Metal Processing Industry of Slovenia

Metal processing industry is a strong industrial branch within Slovenian national economy. These facts put it in the top range of national manufacturing industries. Traditional business relationships with Europe’s and the world’s most prominent businesses are based on up-to-date technology, considerable professional expertise and total quality assurance.

Due to historical, geographical and other reasons the prime export market is the demanding and highly competitive area of EU. As acting globally became an imperative, focus enlarges onto the East Balkans, Near, Middle and Far East as well as East and Central Europe, Asia and both Americas. The share of non-EU export is rising constantly. Permanent innovation and improvement in all fields - be it product, production process or business conduct - is a conditio sine qua non.

Industry structure
Companies comprising Slovenian metal industry are involved into three main activities: metalworking, machine building and transport equipment. The latter is most strongly represented by entities operating in automotive field. In the group of most important companies in the metalworking area there are UNIOR d.d., TRIMO d.d., KOVINOPLASTIKA d.d., IMPOL d.d., being leaders of production of hand tools, forged articles, metal constructions and stainless steel products. Among the biggest companies in the machine building sector we find ADK d.o.o., GKN DRIVELINE d.o.o., LITOSTROJ E.I. d.o.o., HIDRIA IMP KLIMA d.o.o., producing lorry cranes, constant velocity joints, turbines, air distribution systems.

Automotive industry suppliers are a big and growing group of companies. Complying with the requirements of highest international standards they produce components, assembleys, sub-assembleys and systems as renowned suppliers to the world’s leading groups in automotive sector. Top companies are: REVOZ d.d., CIMOS d.d., ADRIA MOBIL d.o.o., TPV d.d., TBP d.d. manufacturing passenger cars, pedals’ systems, motorhomes, bowden cables.

The main body of metal processing industry consists of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) which operate mostly international - be it as producers of their own final products or manufacturing parts and components for other industries. Metal processing sector employs more than 55.000 employees.

Of the three aforementioned subsectors, metalworking one is the strongest in means of employment it comprises of 50,2% of all employees in metal processing industries, it represents 42% of total income and almost 48% of value added accumulated in all three fields of activities.

Export
Most of export value is result of foreign sales from motor vehicle producers and automotive industry’s suppliers. Forging, steel constructions, mechanical parts and components and machine building are also among strongest exporters. Majority of products exported is sold into European Union (Germany, France, Italy, Austria,Е); Balkan region is a traditional export market and far-East, fast growing markets are also becoming more and more common destination.

Source: Metal Processing Industry Association