WOD-BUD: a 100-year history of success guided by family values
WOD-BUD dates back to the 1920s. Established in 1920 by Edward Sowa-Smętny, a member of the Polish Military Organisation who fought in the Polish-Soviet War, it started out as a family business. Initially a locksmithing and mechanic shop specialising in the production of agricultural machinery, the business quickly switched its focus to water-intake construction. This proved to be a turning point as it laid the financial groundwork for erecting the 12 Piłsudskiego Street building, which became home to WOD-BUD’s head office. The building continues to serve this function to this day, representing a fine testament to the company’s rich history. After World War II, Sowa-Smętny’s son took over and went into the water-well construction business. In 1978, the company switched hands to Adam Wojtaszek and Renata Sowińska-Wojtaszek – the founder’s granddaughter. They continued in the well-construction business, expanding the scope to include design and documentation drafting services.
Adam Wojtaszek, President of the Board at WOD-BUD Sp. z o.o.: “The communist period was particularly hard, as there were strict legal limitations on private business activity. The only option was to have a small establishment the could only operate within a trade co-operative and employ a couple of people at most. It was difficult to access materials, and tax laws were stringent, so there was practically no room for growth. With only a couple of people on board, we had to navigate these challenging conditions as we provided our water-intake construction services in the Lublin region.”
The new era
Adam Wojtaszek: “With the shift in Poland’s political and economic system at the end of the 1980s, some new opportunities opened up for us to expand and diversify. We jumped at the chance and formed a limited-liability company to follow our vision and pursue our ideas. Thanks to the know-how and experience accumulated over the years, our family business was poised for growth. We soon expanded our scope to include design & build services involving water and wastewater facilities and the construction of wastewater treatment plants.
The year 2004 marked another milestone. After Poland joined the EU, the company saw an opportunity to enter the emerging market niche of waste management. It expanded its capabilities and deployed state-of-the-art solutions. A waste sorting line was built as part of a pilot project, which laid the groundwork for the Kraśnik Waste Management Facility.
WOD-BUD’s next breakthrough came in 2014 with the establishment of a road-construction department. For the purposes of this new line of business, the company built an asphalt plant and procured vehicles and equipment.
Adam Wojtaszek: “The free-market economy allowed us to form a group of businesses under the WOD-BUD banner. Over the years, this group explored a range of industries, including sanitary, road, and building engineering, as well as waste management and renewable. Today, we have a robust and well-qualified workforce of more than two hundred, and a number of branches operating in eastern and central Poland”.
The power of tradition and family management
“The political and business environment changed from generation to generation, but the core values, passion, sense of responsibility, and commitment stayed the same, propelling us forward to make our ideas a reality,” said Renata Sowińska-Wojtaszek.
“I am the third generation in this business. Mutual trust, loyalty, support, and respect for tradition have always guided our work. The very nature of a family business makes it possible to take quick decisions. Differences of opinion do happen, obviously, but it is easier to work out a mutually satisfactory solution when you work towards a shared goal. And the goal has always been to grow. Our team has grown big, and it is through team work, clear and honest communication, as well as a sense of responsibility for our employees and decisions that we have been able to succeed. I am proud to see our company continue in family hands as the fourth generation keeps growing the business.”
Our team-work spirit and shared values are at the core of WOD-BUD’s success
What has been critical to WOD-BUD’s over-a-century-long success story? According to the company’s representatives, people are at the core of its business:
“People are the lifeblood and driving force of our business across the board. It is their attitude, experience, passion, drive to learn and share knowledge, as well as humility in times of success, and hard work in times of crisis that have allowed WOD-BUD to remain a prosperous business,” says Mirosław Gucwa, Vice-President of the Board at WOD-BUD Sp. z o.o.
Another key aspect is the organisational culture. Over the decades, we have cultivated a culture that combines family values with modern management approaches and engineering expertise.
“It is crucial to have a mission and a vision, as well as core values. These promote a team spirit and drive growth. Our business has a history of over a century on a highly dynamic and challenging market, a proof of consistently prudent management. A poorly managed business would not be able to continue for such a long time. In the last five years alone, WOD-BUD managed to open a branch in Rzeszów in the Sub-Carpathian region, doubled its sales, increased the average project value, and took on new multidisciplinary and technologically advanced projects. Our range includes road construction, water and sewer infrastructure, and building projects, and we are increasingly using specialised equipment such as drilling machines and pile drivers for deep ground improvement and bridge foundations. We are excited about these developments not only as managers, but also, and above all, as engineers. These improvements motivate us to take on new interesting engineering projects. This has been possible thanks to the local focus of our business, allowing it to act fast in a highly dynamic market environment,” says Mirosław Gucwa.
Responsible management for a green future
WOD-BUD’s story continues. From generation to generation, the company has been committed to exploring innovative solutions and venturing into new lines of business. Now, WOD-BUD is also offering environmental protection services as part of WKW POLSKA, a multi-business collaboration. The company’s range includes landfill and brownfield regeneration, as well as as design, construction, and operation of PVC farms.
“We have been tapping into growth opportunities ever since the EU funds became available by investing in innovative technologies and environmentally friendly projects. Our portfolio now includes a state-of-the-art asphalt plant and a number of PVC projects, reflecting our commitment to growth and exploration of new areas of business. We have also carried out several EU projects that have fast-tracked WKW POLSKA’s growth significantly,” says Jędrzej Wojtaszek, Member of the Management Board at WOD-BUD Sp. z o.o., representing the fourth generation of Edward Sowa-Smętny’s family.
Currently, we are working on a circular-economy project and a green loan.
“The circular economy model is about minimising resource consumption and waste generation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. It works by creating closed-loop processes in which waste is treated as a resource for subsequent production phases. Both projects align perfectly with our “Building a Green Future” motto. This way, we make our business more competitive, as well as environmentally friendly. As we strive to grow our business, we want to invest responsibly, with due regard to environmental, social, and organisational concerns,” says Jędrzej Wojtaszek.
Today, we are a leader in the construction business, with a robust portfolio of projects ranging from water and sewer infrastructure to PVC systems. WOD-BUD is now celebrating a century in existence, a proud testament to the power of tradition, passion, and innovation. When Edward Smętny-Sowa opened his workshop in 1920, he could not have expected that his successors would take his venture to a whole new level, building a robust company that leads in its business. Generation after generation, WOD-BUD has managed to grow consistently in a highly dynamic political and economic environment. Always committed to growth and technological innovation, it remains a major player in the Polish construction business. Through our responsible management approach, we have been able to invest in innovative and environmentally friendly solutions in alignment with our “Building a Green Future” mission.
