Press release
Žiar nad Hronom, 3rd May 2012
Ceremonial opening of a new anodising plant took place at Sapa Profily a.s.
Company Sapa Profily a.s. had been living in vacuum of investments for long years until 2006 when, after accession to the Sapa Group, a new period started for modernization of technology units and investments in new technologies. Investment projects began to be developed and implemented to increase the production capacity of aluminium extruded profiles and to introduce the technology for extruding new alloys, and also intensive work began on building an independent plant for fabrication processes.
Technology of surface treatment by anodising has been established at this company since 1972. After 40 years of operation the old anodising line is replaced with a new one that meets the strictest environmental standards.
„In 2009, we were faced with the decision as to whether to make substantial investments in modernizing the existing line, which would bring an increase in production capacity, elimination of ecological limits for content of soluble salts in process water, reduction of energy consumption and higher efficiency as well, or to build a new plant. Having considered all environmental, financial and performance factors, bearing in mind that the old would still remain the old one and would require additional funds over the time, we decided on a fully new line to be built on a green field. Our detailed investment project had to be agreed by the top management of Sapa Group”, said Teodor Kvapil, the managing director of Sapa Profily a.s.
After its approval Sapa Profily asked the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic for financial support to implement their investment project titled „Expansion of the existing plant with the aim to increase the production capacity of value-added products at the Sapa Profily a.s. in Žiar nad Hronom“. On 21 June 2010, the financial aid of EUR 3,446,100 was approved and then provided on condition that some important requirements should be fulfilled, in particular the contribution of own investments funds of EUR 11,486,510 and the creation of 82 new working opportunities by the end of 2014.
„ On 28 October 2010, a foundation stone for the new anodising plant was laid in the presence of Norwegian Royal Couple, Slovak Presidential Couple and President of Sapa Group. This ceremony had initiated process of erection of new anodising plant. First excavation work began in January 2011. After just one and half of year the new anodising line is ready to produce”, added Teodor Kvapil.
The ceremonial opening event was attended by Mr. John Thuestad, the Business Area President Sapa Profiles and Sapa Profiles Europe, Her Excellency Ms. Trine Skymoen, the ambassadress of The Kingdom of Norway in Slovak Republic and Mr. Vladimír Maňka, the President of the Self-Governing Region Banska Bystrica, who jointly with Mr. Teodor Kvapil, the Managing Director, cut the tape for the opening of new hall. This event was also attended by representatives from Sapa Group, companies located at the Žiar industrial park, suppliers and other contractors.
Sapa Profily is strongly committed to protecting the environment, safety and health of its employees. All these aspects were considered in developing the investment project of new anodising line. The new anodising line positively contributes to the following 3 core areas:
Environmental protection
The old anodising line met the ecological requirements for content of soluble salts in process water just under the limits permitted by the law.
With new anodising line Sapa Profily has got the environment friendly technology. Its major ecological benefit is neutralisation and recycling of water up to the last drop of water.
Employees
Sapa is committed to creating both the modern and ecological workplaces that promote entrepreneurial spirit among employees and the working conditions that provide safety and protection of heath to employees.
New anodising line is equipped with the exhaustion system and air washers to eliminate emissions to atmosphere, it is fitted with new safety controls to avoid the risk of injuries and accidents, it uses energies recovered from air - recuperation -, while the modern technology decreases the need for manual handling with material, it allows arranging the technology units so that the logical lay-out of material flows is achieved.
Customers
Strategy of Sapa is not only to supply raw profiles, but also to offer the surface treated and fabricated profiles. This new production line is the guaranty of stability, quality and integrity.
„New anodising line means for us a successful passing the relay stick and the continuation in this kind of surface treatment in Žiar nad Hronom for another at least 20 years. It ensures not only the income for 70 employees and their families, but it also allows, in combination with extension of existing Fabrication operations, to create new 82 work positions by 2014. For us here, this is an Art which, in terms of its parameters, is the example for other companies in our industry. Also, the new line is a child that was born after 4 years of our effort and working on design and project, endless discussions about parameters of future production line and alternative solutions to ensure compliance with all environmental criteria“, added Teodor Kvapil, the managing director of Sapa Profily a.s, at the conclusion.
Sapa Profily based in Žiar nad Hronom, is a traditional Slovak manufacturer and supplier of aluminium extruded profiles and is a member company of the Sapa Group.
Anodizing is used to create new appearance, to enhance corrosion resistance, to create a dirt repellent surface that satisfies stringent hygiene requirements, to create a decorative surface with durable colour and gloss, to create a “touch-friendly” and abrasion resistant surface, and not at the last, to give surfaces an electrically insulating coating.
Sapa is the world´s leading provider of solutions based on the extruded aluminium profiles. Sapa Group is organized into three core business areas: Profiles, Building System and Heat Transfer, which share a common foundation. This involves developing, manufacturing and marketing of aluminium profiles with a high degree of value-added, the building systems based on aluminium profiles and the aluminium strips for heat exchangers, all based on the light-weight material aluminium.
Sapa Group has operations in 33 countries. In 2011, the Sapa Group had combined net sales of 36 million SEK and 14,400 employees.
Sapa are wholly owned by Norwegian company Orkla ASA since 2005.
For more information on Sapa Profily and its technology of surface treatment by anodising please visit www.sapaprofily.sk
For more information on Orkla please visit www.orkla.com