As prefabrication continues to grow across Europe, project teams face increasing pressure to build faster, reduce labor dependency, and maintain consistent quality. In markets such as Poland, where industrial, logistics, and commercial projects are becoming larger and more schedule-driven, traditional column connection methods can create unnecessary complexity, installation time, and cost. These challenges are pushing contractors and precast manufacturers to look for more efficient alternatives.
HELKA® Column Shoes were developed to answer these challenges. The same challenges have also driven the continued evolution of Peikko Designer® software.
Simplifying column connections on site
The new-generation HELKA® Column Shoes solution enables fast, reliable, and cost-efficient precast column connections while reducing material consumption and simplifying installation compared to traditional alternatives.
According to Andrzej Koton, Managing Director of Peikko Poland, the innovation is not about adding complexity, but removing it: "HELKA® is a new-generation column shoe that is more compact, more cost-effective, and easier to use than previous solutions. Customers can achieve better results with a simpler and more economical solution."
The result is a connection solution that helps customers improve productivity without compromising reliability. For large precast projects where speed, repetition, and installation efficiency directly impact business performance, even small improvements can create significant value. Warehouses, logistics centers, industrial facilities, production plants, and large commercial developments are among the projects that benefit most from the solution.
Delivering value in large-scale projects
The benefits of HELKA® can be seen in practice at the LPP logistics project delivered by Dekpol in Poland. The project utilized more than 15,000 HELKA® and BOLDA® bolted column connections, demonstrating the scalability and efficiency of the solution in a large industrial development.
Tomasz Grudzień, Manager of Structural Design and Development at Dekpol, explains: "From the very beginning, there was no doubt about the need to use Peikko connections. Their application proved that completing a project with nearly 270,000 m² of usable floor area in just 12 months is possible."
The project demonstrates how a seemingly small component can contribute to achieving ambitious project timelines and supporting large-scale industrial construction.
Supporting engineers with reliable design tools
While efficient products help accelerate construction on site, engineers face another challenge earlier in the process: connection design. Designing precast connections often requires moving between multiple software tools, verifying calculations, and ensuring that the selected solution complies with relevant design rules and approvals. The process can be demanding, even for experienced engineers.
To simplify this process, Peikko has combined its connection expertise of over 60 years in the industry with digital design tools.
Peikko Designer® is built on the knowledge gained through extensive testing, ETA assessments, and proven design methodologies. The software helps engineers select appropriate connection solutions, perform calculations, and generate reliable design documentation in a more efficient way.
Peikko Designer® allows engineers to focus more on design decisions and less on repetitive manual work. It also helps engineers understand how calculations are performed and provides clear design documentation that can be used throughout the project lifecycle. The cloud-based solution also makes advanced design tools accessible to a wider range of users without installation barriers.
As Markus Tuuri, Product Owner, Digital Services, at Peikko explains: "Designers see how the calculations are done visually, which creates more trust and transparency."
He also highlights the importance of reliable documentation:
"The software automatically produces clear design documentation based on ETA and Technical Report 068, giving engineers a reliable basis for design."
The combination of validated products and trusted engineering tools helps customers reduce uncertainty while improving design efficiency.
According to Slavomir Matiasko, Product Manager, Anchor Bolts and Shoes at Peikko: "Connections are essential for the precast industry. Through the ETA process, Peikko bolted connections have been thoroughly tested to understand their behavior and provide engineers with reliable design rules. Peikko Designer® follows these rules and makes connection design smooth and efficient."
Our target: Simpler structural engineering
Future developments for Peikko Designer® include additional applications, expanded functionality, improved project collaboration features, and enhanced localization to support engineers in different markets. At the same time, local technical support remains a key part of the customer experience.
As Slavomir Matiasko notes: "What supports international growth is Peikko’s strong local presence. As a global company, we can combine international expertise with local support from people who understand the customers, their needs, and the local market."
Together, HELKA® and Peikko Designer® demonstrate how innovation creates value when it solves real customer challenges. By simplifying both connection installation and connection design, they help project teams reduce complexity, improve productivity, and deliver projects faster and with greater confidence.
