The Alumil company provides the market with 65 different aluminium architectural systems that cater to the needs of modern construction. It annually exports 70% of its capacity to European markets, while the company notes with satisfaction that its strategic management, dedication to the work it does and high-quality products have contributed to the achieving of successful results and the positioning of the company as a market leader
Apart from implementing its corporate social responsibility strategy and participating in solving the challenges that confront humankind, the Alumil company’s greatest contribution lies in the fact that it develops and produces innovative aluminium solutions that satisfy the concepts of sustainability, energy efficiency and green building.
The Alumil company is this year celebrating 20 years of production operations in Serbia, which provided the occasion for us to interview Stylianos Tsoktouridis, managing director of the Alumil company in Serbia.
You are this year commemorating 20 years of production in Serbia. Back when you launched on this market, did you expect Alumil Yu Industry to grow to occupy the second spot in the Alumil Group in terms of size, behind only the parent company in Greece?
The Serbian market has indeed proved to be very competitive. However, Alumil has managed to dominate it, and this has resulted in it having grown and developed continuously since its establishment. Throughout this time, we have developed a fully integrated production, logistics and commercial facility with an annual capacity of 15,000mt of state-of-the-art, precision engineered, surfaced treated aluminium profiles, distributed to Serbian and European markets. We have also established six sales and distribution centres nationwide across the territory of Serbia in order to be as close to our customers as possible and to support our retail business.
We have aimed higher and set an ambitious goal with a horizon of 2025: to ensure that all our aluminium profiles for architectural use consist of at least 60% recycled aluminium
We have also established a showroom in New Belgrade to physically demonstrate our products, as well as developing a strong technical team to provide the most efficient technical solutions for sophisticated projects. The company is committed to contributing to the sustainable development of the Serbian industrial sector. We are working daily to help achieve the goals of the country’s development plan and support the local economy and communities by providing more job opportunities and continually increasing our company footprint with exports to Western European markets. I would say that the remarkable development of Alumil YU Industry4 was part of our strategy, and was therefore to be expected to a certain extent.
How much has local production helped in terms of doing business in Serbia and communicating with customers?
Outsourcing became a prominent business tactic in the 1980s. Companies found increased profits and reduced their overheads by moving their factories to other countries and continents. However, reshoring has been on the rise over the past few years as organisations have begun to see the benefits of local manufacturing amid rising costs and the need for sustainability. At Alumil YU we also experience the same benefits of local production on a daily basis.
Local manufacturing shortens the supply chain. We understand that it is crucial to put as much into our control as possible, and local manufacturing does that by shortening the supply chain to reach our customers. Using this model, Alumil can reduce lead times and increase the efficiency of operations. A lean supply chain is also helpful for businesses that aim to reduce their overheads and increase profits while being sustainable.
Alumil has placed sustainability at the forefront of its operations. Local manufacturing shortens the supply chain, thus reducing the distance to transport goods and consuming less energy. Demonstrating care for the environment is critical for Alumil, because it is part of our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policy. Local manufacturing with environmentally friendly practices can significantly help Alumil in achieving its ESG goals.
The benefits of local manufacturing extend beyond our business. By keeping production within Serbia, we contribute to the development of the local economy and support the country’s innovation and industrialisation.
Local manufacturing is a positive attribute of our business that leads to a better brand image.
The past few years have served as a reminder of why domestic production is critical. The pandemic and other supply chain disruptions crippled many companies that didn’t engage in the benefits of local manufacturing. A sustainable future for businesses and the environment involves reshoring and investing in domestic manufacturing, and Alumil has been pursuing this strategy in Serbia for many years, with positive results.
What comprises your portfolio and how much of your production do you export from Serbia and to which countries?
At Alumil we are building excellence every day. Through our modern production facilities and strict quality controls along the entire production chain, we ensure the creation of superior products of high added value. Our continuous research and development leads to us offering unique solutions with many innovative features, which fully satisfy the needs of our customers.
By keeping production within Serbia, we contribute to the development of the local economy and support the country’s innovation and industrialisation
All Alumil systems are designed and developed by the Alumil Group’s innovative Research & Development Department and then tested and certified by internationally accredited certification institutes and laboratories. At Alumil YU, we annually export 70% of our capacity to sophisticated European markets. We deliver precision machined, ready-to-use aluminium profiles, mainly for industrial use, to countries like Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, Poland, the Netherlands and the UK.
What are the principles of sustainable development and circular economy that you consistently follow and which lead to you standing out in your industry?
We have built our business strategy on the principles of sustainability and the circular economy for a significant period. At our company, we actively embrace a green development model and take consistent and decisive steps to minimise our environmental impact.
In line with our commitment to preserve the environment, we have established a cutting-edge aluminium scrap sorting and processing unit at our facilities located in the Kilkis Industrial Zone. This innovative unit, representing a substantial investment of 4.6 million euros, enables us to harness the perpetual recyclability of aluminium, a metal that retains its mechanical properties even after multiple reuse cycles.
By doing so, we have not only demonstrated our dedication to eco-conscious practices, but also significantly advanced our environmental goals. The advantages of aluminium recycling are truly remarkable, as it requires a staggering 95% less energy to produce aluminium from recycled raw materials compared to primary production methods. Moreover, increasing the recycled content during the production of aluminium systems allows us to create products with a significantly lower carbon footprint.
And we haven’t stopped there. We have aimed higher and set an ambitious goal with a horizon of 2025: to ensure that all our aluminium profiles for architectural use consist of at least 60% recycled aluminium.
We are today thrilled to announce that our dedication and hard work have paid off sooner than anticipated. We have not only achieved our initial projections, but actually surpassed them. Alumil is proud to stand as one of the few companies worldwide to have received the prestigious “OK Recycled” certification from TÜV AUSTRIA. This certification acknowledges our commitment to sustainability and the production of billets with 60% recycled aluminium, which are used in all profiles of our architectural systems.
Sustainability is not a destination for us, but rather an ongoing journey. “OK Recycled” certification from TÜV AUSTRIA highlights our active role on this journey, demonstrating our dedication to environmental responsibility, circular economy principles and reducing our ecological footprint.