Hydroline was incorporated in 1960. It is a pioneer and the leader in the field of hydraulic systems in Finland.  Hydraulic systems are also what the new Hydroline plant in Kluczewo near Stargard will concentrate on. “We will be producing hydraulic struts,” – explains Maciej Stajewski, the Plant Director.    “Our production will start in April and we plan to ultimately employ 60-80 individuals.”

The site selected for the investment is not accidental.  “We decided on Stargard because of the presence of our customer - Cargotec here, good logistic facilities, possibility to cooperate with Polish schools and universities as well as the favourable investment-making climate.”   

The plant is erected on a plot covering the area of two hectares.  The building constructions alone – manufacturing and administrative buildings – occupy the area of 4 thousand square meters.   “During the initial stages our production will be mainly targeted at Cargotec, but we expect other Hydroline customers to place orders with our Polish plant too" - adds Maciej Stajewski.  “Full manufacturing capacity will be reached at the turn of 2014-2015, but I cannot quote any specific production volumes.”  

Meanwhile, Hydroline’s main customer – Cargotec, is developing its business activity in Podstargardzka Special Economic Zone.  In autumn last year the construction of a new factory floor was completed and now Hiab crane trucks for container handling are manufactured there. The investment ate up over EUR 20 million. “The assembly section is already operational,” - says Adam Ryniak, Director of the Cargotec plant. “The painting shop will be put into operation in the second quarter of 2014. The new facility will employ about 150 persons.

Bridgestone Stargard, a Japanese tyre manufacturer, also constructed new shop floors.  “The majority of the new floors have already been put into operation, we are currently at the testing stage,”- explains Dorota Such, a representative of Bridgestone.  “Extension of our plant will contribute to increasing the plant's daily output by 1250 TBR tyres.  In addition, we plan to launch production of a tread to be used in order to extend the life of tyres for goods’ vehicles and buses during the retreading process. Our target is to produce 1.7 thousand treads per day.”

The investment project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. It is worth over PLN 530 million, where the EU subsidy accounts for over PLN 100 million and over 18 million has come from the state budget. To meet the requirements of the increased production, the company gave jobs to additional 70 individuals at the end of 2013. “The recruitment process is still in progress. Our target for the first half of 2014 is to have 120 more new hires,” – adds Dorota Such. “The majority of vacancies to fill are the jobs of production operators. No special competencies are required, but possessing a forklift licence will be considered an asset.”

The Swedish Klippan is also extending its Stargard works. Klippan manufactures equipment components for goods’ vehicles, such as protective nets, lap belts, roof boxes and beds installed in TIR cabins. The production facility is growing – at the cost of PLN 4 million its floor space will increase from 3.5 thousand square meters to 5.5. “Everything is going smoothly and we are almost at the final stage of the investment project,” - says Marek Pałac, Director of the Stargard plant.

“The framework and all installations are ready and the interior finishing works are now in progress. I expect that the facility should be complete by mid-April.  During the holidays we will be setting up a new assembly line which will become operational early in autumn.”

Thanks to this extension the company will enter a new segment of the automotive sector. At present the plant specializes in equipment for goods’ vehicles. Now, fittings for the luggage section of various versions of the new Vito Mercedes to be manufactured in Spanish Vitoria will be made in the newly added facilities. A number of new employees have also joined the company - they are currently familiarizing themselves with the company’s procedures and practices.

At the same time however the widely promoted investment of MTU belonging to the Tognum concern now seems uncertain. The production facility located in the Stargard Industrial Park of Modern Technologies was to start producing heads and large-size components, in particular for 4000 series engines, in the second half of 2013.  A research and development department working on mechanical and electronic engine components was also to be established in Poland. According to the plans, the plant’s workforce was supposed to reach 200 in 2015. The estimated total cost of the investment - EUR 90 million.

However in October 2012 - only several months after the celebrations linked with the symbolic opening of the building construction activities - the concern announced suspension of all investment-related works until the second half of 2013. Nothing has been happening since then.  Nonetheless, the office MTU Polska still exists in Stargrad.  As we were informed by a person working in the office, “the project has been stayed until the management takes a decision in that respect.”

ŁP