UNEX starts production in Snina, Slovakia
Uničov, September 13, 2007
As of October, the machine-metallurgical complex UNEX will extend its activities to Slovakia. These days, the subsidiary company UNEX Snina a.s. is completing the installation of a production line for manufacturing cranes, jib arms and base frames of mining and earth-moving machines at the premises of the former company Vihorlat in Snina, Eastern Slovakia. The long-term intention of UNEX is to transfer a part of its production of cranes, earth-moving and mining machines from the factory in Uničov to Snina.
”The current capacity of the Uničov factory has reached the limits of its potential,” states Jitka Hübnerová, Director of the Heavy Engineering Division of UNEX. “The transfer of a part of our production to Snina will allow us to significantly improve our effectiveness and to extend production both in Uničov and in Slovakia.”
In the course of last year, UNEX managed to purchase all key assets at the premises of the former company Vihorlat. In December of last year, approximately four hundred dismissed employees of Vihorlat Snina s.r.o. signed an agreement to assign receivables (due wages) in the total amount of approximately 25 million Slovak crowns with UNEX, UNEX having fully paid the due wages to most people. At the same time, UNEX started to look for future employees among these qualified workers.
“At the moment, we employ about 130 employees in Slovakia, mostly former employees of Vihorlat Snina,” says Jan Klus, the Staff Manager of UNEX. “Some of them are undergoing training in Uničov, others are preparing the manufacturing premises in Snina so that the start of production, planned for October, is not endangered. As we expect rapid extension of the production, we remain interested in experienced welders, locksmiths, toolers, painters and other professions. Next year, the number of employees of UNEX Snina should reach three hundred.”
The manufacturing premises in Snina have been inspected by a number of customers and they have approved the transfer of production. The first complete cranes will leave the manufacturing line before the end of this year. According to the projections, UNEX Snina should generate revenue from sales in the amount of up to one billion Slovak crowns next year. Also next year, the manufacturing premises should be extended to a total of 40,000 m2 concerning production in hall SM4; manufacturing lines in hall SM3 will be added.
Further development of the activities of UNEX in Snina will be contingent on the successful recruitment of qualified employees. The company expects the growth of the production volume in the next three years to result in the use of six manufacturing halls, currently unused, of a total area of an additional 30,000 m2. By 2010, UNEX Snina plans to implement production in an annual volume of up to 2 billion Slovak crowns, which means employing up to 1,000 employees, in particular in blue-collar professions.
These days, UNEX employs approximately 2,600 workers in its two factories in Uničov (UNEX a.s.) and Olomouc (Moravské železárny a.s.). The consolidated revenues from sales will exceed 4 billion crowns in 2007.
