Knauf Insulation plans to expand business in Serbia and conquer new markets - Innovative maker of insulation materials offers job opportunities

Source: eKapija Monday, 04.04.2016. 15:51
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Tihomir Cikvaroski receives the Aurea Award from Minister Kori UdovickiTihomir Cikvaroski receives the Aurea Award from Minister Kori Udovicki

Knauf Insulation is the winner of the 2016 Aurea Investment of the Year Award that is presented by the business web portal eKapija. This manufacturer of insulation materials, which exports 60% of production and employs 40 local suppliers, won the award because it achieved excellent results based on three criteria - innovation, social utility, and financial potential.

Namely, Germany's Knauf Insulation invested EUR 800,000 in 2015 in the production of rock wool by the latest ECOSE technology in the Surdulica factory. This new technology makes it possible to produce insulators from rapidly renewable materials instead of oil-based chemicals. In that way, the factory in Surdulica has become the only manufacturing plant of the kind in the region that produces rock wool using a new technology.

During the last year, the company was doing tests and preparing the production technology in order to start the implementation of new ECOSE technology smoothly in 2016.

Although its success is already outstanding, Knauf is not stopping yet, so Tihomir Civkaroski, the general manager of Knauf Insulation for the Balkans, Cyprus and Malta, says in a talk for our web portal that they plan to develop their business both in Serbia and abroad.

- The Investment of the Year Award represents a special form of acknowledgement to our company for serious development and improvement of products from rock wool. Our products made using the ECOSE Technology have already found their way to all the markets in the region and will contribute to greater sustainability in buildings and facilities they are built in. The thermal insulation materials industry does not have a high innovation rate like the IT or mobile phone industries, which makes this investment a significant step forward in the thermal insulation materials market – Civkaroski said after receiving the award.

He explains that ever since they started making this innovative material, the factory has been operating at full production capacity.

- We are extremely satisfied with our investment in Surdulica. This product is very well received, which gives us a strong incentive to believe that this will clear the way for further investments in the future, production expansion and the employment of new workers - says Civkaroski.

Knauf Insulation exports products from Serbia to more than 15 countries in the region, including all countries of southeast Europe plus Cyprus and Malta, and they are even present in Israel and Egypt.

According to our interlocutor, the company will continue to export products to all aforementioned countries, and they see a chance for conquering new markets in Asia and Africa.

- A decision on the penetration of any new market depends on the organization of our group and the company that covers the market in question. We could be exporting to the countries of Asia and Africa, primarily those that are not covered by other organizations at the moment.

Stable business climate required

When asked why the German investor decided to first apply the latest technology to the production in the Surdulica factory, Civkaroski says that "the team in Serbia has nonupled the production in ten years and as such, it is recognized within the group as a team that should be entrusted with the production by cutting-edge technology."

He adds that the factory in Surdulica has been facing numerous problems from the moment it was commissioned. Among the first obstacles was the change in the mentality of employees because Knauf is a result of the acquisition of state-owned company.

- It took some time for the employees to realize they need to give their maximum because they are the ones that need this company the most - says the general manager of Knauf Insulation.

As a representative of foreign investors, Civkaroski explains that it is important for investors to have stable working conditions in the long run. Therefore, the authorities must make sure not to change regulations too often because investment cycles last for more than a year or two and entrepreneurs need security, he adds.

Energy efficiency revives construction industry

Considering that they are engaged in the production of insulation materials, Knauf is also active in the promotion of energy efficiency in building construction in our country.

- The cheapest energy is the energy saved. The awareness of energy efficiency in our country is increased. However, what's missing are incentives from the Serbian government of local self-governments. Just take a look at the countries around us: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, etc. They all provide between 30 and 70% of the required funds for energy rehabilitation of facilities - says Civkaroski.

J.Dj.

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