The plant in Kruševac is the first development project in Serbia for a company that has vast experience in the production of wiring systems for the automotive industry
Serbia represents a key market for the further development and expansion of our business. We are currently conducting analyses and preparing for the extension of the factory, which should be implemented next year. That will bring us an additional 500 jobs, new technology and new knowhow, – explain the Kromberg & Schubert team.
Since arriving in Kruševac, Kromberg & Schubert has been dedicated to growing its production of wiring systems for the automotive industry, but also to increasing its number of employees. Are you satisfied with the implementation of plans?
– We are extremely satisfied with the realisation of our plans. Our commitment to the goal has been key to us achieving results, but our “path” didn’t go in a straight line through all these years. We have learned and changed in order to become what we are today as a team and an organisation.
We have changed a lot as a collective, having last year gone through a complete “rebranding” process, learning many lessons, exceeding our own limits, taking on many challenges… This all helped make us a stronger and more unified team. That’s why we today have 2,000 colleagues, two projects that we’re working on, in Porsche and Skoda, and we’re ready to continue growing and developing to become even better: as an employer, as craftsmen (wiring systems manufacturer) and as a better example for the community.
We believe that we’re on track and that we’ve already achieved significant success in realising our plans. However, we are always open to improvement and new ideas. We will continue dedicating ourselves to the growth and development of the company, with the support of our team and the community in which we operate.
In which direction will your company develop in Serbia?
– Our company already has a regional impact; we function as one team in three locations: Kruševac, Skopje and Bitola, under the leadership of commercial director Tanya Miliskovik and technical director Uwe Schillig. That’s a total of 10,000 people who are part of a single community. That also means that we always have someone to call on for help or someone to provide help, and that all serves to bring people together, to forge new friendships, affections, connections, which is a reward in and of itself.
How has the crisis caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine impacted the automotive industry and your operations?
– The crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on the automotive industry globally. Supply chain difficulties, reduced demand for vehicles and a general economic slowdown have led to falling production and turnover. Market uncertainties and fluctuations have also compelled us to adjust our business strategies.
All these crises have also brought new opportunities. Due to the situation in Ukraine, our headquarters requires additional production space, because it has new projects. Following the positive transformation that we had last year, we’ve now been entrusted, as a team, with that extension of space being built right here in Kruševac. In a world fraught with destruction, demolition and division at the global level, we are happy and grateful to have the opportunity to once again construct, create and connect. Our motto is:
“Our people are our strongest side”. We will gain new colleagues and will promote those who’ve worked hard and contributed; we will learn a lot of new things, become humbler and more mature as individuals and as a team. We have plenty of all that waiting for us, and this all makes life more beautiful, richer and better.