Polycare was founded in 2010 under the impression of the earthquake disaster in Haiti. The two founders Dr. Gerhard Dust and Gunther Plötner were looking for a system that would enable people to build affordable, durable and comfortable houses themselves using the simplest local materials and not requiring heavy equipment. As a motto for the company they chose the statement: “Helping people to help themselves”. The basis of their development was a super strong concrete that can be easily produced with inexpensive local fillers (such as desert sand, construction demolition waste or building rubble) and a resin based binder. Ideally, this should result in easily pluggable construction elements in a very short time, which would then enable everyone to build in a similar way to LEGO blocks.
Our company was founded in February 2010 and in May 2010 we moved to our production and research site in the former glass factory Gundelachhütte in Gehlberg, Thuringia.
The basic equipment of our laboratory was installed in June/July. With the delivery of the casting machine in August 2010 we could start with the first tests.
In the months September/October and November we systematically supplemented our production unit, for example with conveyor technology, bag stains, vibrating table and other additional elements. In December 2010 we also implemented a spraying system for release agents and gelcoats.
In addition to all the research and experience gained from our research project, we have thus created all the technical prerequisites for starting series production from the first year of operation. The official inauguration took place on 20 November.
