The new hall covers 3,100 square metres and is equipped with two ovens for drying transformer windings and active parts, a 70-tonne industrial crane, and air cushions for their safe movement. Kolektor Etra Belgrade currently produces approximately 70 power transformers per year, with plans to increase production to 150 units by 2030. At the same time, the company plans to increase its workforce from 175 to approximately 230 employees.

The expansion of production in Serbia will support further growth in the smaller transformer segment, while also freeing up additional capacity at the Ljubljana-based Črnuče facility for the production of larger units. In this way, the company is responding to growing demand for the modernisation of power grids and rising electricity consumption, further driven by the construction of data centres.

“We already have orders amounting to three times our annual production capacity, which means we can plan our results for the next three years with a high degree of confidence,” said Dr Tomaž Kmecl, Managing Director of Kolektor Etra. Growth is being driven primarily by key European markets, including Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark and Austria, while the company is also successfully entering new markets.  At the opening ceremony, Stojan Petrič, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Kolektor Group, emphasised: “Kolektor Etra Belgrade is an excellent example of success, stability and industrial progress. Our goal is to double our current revenues over the next four to five years.” Peter Novak, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Kolektor Etra Belgrade, announced that further investments are planned: “The opening of the new hall marks the completion of the second phase of investments. In the third phase, we are planning a new coil winding department, which we aim to complete within the next two years.” Simon Palfi, Director of Kolektor Etra Belgrade, also highlighted the importance of effective cooperation with local and national institutions: “We received support from the local authorities and the state during the implementation of the investment. We successfully completed all the necessary administrative procedures within six months.”

The investment thus provides a solid foundation for further growth, the creation of new jobs, and even closer integration of Kolektor Etra’s production sites.

Written by: Polona Rupnik