mageba: Bridge movement gear, and where EPDs stand
mageba is a specialist in how bridges and buildings move. Think bearings, expansion joints, and seismic devices that keep megastructures calm when temperatures swing or the ground shakes. Here is how their portfolio maps to EPDs, where coverage looks strong, and where a swift push could unlock more specs.
What mageba makes, at a glance
mageba focuses on structural movement and protection systems for infrastructure and buildings. The core families are expansion joints, structural bearings, seismic devices, and structural monitoring systems. Their catalog spans many configurations per family, often engineered-to-order, so the real SKU count lands in the dozens to hundreds.
Expansion joints: the flagship range
The TENSA-MODULAR line is their signature for large movements, with ETA certification to EAD 120113 and CE marking announced in June 2024, a noteworthy quality signal for European tenders (mageba, 2024). For smaller movements they offer strip seals and related joint accessories. In U.S. references, modular joints appear on high profile projects where noise, watertightness, and maintenance windows really matter.
Bearings and seismic devices: the other workhorses
Pot, spherical, and elastomeric bearings sit under the same roof as shock transmission units, viscous dampers, and lock‑up devices. These are common on highway and rail bridges, long‑span roofs, and seismic retrofits. Monitoring rounds it out with sensing and data to catch drift before it becomes a problem.
EPD coverage today
Publicly visible EPD coverage appears centered on modular expansion joints. We find at least one product‑specific EPD for TENSA‑MODULAR published through an established operator and valid well into 2030. EPD Hub, the program operator, was recognized as an Established ECO EPD Programme Operator on December 11, 2025, which improves cross‑market recognition through the ECO Portal (EPD Hub, 2025). If your bid strategy leans on whole‑asset LCA or LEED v5, a broader set of product‑specific EPDs would reduce fallback to conservative defaults.
Where the gaps likely are
Across bearings, seismic devices, and several joint variants, we do not see a consistent set of published, product‑specific EPDs in operator libraries as of December 19, 2025. That means spec teams may treat these items with generic or penalized factors in models, which quietly knocks products out of shortlists when carbon targets bite. One missing EPD in a best‑seller bearing line can cost a week of back‑and‑forth and, worse, the spec itself.
A quick competitor pulse
Direct apples‑to‑apples EPDs for bridge modular joints remain rare. Yet adjacent categories are moving. Vossloh publishes an EN 15804 EPD for rail expansion joints valid to July 2028, which shows owners can get movement hardware into verified disclosures when they push for it (EPD International, 2023). In bridge work, project teams also look at suppliers like Maurer, D.S. Brown, Freyssinet, Granor, and Trelleborg depending on region and movement range.
Why more EPDs change the sales math
When a project mandates EPDs or prefers them for scoring, products without a product‑specific declaration get modeled with conservative assumptions. That pads embodied carbon on paper and nudges decisions toward a competitor that did the paperwork. One mid‑size win can more than cover the cost of a focused EPD sprint, especially on repeatable SKUs in bearings or joints.
If you prioritize two moves
Start with the highest‑volume, most spec‑sensitive product families, typically modular joints and the top one or two bearing types. Pick the same PCR families competitors use so modelers can compare cleanly, and aim for EN 15804 A2 scope where markets expect it. Then build a rhythm to refresh or extend coverage yearly so the portfolio does not drift.
Helpful links
Explore mageba’s sustainability materials and certificates on their site. Their sustainability page gathers reports, policies and a dedicated section for EPDs and certificates, useful for submittals and pre‑bid compliance checks (mageba Sustainability).
How to make the lift lighter
The hardest part is data wrangling across plants, shifts, and suppliers. Teams that make EPDs feel easy usually centralize data collection, mirror what competitors declared to pick the right PCRs, and publish with operators that support cross‑listing. EPD Hub’s new ECO recognition improves discoverability in Europe and beyond, which is handy if your projects span markets (EPD Hub, 2025). Do this once with a tight playbook and the second wave goes faster. Your future self will definately thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are mageba’s main product families relevant to EPDs?
Expansion joints, structural bearings, seismic devices, and structural monitoring. Expansion joints and bearings are the most common EPD candidates due to volume and repeatability.
Is there proof that EPDs for movement hardware get accepted by program operators?
Yes. For example, Vossloh’s EN 15804 EPD for rail expansion joints is valid to July 2028, showing movement hardware can be covered when data is organized and reviewed (EPD International, 2023).
Which program operator may host mageba’s modular joint EPD?
The publicly visible EPD for TENSA‑MODULAR is published via EPD Hub, which became an Established ECO EPD Programme Operator on December 11, 2025, improving recognition and ECO Portal listing (EPD Hub, 2025).
Where can I see mageba’s sustainability docs and certificates?
On mageba’s Sustainability page, which links to Sustainability Report, Policy, Double Materiality Assessment, and a section titled EPDs and Certificates. See the link above.
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
