The first in a new series of blog posts to highlight important, interesting companies in Iceland. Today’s post will focus on Mannvit Engineering, Iceland’s largest firm.
By all accounts, Iceland is a unique country. It is geographically small and somewhat remote. It has a tiny population – only approximately 320,000 people – who speak their own language, Icelandic. Despite these facts, it is a pretty influential and important country.
I say this as a lead in to my first featured company, Mannvit Engineering. Why, you ask? Because this engineering firm, which was founded in 1963, has played a leading role in Iceland’s development as an industrial, modern nation in a way that few other engineering firms, in other countries, could claim. Of course one could pose the argument that this was only possible in a country that is roughly the size of Kentucky. I grant you that. But that does not diminish the achievement. Scale aside, Mannvit literally hand their engineering-hands in almost every type of project built in the country over the last 40+ years from small to large structures, infrastructure and roads, geothermal and hydroelectric power plants and power transmission to harbors and quays, and more.
Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant
Today, Mannvit Engineering is Iceland’s largest engineering firm, with a staff of approximately 400 dedicated specialists. The company is the result of the merger of three long-established engineering companies that were all founded in the 1960s – Hönnun hf., VGK hf. and Rafhönnun hf. Founded in 2008, Mannvit, with the combined strength and expertise of these three successful engineering companies, offers decades of experience across all disciplines of engineering, consulting, management and operational services.
Though the company has deep roots in Iceland’s civil, industrial, and technological development, Mannvit has also developed a strong International presence over the years and has worked on projects on almost every continent including geothermal energy, hydroelectric, power transmission, EPCM projects, and more.
The company is dedicated to renewable energy development, sustainability and the ethical stewardship of our natural environment. Besides it decades long involvement in most of Iceland’s geothermal and hydroelectric development, the company has also, branched out into biogas and biofuels, CO2 sequestration, carbon recycling, waste management, industrial composting and many other projects in-line with their commitment to slowing and reversing climate change.
For more information, I encourage you to visit their website.
