Messer planning new investments in Serbia – Problem lies in complicated procedures

Nearly 12 years ago, a new factory of Messer opened in Smederevo, in which EUR 40 million had been invested. Years later, as the CEO of Messer Tehnogas, Ernst Bode, says in his interview with Nase Novine, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy after the exit of Americans from the Smederevo steel mill. With the arrival of the Chinese partner, HBIS Group, the factory has been saved, and Bode says that there's a new round of investments, in which they are once again investing in new, modern machines.

According to him, the company is currently using around 90% of its capacities, and the plan is to expand the production program.

– We want to invest, but it's still not easy to invest in Serbia. There are still limitations, such as the problems regarding land conversion and ownership, complicated procedures and courts, which are quite slow. We have ideas, funds and motivation, but the cumbersome procedures are a problem – Bode said in his interview with Nase Novine and added that their most important purchasers were HBIS Group, RTB Bor, HIP Petrohemija and the Pancevo Refinery.

As he says, the Serbian market is small, which means that there's a great potential that needs to be used.

Messer Tehnogas, a member of Messer Group, has existed since 1997. It is the leading company in the production and sales of industrial, medicinal and special gases and auxiliary equipment, as well as cutting and welding equipment in Serbia and Montengro, with production facilities and filling plants in Belgrade, Smederevo, Bor, Pancevo, Nis, Kraljevo and Novi Sad in Serbia and Petrovac in Montenegro, as well as over 70 sales centers throughout the country.

Messer Tehnogas ad Beograd

Messer Group GmbH Sulzbach

HBIS GROUP Iron & Steel d.o.o. Beograd

Serbia Zijin Copper doo Bor

HIP- Petrohemija a.d. Pančevo

NIS a.d. Petrol Rafinerija nafte Pančevo

Ernst Bode

Pancevo Refinery

production of industrial gases

production of medicinal gases

production of special gases

production of cutting equipment

production of welding equipment