Karlovac has been known throughout history as a trading town. Its important geostrategic position has made it a transport hub for the exchange of goods and services, and it is now slowly turning into a factory town. With over twenty factories, as many as it currently has, it certainly deserves that title. Its factories cover a large number of economic sectors: from printing, textile, food and metalworking industries and mechanical engineering, through the beverage industry, to the defense industry. Thanks to funds from the European Regional Development Fund, the area of the former barracks in the Karlovac settlement of Gornje Mekušje was transformed into an entrepreneurial zone last year, and it is also home to the FEAL Hrvatska factory, which is creating as many as 100 new jobs and as such could significantly influence many people to stay in Croatia.
– FEAL Široki Brijeg, as well as FEAL Croatia, award scholarships to students of technical studies. We have been doing this so far, and we intend to continue doing so even more intensively. These are students of architecture, mechanical engineering and civil engineering. We are open to cooperation with certain vocational schools in Karlovac, with whom we can share our knowledge and provide school practice for their students in order to better prepare them for their future profession – reveals the company director, Damir Simunovic.
Currently, the rough construction works are being completed at the facility, and the start of equipment deliveries is underway. The planned start of production is the end of this year. Next year, the factory could start operating at full capacity. It is also interesting to note that FEAL Croatia can produce the total required quantity of aluminum profiles that the domestic market would need in the next ten years.
– Within the plant itself, we will have a fairly wide range of jobs, so it is a little more difficult to answer this question briefly, but the employees will mainly be in the metal, electrical, chemical and mechanical engineering professions. In addition, administrative staff will be needed, as well as staff who will work in the kitchen. We are currently in the phase of recruiting operators for the press and lamination line. In general, they will all work on completely new production lines, in conditions that do not require excessive physical effort, and they will have full support from colleagues from our plants in Herzegovina, who have more than twenty years of experience in this business – says Šimunović.
As a leading manufacturer of aluminum profiles for construction and industry, the company has been on the market for 20 years. Its production facilities in Široki Brijeg and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina produce around 40 thousand tons of hollow profiles annually. The Karlovac production facility in the Gornje Mekušje Business Zone was built on a plot of 46 thousand square meters, and the total area of the facility will be over 15 thousand square meters.
"Green" story
The people of Karlovac can be sure that this factory will take care of the preservation of nature and their health. This is a socially responsible and sustainable story with standards that are not deviated from.
– As a company, we are constantly introducing new products to the market, with the intention, above all, to help reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling spaces. Of course, a lot of energy is consumed in our production, but we always try to use the best and most technologically advanced equipment in order to reduce all negative effects, and the same will be true with the equipment in Karlovac – says the director.
All wastewater will pass through FEAL's treatment plant before being released into the sewer system. Photovoltaic panels are being installed on the roof of the building so that the factory can generate at least some of its own electricity, continues Šimunović. The cooling process of the machines uses water pumped from underground, all in the interest of reducing consumption. The same water, after being cleaned in a closed circuit, is returned to the tank.
– We strive to take maximum care of our own employees, but also the local community through support for various humanitarian, sports and similar projects – claims Šimunović.
Numerous magnificent buildings
FEAL Group has so far worked on numerous impressive projects, such as the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb, Arena Centar, Arena Zagreb, Arena Osijek, Arena Varaždin, Opus Arena Osijek, Rujevica Stadium, Rebro Hospital, Sv. Duh and Split Maternity Hospital.
– In all of this, there were quite a few demanding projects, of which I would single out the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Airport, because a special type of facade was developed for that facility, as well as special profiles that make up the roof structure network – Šimunović tells us.
FEAL Croatia is also participating in the renovation of Cibona's tower, where it is replacing the entire facade. As we learned, this is a facade with improved features, which looks just like the old one. The replacement itself is being carried out without scaffolding, by installing prefabricated elements.
This is an investment in domestic production, which will result in new jobs, supported by a long-term loan from Raiffeisen Bank.
– I must say that in RBA we found a partner who was able, apart from dry agreements on figures and interest rates, to recognize the value of the project, but also of FEAL as a partner. In most of the open points, we relatively easily found compromise solutions to mutual benefit. I am glad that the RBA representatives themselves pointed out to us some elements with which we could further improve our relations. So now we are working on the realization of the "green" story in our project, which is important for environmental protection, but, with the help of RBA, it can also bring us some additional benefits – says Šimunović.
Failure is not an option.
FEAL used to be a purely distribution company. However, as sales in Croatia grew, so did the need for production in Croatia. This became especially important after Croatia joined the EU. Since 2002, all goods sold by the company have been manufactured and distributed in Croatia from FEAL Široki Brijeg.
– Every one of our orders went across the border, and Croatia is now the final border of the EU, which further complicates the procedures for delivering goods. I won't even mention the occasional need for some finishing, returning goods to BiH and the like. Therefore, today, when FEAL Croatia is considered the strongest country in the FEAL Group in the overall segment of construction profiles, it is logical and necessary to have production here. It won't be easy for me and my colleagues, but we are used to challenges and I am sure that we will manage to achieve all the goals we have set – Šimunović is optimistic.
That shouldn't be a problem for them. If we exclude the relatively modest decline in business in 2009 during the global economic crisis, as well as the one in 2020 that occurred due to the coronavirus pandemic, FEAL Group recorded constant growth.
– We took on new customers, projects and increased revenues. Of course, growth is important and, in a way, confirms that the activities undertaken have borne fruit, and that always gives a person new impetus. I am satisfied because FEAL has grown into a regional leader and player recognized in construction and industry in these 20 years, both in Croatia and overall – says the director.
Today, the list of countries where their products are sold is impressive: from the USA, through Kazakhstan, Iran to all of Europe and countries in the region.
- I am particularly proud that FEAL is the market leader in building systems in Croatia, and has certainly been so for 10 to 15 years. Bearing in mind how strong and numerous our competition is, I consider this result great and important, and I am sure that with the new factory we will strengthen our leadership position even more - concludes Šimunović.
Original post: Morning newspaper
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