The Hungarian company Continest fills a gap in the market with its foldable containers. Whether at festivals, sporting events or in crisis areas - the mobile four walls are quickly set up wherever they are needed. The efficient systems from Bystronic enable this ingenious business idea to be scaled up.
Pull up the roof, fix the safety hinges, fold down the side walls - and the Tiny House is ready. The foldable solution from Continest takes up significantly less space during transport than a conventional container, but offers just as much space on site. And even more if required: the containers can be modularly connected to create larger accommodation.
The ingenious idea solves problems around the globe. After the devastating forest fires in Hawaii in August 2023, Continest's foldable containers provided a new home for over 100 families. The space miracle from Hungary is also providing valuable services during the war in Ukraine: The containers provide space for emergency centres, kindergartens, flats and offices.
The entire infrastructure from a single source
The mobile four walls are manufactured on a complete solution from Bystronic. Vidor Kis-Márton, co-founder, co-owner and CEO of Continest, remembers the procurement of the infrastructure:
We needed someone who could fulfil our requirements in full - and in the shortest possible time. This was another reason why we decided in favour of Bystronic.
The reason for the rush: business is booming. After the initial collaboration with suppliers, it was time to bring production in-house. In 2017, Vidor Kis-Márton and his business partner Dániel Tegzes delivered the first 50 foldable containers to the Sziget Festival in Budapest. Soon after, other festival organisers also showed interest. When Covid paralysed the event industry, the high demand for mobile test centres gave Continest a new boost. After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Continest made a name for itself in the context of humanitarian aid projects.
Full order books and new ideas
With in-house production, the former start-up has entered the scaling phase. Continest opened its new headquarters in Székesfehérvár, a town with a population of 100,000, at the beginning of 2022. Thanks to the BySmart Fiber laser cutting machine, the FL 170 tube laser and the Xpert Pro 200 bending machine, Continest has efficient tools for rapid growth: ‘We currently produce between 1,000 and 1,200 units per year on 4,500 square metres,’ says Kis-Márton.
We are currently in the process of adding a further 5,500 square metres of production space so that we can soon double our output.
Judging by the full order books, this plan is likely to work. The foldable containers have become an integral part of the infrastructure for a wide range of event organisers - from music festivals and the Ski World Cup to Formula E. And there is no shortage of new ideas: Continest is developing solutions for the military and is working on a prototype for sea freight. The latest product is a mobile charging station for electric vehicles.
