Slobodan Skundric, GM at BWC Beograd - Foreign and local competition motivates us to become better

BWC is a family company with 25 years of successful business. Innovation, monitoring of macroeconomic environment, organizational coordination and dynamic approach to development are the basis of the company's strategy.

The important jubilee was an occasion for a discussion with Slobodan Skundric, GM at BWC.

eKapija: BWC celebrates 25 years of operations which is a big success in this challenging business environment. What moments were important in business?

– I agree that a quarter of a century of existence is a great jubilee in Serbia. Since the founding of our company, back in 1992, there have been many important moments in business. I would like to outline 1995 when production of disposable injection started in the Dispomedic business unit. In 2001, very successful long-term cooperation with Hoermann brand started, leading German and European manufacturer of garage and industrial doors and loading technology began. Polyplate in Brus, which operates in production of pressed PP and PE plates, started operating in 2005. Our engagement in the field of ecology, related to wastewater technology,production of wastewater treatment plants, oil separators and petroleum products began in 2007. In 2009, we moved company's headquarters into business production center in Ugrinovci.

eKapija: How was it like in the beginning and how is it today?

– From the macroeconomic point of view, the situation in Serbia in 1992 is still incomparable with today, it has been a long way from hermetically closed market to an open modern economy with free competition which is constantly increasing. Competition forces us to think in the marketplace and to counter threats from environment,especially when it comes to the Polyplate business unit, which is export-oriented. Foreign markets do not forgive mistakes, they are difficult to conquer, and positions are easily lost.



eKapija: What is product range at Polyplate factory? What are capacities? Which countries do you export to?

– Molded plates made of polyethylene and polypropylene have very wide application, due to their outstanding performances and durability due to properties of high molecular weight polymers from which they are produced. Their most common usage is for construction of temporary transportable roads for the needs of a construction site or special purpose military unit, for the construction of wind parks, for production of filter and plates of panels in leather and footwear industry,production of galvano-plastics, wastewater treatment plants and oil and grease separators in shipyards, sports complexes, etc.

Maximum annual capacity of the factory is 1,500 tons. We export more than 95% of our production to EU countries, America, Australia.

eKapija: You are also present in water treatment field as well which has become attractive in Serbia over the past years. Do you see your chance in that field in the next years? Which technologies do you launch at the market?

– Certainly, this is an area in which we expect great growth, given that ecology is the focal point of Serbia's EU accession. Our company has great experience and capacities that can contribute to global sustainable development strategy, so these activities belong to our corporate business.

In our portfolio, there are wastewater treatment plants based on SBR (Sequential Batch Reactor) technology for biological treatment of municipal waste water. This advanced technology is an optimal solution for both small household cleaners and large municipal and industrial refiners. BWC is engaged in proposing solutions, designing and installing all kinds of refiners, whether it's home cleaners for households 5 -15 ES (population equivalents) or smaller or larger utility facilities MONOBLOK (100 - 500 ES) and FLEXIDBLOK (over 500 ES).

References are numerous: Hydro power plants at the Neretva, China Road Bridge Corporation, Deneza M Inzenjering, Teknox, waste water cleaner Kopaonik, cleaners in Raska, Priboj, Ivanjica and Nova Varos within UN project for support to undeveloped municipalities.

Grease and oil separators are our product, whose construction is planned in every modern highway construction project, they are a compulsory part of gas pump projects, parking, car washing and car services. Here we also have numerous references, we set up cooperation with companies Mostogradnja AD, Framaco, Aktor A.T.E., Srbija autoput, our separators are located on many sections along Corridor 10.

BWC is extremely proud of cooperation with Italian brand MAPEI, whose products we used among other things, on the works of wall protection works in tunnels Brdjani, Savinac and Sarani at highway E-763 Belgrade – South Adriatic, sector II: Ljig (Donji Banjani ) – Preljina.

eKapija: Also, you are the Hoermann brand distributor. You implemented a large number of projects. Is implementation of the new ones in progress?

– During many years of cooperation, we have implemented numerous projects that we are very proud of, to mention only some: projects of distribution centers and warehouses – Delhaize Stara Pazova, the Main Postal Center Zemun; car salon areas – Mercedes Beograd, Jeep Commerce Belgrade, Grand Motors Belgrade, Porsche Inter Auto S Belgrade and Novi Sad, production and warehouse facilities and refrigerators – NELT Dobanovci, Nestle Adriatic Belgrade, Neoplanta Novi Sad, DIS Krnjevo, Philip Morris Nis, Lalarge Beocin, Avala Ada Belgrade, Knjaz Milos Arandjelovac, as well as a large number of representative residential buildings and embassies. The implementation of large projects of LIDL and Sirius offices has been in progress, besides our usual activities.

eKapija: Is diversified portfolio a key to success and longevity?

– It can be one of keys to success, but it requires a very diversified know-how, complex organization and significant investments, both capital and human resources.

eKapija: In your opinion, how important are innovation and standards in your business? To what extent do you apply them and in which segment?

– Innovation is of great importance for successful business, BWC realized this as an imperative of survival, as evidenced by the quality standards we have: ISO 9001: 2015; ISO14001: 2015; OHSAS 18001: 2007. We are also proud of the fact that we will be among the first in Serbia to implement the ISO 50001 standard that refers to the Energy Efficiency Management according to UNIDO methodology.

eKapija: Where do you see BWC in the next 5 – 10 years?

– I see it as a stable company, with gradual improvements in all areas, fully oriented to our clients' needs, with satisfied employees who easily identify with company goals.

BWC d.o.o. Beograd

Slobodan Skundric

BWC Belgrade

production of medical injection needles

Dispomedic

garage doors

Hoermann

Polyplate

ecology

waste water treatment

waste water treatment facilities

polyethylene plates

polypropylene plates

Sequential Batch Reactor

biological treatment of municipal waste water

MONOBLOK

FLEXIDBLOK

hydropower plants on the Neretva

China Road Bridge Corporation

Deneza M Inzenjering

Teknox

grease separators

oil separators

Mostogradnja AD

Framaco

Aktor ATE

Srbija autoput

Corridor 10

Delhaize Stara Pazova

Main Postal Center Zemun

Mercedes Belgrade

Jeep Commerce Belgrade

Grand Motors Belgrade

Porsche Inter Auto S Belgrade

NELT Dobanovci

Nestle Adriatic Belgrade

Neoplanta Novi Sad

DIS Krnjevo

Philip Morris Nis

Lalarge Beocin

Avala Ada Beograd

Knjaz Milos Arandjelovac

LIDL

Sirius offices

ISO 9001 2015

ISO 14001 2015

OHSAS 18001 2007

ISO 50001