ECAP (the European Consortium of SME Anchors Producers) is a unique case in Europe of a transnational sector group of SMEs that created its own European identity beyond the national identities of its members.

A group of small and medium-sized European producers, all competitors, join forces in a 100 % self-financed consortium to influence the standardization of their products: mechanical, chemical and plastic anchors, powder actuated tools and their components, concrete and wood screws and 3-D nailing plates.

Why?

Because this is the cheapest way to ensure that their own technical needs and economic interests are taken into account and secured in European Standardization and Technical Assessments.

ECAP producers have similar products and speak the same technical and commercial language. They join forces and collaborate to gain a common advantage in the European standardization process, to enhance the technical development of their products and to share costs of high tech services.

HISTORY

2015 - CEN roundtable

ECAP’s first representation of European SMEs in a high-level Roundtable organised by CEN and CENELEC in partnership with The Parliament magazine.

2014 - Building Test Expo 2014

ECAP’s first partnership with Building Test Expo 2014, a meeting co-locating EOTA and CEN conferences.

2013 - ECAP and the Nobel Prize laureate John F. Nash

ECAP is invited to participate in a public discussion with Nobel Prize laureate John F. Nash on standardisation and Game Theory.

2012 - European design for seismic areas

ECAP succeeds in its battle for the introduction of European severe requirements (class C2) in ETAG 001, Annex E: Assessment of metal anchors under seismic actions.

2012 - ECAP’s first convenorship in CEN

ECAP is appointed as convenor of CEN TC 212 WG5 SG fixing cartridges.

2012 - First master DoP on anchors

ECAP members prepare a master of a complete DoP, which extrapolates performance values from ETAs matching (the first example in Europe) the legal requirements of the CPR; DoPs that refer…

2011 - Partnership in European Union 7FP project EASEE

ECAP’s first partnership in an European Union 7FP project.

2009 - European pilot project NORMOPOLY

ECAP develops a pilot project on the education of students about standardisation. The project is realized under the umbrella of CEN-CENELEC-ETSI and under the auspices of the European Commission.

2008 - ECAP’s first CEN success

ECAP reports to the UK-based trade magazine Fastener and Fixings about its first CEN success.

2007 - ECAP fights for EU SMEs

European Commission considers ECAP as best practice of European SMEs defending their interests.

2006 - First shared calculation program

ECAP members finance their first calculation program on structural anchors.

2003 - First shared research

ECAP members carry out their first shared technical research on their products related to standardisation issues.

2003 - First testing machine

ECAP members finance the design and construction of a testing machine for structural anchors.  

2002 - EOTA WG on anchors

ECAP first technical discussion, based on data coming from the products of ECAP members, at the same time as ECAP became a member of the EOTA WG on anchors.

ECAP was founded in February 2001 by a small group of European producers, under the initiative of Dr Luciano Taddei, CEO of the Italian manufacturer Bossong SpA. The urgent need to rebalance the massive influence exercised by the multinationals over the development of the European Technical Approval system for concrete anchors made Dr Taddei aware of the importance for SMEs to approach Europe at a European level.

The passionate commitment of the Taddei family to the vision of ECAP, led to the development of the Consortium and to the appointment of Barbara Sorgato as its Secretary General.

Today ECAP has members from many European countries. This plurality of cultures is reflected in the ECAP board’s composition, which changes every 3 years.

STRUCTURE

Chairman 2017-2019: Lars Mortensen, Expandet Screw Anchors A/S (DK)
Administrative Director 2017-2019: Andrea Taddei, Bossong SpA (IT)
Secretary General: Barbara Sorgato (IT)

Board of directors 2017-2019:
Nick Beardon, Hexston Ltd JCP (UK)
Gianluca Bertamino, Tecfi SpA (IT)
Urs Joos, Chemfix Products Ltd (UK)
Lars Mortensen, Expandet Screw Anchors A/S (DK)
Johannes Heye, PGB-Europe nv (BE)
Santiago Reig, Index Técnicas Expansivas S.L. (ES)
Andrea Taddei, Bossong SpA (IT)

Project manager:

Luisa Caimi (IT)

Technical advisor:
Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr. Giovanni Muciaccia

STATUTES

ECAP's activity is based on consensus. Balance and democratic process are granted through ECAP's Statutes.