Creating a better future,
step by step

Martifer celebrated its 30th anniversary on 21 February. It was on this day that, in 1990, the company was founded in the area of metallic constructions, materialising the dream of two brothers.

At West Sea, the year began with the award of four more Polar Expedition “Ice” Class vessels for Mystic Cruises. World Traveller, World Seeker, World Adventurer and World Discoverer will fill the construction areas so that in 2023 West Sea has 7 polar vessels sailing.

Martifer Metallic Constructions consolidates its position as a service provider in the area of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) with the award of several projects.

Also, in the area of metallic constructions, Martifer wins and is responsible for the completion of the Gare de Mons project in Belgium, with architecture by Santiago Calatrava.

At Martifer Renewables, a Ready-to-Build Wind Farm in Poland was sold, and the Babadag wind farm in Romania had its best year ever in terms of operational results.

The baptism of the Portuguese Republic Ship NRP Setubal was held at West Sea. This is the second military ship built by the consortium West Sea and Edisoft for the Portuguese Navy.

The baptism ceremony of the polar vessel World Explorer, the first oceanic vessel fully designed and produced in Portugal, is held at the West Sea shipyard. The World Explorer is 126 metres long and has 16 metres breadth and, although it is not a very large cruise ship, it is unique in its purpose - luxury travel to extreme weather locations.

In Mozambique, Martifer-Visabeira is awarded the construction of the liquid bulk storage terminal for Galp, in Beira. An important step in the oil & gas industry.

Following the Group's asset rotation strategy, Martifer sells the wind farms Vila Franca de Xira and Baião, which together have an installed capacity of 18.9 MW.

In the naval segment, the first ocean patrol vessel (OPV) built in Viana do Castelo by West Sea named NRP Sines was delivered to the Portuguese Navy. The Trailing Suction Split Hopper Dredger (TSSHD) José Duarte was also delivered to Dragus INT LDA, the first one built by West Sea. West Sea is also awarded the construction of two more polar expedition vessels, the World Voyager and the World Navigator, and the construction of two more hotel ships, the Amadouro and the Arosa.

The Floresta project was inaugurated, located in the municipality of Areia Branca, in Brazil. Martifer Renewables was responsible for the development of a 100 MWp solar park.

Martifer Metallic Constructions wins the Global Maintenance Contract of the Sines Refinery (3 years), which includes maintenance work (preventive, corrective, systematic, etc) in several fields.

Martifer has been participating in the ITER project since 2014. An important step was taken with the Heavy Lift of 25 metres from the temporary platform to its final position, in the pit of the Tokamak building. The fusion energy reactor, the heart of the complex, will be installed in this giant cylindrical structure.

At the General Meeting of 2018, a new Governance Model was approved aimed at promoting an integrated and transversal vision and management of the Group, a conscious ambition of the Group's growth.

Martifer Group won a contract for the supply and assembly of metallic structure for the Geneva International Airport - the East Wing. This is the first project in this country. It is a reference work due to its complexity and technical requirements.

West Sea wins the construction of a luxury cruise ship to navigate Antarctica, the World Explorer. The World Explorer is 126 metres long and has 16 metres breadth and, although it is not a very large cruise ship, it is unique in its purpose - luxury travel to extreme weather locations. West Sea was also awarded the construction of the Douro Splendor, a hotel ship to sail in the Douro river.

West Sea delivered to the client two hotel ships that were baptised Douro Elegance and Douro Serenity. Including these two ships, West Sea and Navalria have in their construction portfolio 9 hotel ships sailing in the Douro river.

Martifer Renewables wins a tender in Argentina for a 100 MW solar project located in the province of San Juan, approximately 1,000 km from the capital Buenos Aires. This is the first major step in the development of the Renewables' activity in Argentina.

The Âncora project has four wind farms in operation (171.6 MW). This project includes two wind towers coated with elements projected and designed by two internationally renowned artists, Vhils and Joana Vasconcelos, in what is considered the largest contemporary art project in height.

In the naval segment, the first ship built by West Sea in Viana do Castelo was delivered to the client. Viking Osfrid is a vessel very similar to the two hotel ships built in 2014 by Navalria (Viking Hemming and Viking Torgil). It is 79 metres long and accommodates 106 passengers.

West Sea signs a contract with the Portuguese Navy for the construction of two Ocean Patrol Vessels.

In October, Martifer announced the sale of the metallic constructions segment in Brazil; however, it continued the renewable energy activity in the country.

Martifer Renewables concluded and sold its fourth wind farm in Poland.

Martifer signs the contract for the sub-concession of the lands and the infrastructures of the old Viana do Castelo Shipyard (ENVC). It is in May that West Sea, the company created by Martifer to administer the sub-concession, starts operatiions in Viana do Castelo. At the end of the year, West Sea signs the first shipbuilding contract.

Brazil hosts the FIFA World Cup. Martifer participated in the construction of four stadiums: Fonte Nova Arena (Salvador da Bahía), Castelão Arena (Fortaleza), Amazonia Arena (Manaus), and Mineirão Stadium (Belo Horizonte) with the construction of photovoltaic solar roofing.

Martifer Solar completes a photovoltaic project in the United Kingdom and reaches around 560 MW installed worldwide.

The company Martimetal based in Algiers is established, which marks the beginning of Martifer's activity in Algeria.

Martifer wins the public tender for the sub-concession of the shipyard of Viana do Castelo.

Martifer Solar builds in Mexico the largest solar park in Latin America and reaches about 425 MW installed.

2012 is the year of full operation of the Martifer Metallic Constructions plant in Brazil. With the capacity to produce 12,000 t of steel structures per year, this plant aims to respond to the great projects of the company in Brazil.

