The goal is to expedite a quality renovation of the rolling mill after a fire
Slovenian aluminium company Impol with plants in Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, is planning a long term annual income of a billion Euro, with significant growth in 2016: income exceeding 600 million Euro and a net profit of 19 million Euro, Impol director Jernej Čokl announced, as reported by Poslovni Dnevnik on June 19, 2016.
This includes plans for the TLM Aluminium in Šibenik, whose bankruptcy creditors leased it to Impol-TLM, restarting production with 290 workers, but due to a fire in the rolling mill continued work in a reduced scale. Its production activities are therefore continued by the Slovene company with increased tempo in its rolling mills in Slovenska Bistrica and Sevojn, while purchasing part of the warm rolled products in Austria and Italy. This will continue until the renovation of the plant in Šibenik, as confirmed by Tomaž Smolar, director of Impol’s rolling mill in Slovenia, also the director of Impol-TLM, in charge of the Šibenik rolling mill.
The first phase, we’re told, has a goal of quick and quality renovation of the plant following a fire, in cooperation with spare parts and equipment suppliers from Europe. Regardless of the fire, he says investments were planned since the equipment was from 2000 and not conforming to modern production demands.
After renovation further investments in modernisation will follow, while the 290 workers hired by this leaseholder continue to work and will be included in post-renovation operations.
“We expect to restart production in Šibenik by the end of August, with new jobs set to open in the Fall,” Slomar says, adding the rolling mill of cold rolled products will need sturdy maintenance, citing the need for investments in its full functionality. We learn of talks between representatives of Impol and the largest German producer of warm rolled machines. Through this cooperation Impol is considering future development and investments.
As for Šibenik, after a planned 110 thousand tonnes in 2017, a faster growth of production is envisioned, up to a 150 thousand tonnes of cold rolled products and 200 thousand warm rolled, with investments in the warm roll plant to come after 2020. The very lease deal is proceeding in order, the bankruptcy manager reports. Impol’s most important market remains Europe, especially Germany. The company currently employs 2,140 people and along with an increase in Šibenik, plans to hire more in Slovenia.
