- ACCIONA
- About ACCIONA
- History
History
Discover our historical landmarks.
Information on ACCIONA's origin and growth over almost a century.
MZOV founded (Railway Company from Medina del Campo to Zamora and from Orense to Vigo) in Galicia.
In 1861, it was awarded the line from Medina del Campo to Zamora, and immediately obtained the Orense to Vigo stretch and other sections of the long-awaited railroad that would connect Galicia with central Spain, and particularly its capital, Madrid. Subsequently, Cia MZOV evolved into a leading Spanish construction company.
Founded in 1916, CUBIERTAS Y TEJADOS, S.A. gained considerable prestige in roofing, although it also engaged in other types of industrial construction. Fifty years later, it merged with MZOV. At the end of the 1990s, CUBIERTAS Y MZOV, S.A. merged with ENTRECANALES Y TÁVORA, S.A. to create ACCIONA.
A civil engineer from Bilbao named José Entrecanales Ibarra and an entrepreneur from Seville named Manuel Távora founded ENTRECANALES Y TÁVORA, S.A. on 11 March 1931.
The company's first projects included remodelling the San Telmo bridge in Seville in line with recommendations by HRH King Alfonso XIII that it should not block the view of the Golden Tower, and construction work on the Cádiz pier. The company was very active after the war, strengthening its position as one of the most innovative companies in Spain.
In 1948, ENTRECANALES Y TÁVORA, S.A. signed its first contract outside Spain, and undertook projects in Portugal, Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. This was the company's first step towards internationalisation.
It later expanded to several countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia: Colombia, Egypt, the US, the Philippines, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico and Puerto Rico..
José María Entrecanales Azcárate, son of José Entrecanales Ibarra, took over as president of the company with his brother, Juan Entrecanales Azcárate, as Vice President.
Before long, the company became a national and international leader in construction and engineering, expanding its operations to countries such as the United States, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Colombia and Mexico.
CUBIERTAS Y MZOV, S.A. was founded on 2 October 1978 as a result of the merger between La Compañía de Ferrocarriles de Medina del Campo a Zamora y Orense a Vigo, S.A. (MZOV) and CUBIERTAS Y TEJADOS, S.A. (CYT).
The merger was a natural development given the complementary nature of their businesses and the large number of major projects on which MZOV and CYT collaborated.
ENTRECANALES Y TÁVORA S.A. was known mainly for its work in the infrastructure sector, but the eighties witnessed a new era driven by diversification into other sectors such as real estate, wine production, urban services, telecommunications, etc.
During the 1980s, and in the run-up to Expo 1992, construction started on Spain's first high-speed railway , connecting Madrid and Sevilla.
ACCIONA participated in the project, pioneering the development of an incrementally launched bridge for a high-speed railway line and building 234 km of a total of 472 km. This project led to the construction of other high-speed railway lines, connecting all of Spain.
Spain ranks first in Europe and second in the world (behind China) in terms of kilometres of high-speed railway built, with a total of 3,000. ACCIONA has participated actively in the construction of all sections of Spain's high-speed railway ,in some of the largest projects. Examples include the Guadarrama tunnels, measuring 14,270 m and 14,000 m in length (the fifth-longest in the world) on the Madrid – Segovia section, and the Pajares tunnels, measuring 15,000 m and almost 10,000 m in length (eight-longest in the world) on the Madrid-Asturias line.
The companies continue to merge.
NESCO (Nueva Entrecanales, Cubiertas, Servicios y Obras) is created from the merger of Entrecanales y Távora with Cubiertas y MZOV
Following an initial strategic merger, resulting in the birth of NECSO Entrecanales y Cubiertas, ACCIONA was created in 1997 as a diversified group, with José María Entrecanales de Azcárate as President and Juan Entrecanales de Azcárate as Vice President.
ACCIONA was established as an international holding company for companies operating in various fields of industry and the services sector.
José Manuel Entrecanales Domecq, son of José María Entrecanales de Azcárate and grandson of the founder, appointed President, while Juan Ignacio Entrecanales Franco, son of Juan Entrecanales de Azcárate, becomes Vice President.
Both navigate the company's transition towards its three pillars of growth: infrastructure, energy and water. This in-depth transformation was made possible by a huge financial investment and a strong commitment to innovation and social engagement as a motor of quality jobs.
ACCIONA changes its image and brand strategy, adopting its current logo.
ACCIONA redefines itself as a new and pioneer company in sustainable development, through an innovative brand. Its mission as leader contributing to social welfare and sustainable development involves a reliance on the basic pillars of sustainability: economic welfare generation, environmental protection and social responsibility.
ACCIONA's mission is to promote sustainable development and social welfare as a leader in renewable energy, sustainable construction, water and services.
The company is listed in the main international sustainability and social responsibility indices.
View ACCIONA Social Networks