In Saudi Arabia, Martifer wins two reference projects in this new market.

Martifer Solar is awarded its first contract in Brazil: a PV installation with 300 kW in the General Motors plant in Joinville, State of Santa Catarina. The company continues its internationalisation process in Ukraine, Romania and Mexico.

In Mozambique, Martifer Amal is created in partnership.

The Group increases its exposure to markets outside Europe with its entry into promising markets. In the metallic constructions area, the first semester highlights the start of the construction of a metallic structures plant in one of the markets with the biggest growth potential in the next years: Brazil. In the solar segment, the first photovoltaic solar energy project in India is awarded in June.

In February, and following the strategic guidelines of the Group to focus itself on its core activities, Martifer sold its 50% participation in REpower Portugal to REpower Systems AG.

Martifer sells 11% of Prio Foods and Prio Energy, thereby reducing its participation from 60% to 49% in these companies and in the respective subsidiaries.

Martifer Metallic Constructions acquires 45% of the share capital of Martifer Alumínios from

HSF SGPS, owning the company's entire capital.

Martifer Solar completes the construction of the two largest photovoltaic solar plants in the African Continent in the islands of Sal and Santiago, in Cape Verde. It signs an agreement with EDP to sell 60% of the company Home Energy.

At the end of the year and following the asset rotation policy of Martifer Renewables, the Group sells the wind farms held in Germany, Bippen and Holleben, with 53.1 MW of installed capacity.

The metallic constructions plant in Angola, 15,000 tonnes of capacity, begins production in the second semester of the year.

Martifer and Hirschfeld create a Joint Venture for the production of wind energy components in the USA.

Martifer Renewables surpasses 100 MW of installed capacity in May and, at the end of the year, it is awarded 217.8 MW in the first wind power auction held in Brazil.

The President and the Vice President of Martifer, Carlos Martins and Jorge Martins are awarded Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 in the second edition of the national award attributed by Ernst & Young.

Martifer Energy Systems acquires Navalria, starting a new activity segment.

The industrial units for the assembly of wind turbines, components for wind farms and PV modules start producing.

Martifer is awarded participation in the construction of Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport, in Ireland.

In February, Martifer, together with the Indian Group Suzlon, launches a takeover bid on Repower Systems AG. The consortium takes control of 56.93% of the company, and, thanks to an agreement between Areva and Suzlon, the consortium took control of 87.1% of the voting rights of Repower Systems.

The Ventinveste consortium - formed by Martifer, Galp Energia, Enersis, Efacec and REpower Systems AG - came in first place in "Phase B" of the public tender launched by the Portuguese government for the attribution of 400 MW of injection capacity and the respective reception points associated to the production of electric power in wind farms.

In June, the Initial Public Offer (IPO) for the Company was concluded. The Company received 199 million euros in funds through the offer of 25 million shares which were placed at the peak of the price range, 8,00€ per share. After the IPO, the Company had 65 thousand new shareholders.

Martifer Solar formalised the contract with Spire Corporation for the turnkey supply of the automated production line of photovoltaic modules with an annual capacity of 50 MW.

The Group was also awarded "Organic Grower of the Year 2007” by A.T. Kearney’s "Global Growth Assessment

Martifer Solar is established to design, conceive, produce and install solar panels.

In March, through the Ventinveste Consortium, Martifer submits its application to the tender for the attribution of licences for the production of wind energy in Portugal.

At the end of the year, Martifer is awarded the 1st prize of excellence for the promotion of new areas of investment and business, awarded by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania.

The metallic structures activity widens its market to Central Europe, opening branches in Romania, in the Czech Republic, in Slovakia and in Germany.

Martifer becomes one of the reference shareholders of the German company REpower Systems AG, one of the largest worldwide producers of wind power equipment. In June, REpower Portugal is established, aimed at the market of building and giving assistance to wind farms and assembling wind turbines.

Martifer Group creates another company called M Energy (today, Martifer Renewables) with the main purpose of centralising the management of all the activities in the area related to the promotion of renewable energy.

Investments are initiated in the area of Agriculture and Biofuels in Romania.

Martifer begins activity in the renewable energy equipment sector, through the company Martifer Energia. This company is dedicated to the production of steel towers for wind turbines and is based in the Industrial Zone of Oliveira de Frades.

Martifer SGPS, S.A. is created with the objective to manage the social holdings of all Martifer Group companies.

Following its internationalisation process, Martifer enters Poland with the establishment of an industrial unit in Gliwice, which starts production in the second half of 2004.

Martifer participates in the construction of the main stadiums for the UEFA Euro 2004: Dragão Stadium, Luz Stadium and Alvalade XXI Stadium.

Martifer builds its second industrial unit in Portugal, located in Benavente, to meet the construction needs for the UEFA Euro 2004 stadiums.

In November, Martifer begins its internationalisation process in Spain intending to become one of the reference companies in metallic constructions in this country.

It starts the construction of the second factory in Portugal, in Benavente, to support new projects.

In Oliveira de Frades, new facilities are inaugurated.

In Portugal, Expo 98 takes place with Martifer participating in several projects, such as the Vasco da Gama Tower and the SONY Square.

In May, the company which already has 250 employees is transformed into a Public Limited Company, therefore, changing its shareholder structure. The company's share capital is held by MTO SGPS (currently I’M SGPS) and ENGIL SGPS.

In February 1990, Martifer is incorporated as a limited company, with the share capital of approximately 22,500 Euros (at the time: 4,500 thousand Escudos) and its headquarters are in the Industrial Zone of Oliveira de Frades, where it continues to be today.

At the end of its first year of activity, Martifer had 18 employees and a turnover of 240,000 Euros.