyngen' ride at Tivoli Gardens theme park in Copenhagen.[7] They won major contracts with the Danish broadcast engineering services (‘Radioingeniørtjenesten’) to erect broadcast towers in Denmark and Norway after 1950. This led to work with high-tension-line towers for power plants, as well as with the Norwegian telephone directorate. In addition to offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus, a branch was opened in Oslo in 1976.[7]

      1991-2003: Expansion in the Nordic region

      In 1991 the company merged with "B. Højlund Rasmussen A/S" to form "Rambøll, Hannemann & Højlund A/S".[7] A further merger with Scandiaconsult in 2003 made the company the largest consulting engineering firm in the Nordic region.

      2003-: International growth

      In 2006 the company acquired Storvik & Co in Norway.[8]

      In August 2007 Ramboll bought privately owned UK based engineering firm Whitbybird. At the time of the acquisition Whitbybird employed 680 people, with offices throughout the UK and in Italy, India and the United Arab Emirates, making this the largest acquisition made by the Ramboll Group since the merger with Scandiaconsult in 2003.[9]

      In March 2011 Ramboll bought privately owned UK based engineering firm Gifford (company). Gifford also has offices around the world. [10]

      Also in March 2011, Ramboll acquired the power engineering section of Dong Energy, Dong Energy Power.[11]

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      Ownership

      All shares in Ramboll Group A/S are owned by the Ramboll Foundation (approx. 93% of the shares) and by Ramboll employee shareholders called Ramboll Partners (approx. 7% of the shares).[12]

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      Organisation

      Ramboll Group A/S includes business units with their daughter companies in several European countries, including all the Nordic countries, as well as companies and offices in the Baltics and project offices all over the world.

      Management

      The Ramboll Group Directors' Forum (GDF), comprising Group CEO, Group CFO, Group Chief Development Officer, Group Chief Market Officer, Managing Directors from the eight Strategic Business Units and the four Service Area Directors, is the operational managing body of the Ramboll Group.[13]

      Business units

      • Ramboll Denmark
      • Ramboll Sweden
      • Ramboll Norway
      • Ramboll Finland
      • Ramboll UK (formerly Ramboll Whitbybird)[14]
      • Ramboll Management
      • Ramboll Informatik
      • Ramboll Oil & Gas
      • Ramboll Telecom [15]
      • Ramboll Energy [15]

      Other international units

      • Ramboll Russia
      • Ramboll Estonia
      • Ramboll Lithuania
      • Ramboll Latvia
      • Ramboll Poland
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      Large scale projects

      Satellite image of the Oresund Bridge.

      Ramboll is involved in many international large scale projects. They have for instance had a key role in the work on the Oresund Bridge (1995–1999), connecting Copenhagen, Denmark with Malmö, Sweden.[16] The bridge is one of the most important infrastructures in Denmark. The international European route E20 runs across the bridge, as does the Oresund Railway Line.

      Ramboll supports ESO during the construction of the E-ELT.[17]

      They were also involved in the planning and construction of the Great Belt Bridge (1988–1998).[18] This bridge connects Halsskov on Zealand with Knudshoved on Funen, 18 kilometres to its west, a two-track railway and a four-lane motorway had to be built, aligned via the small islet Sprogø in the middle of the Great Belt.

      The Copenhagen Opera House 2005

      Ramboll was the leading engineer on the new Royal Danish Opera, The Copenhagen Opera House.[19] As the lead consultant on the project, Ramboll delivered engineering design, fire & safety, project management, structural engineering, geophysical engineering, geotechnical engineering, HVAC engineering, electrical engineering, bridge engineering, traffic engineering, traffic planning and traffic safety services.[20] This was carried out between 2001 and 2004.

      A characteristic feature of the Opera building is the gigantic roof covering the entire building stretching all the way to the harbour front. Measuring 158 metres x 90 metres, the Opera roof is one of the largest roof constructions in the world. The innovative design of the roof, which Ramboll has projected in cooperation with Henning Larsen Architects, was the reason for the Opera winning "The 2008 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award". The Committee that selected the Opera as the winner compliments the design of the roof and the use of bridge construction principles. These principles provide strength, stability and stiffness to the 43 metre long roof all the way from the columns of the foyer to the furthest corner of the roof.[20]


      Ramboll is currently working on several projects concerning linking the infrastructure of the Nordic countries.[21] Among these are projects under the Trans-European Networks and the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link, the world's longest immersed tunnel.

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      References

      1. ^ "Group Executive Board - Ramboll Group". ramboll.com. 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012. 
      2. ^ a b "Annual Report 2011". Ramboll. March 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012. 
      3. ^ "Annual Report". Ramboll. March 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2012. 
      4. ^ "Founding Fathers". Ramboll. September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-29. 
      5. ^ "1990-2002". Ramboll. September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-29. 
      6. ^ a b "2003-present". Ramboll. September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-29. 
      7. ^ a b c "Rambølls historie". Ramboll. October 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2012. 
      8. ^ "Storvik & Co AS blir en del av Rambøll" (Press release). Rambøll Norge. 2007-08-16. Retrieved 2007-07-02. 
      9. ^ Choueke, Mark (2007-08-12). Ramboll kops rival Whitbybird. London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-09-13. 
      10. ^ Choueke, Mark (2011-03-29). Ramboll invests in gifford. London: Gifford.uk.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06. 
      11. ^ Rambøll buys Dong's expertise in power plants. dbdh.dk. 2011-03-31. Retrieved 2011-04-06. 
      12. ^ "Ramboll Foundation". Ramboll. September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-29. 
      13. ^ "Ramboll Group Management". Ramboll Group. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-29. 
      14. ^ "Worldwide". 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
      15. ^ a b "Worldwide". Retrieved 2011-07-29. 
      16. ^ "ØRESUND FIXED LINK PROJECT". 2000. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-04. 
      17. ^ "Consultancy Contract for E-ELT Dome and Main Structure Awarded". ESO Announcement. Retrieved 1 June 2013. 
      18. ^ "Contracts under EU-tender". 2000. Retrieved 2007-07-04. 
      19. ^ "THE ROYAL DANISH OPERA". 2005. Retrieved 2007-07-06. 
      20. ^ a b "Copenhagen Opera House". Ramboll. September 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
      21. ^ "E39". 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-04. 
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      External links

      Coordinates: 55°37′38.52″N 12°34′45.37″E / 55.6273667°N 12.5792694°E / 55.6273667; 12.5792694

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      Last modified on 2 June 2013, at 13:41