BEYOND MACHINERY
Experience and knowledge of employees give companies an edge through innovative solutions that translate to continuing improvements of manufacturing processes, efficient technology practice and green engineering. The fact that some 51,000 people work in over 2,900 machining and tooling companies explains the progress in the development of modern technologies and their application to a lean-manufacturing environment. The CE conformity marking affixed to the »Made in Slovenia« products speak of a high level of metalworking technology, machine tools and precision engineering found in Slovenia. Slovenian manufacturers are moving to the fore of the international supply chains as slow stamping-press speeds and frequent die crashes are regarded as not acceptable.
The manufacture of all kinds of fabricated metal products and machined parts accounts for 60% of revenue earned in foreign markets and with 4.0 billion euros in exports in 2014, the sector generated over 17% of total Slovenian exports of the manufacturing sector. The EU Member States remain Slovenia’s biggest market and thanks to the decades of fostering economic links with its neighbours, Slovenia keeps expanding trade with the markets in the region. The leading Slovenian machining and tooling companies are among the most important foreign investors in the markets of south-eastern Europe (SEE) and it is a clear benefit for their international business partners.
The companies working in the metal forming and metal fabrication industry co-operate in clusters, professional associations, universities, research institutes, supporting fundamental and applied research that address technological barriers facing the industry. Designers and manufacturers of tools have been at the forefront of the industry providing a platform for toolmaking companies with CAD/CAM/CAE designed and manufactured tooling. Other companies benefit from comprehensive hi-tech solutions to increase productivity and speed delivery. These are large, as well as medium and small enterprises, well-known in the EU working to specifications of leading manufacturers in the automotive and aviation industry (Audi, Benteler, BMW, Chrysler, Alfa, Magna, Mercedes, PSA Group, VW), and non-metal industry sectors such as household appliances and IT.
Key figures 2012
Number of companies: 2,919
Number of employees: 51,200
Revenues (in €): 6.7 billion
Exports (in €): 4.0 billion
Key export markets: Australia, Austria, Croatia, Czech Rep., France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA
Source: AJPES, 2015
Key products
- vehicles and auto parts
- metal fittings and components
- cast and fabricated metal elements
- water turbines and pumps
- various metal products
- metal tools
- truck lifts
- HVAC systems
Leading domestic and foreign-owned companies
- Acroni / OAO Koks (Manufacture of basic iron, steel & ferro-alloys)
- ADK (Lifting & handling equipment)
- Akers Valji Ravne / Akers (Manufacture of specialty tools)
- Arcont / Containex Container (Metal structures)
- Croning livarna / Krombach International (Cast steel production and machining)
- Danfoss Trata / Danfoss International (Industrial machinery & equipment)
- EMO - Orodjarna (Tools for sheet metal fabrikation, CAD/CAM/CAE designed tools)
- Farmtech / Komptech (Agriculture & forestry machinery)
- GKN Driveline Slovenija / G.K.N. Industries (Ball, needle and roller bearings)
- Gorenje Orodjarna (Tools for sheet metal fabrication, plastics processing and CAD/CAM/CAE designed tools)
- Impol group (Aluminium and aluminium-alloy products)
- Kladivar / Poclain Hydraulics (Hydraulic valves)
- Kovinar / Fin.Fer (Manufacture of wire products, chain and springs)
- Kovinoplastika Loz (Metal fittings, tools for sheet metal fabrication, plastics processing and die casting)
- Kovis - Livarna (Railway locomotives and rolling stock)
- Lama Avtomatizacija / Titus Tool Company (Furniture fittings, prefabricated systems, tools)
- Lestro-Ledinek / Ledinek Machinen und Anlagen (Machinery and equipment for the solid wood processing)
- Litostroj steel (Casting of steel)
- Livar (Grey and nodular cast iron castings)
- LTH ulitki (Complex aluminium and magnesium high-pressure die-cast components and system)
- Mariborska livarna Maribor / Metalka (Copper, copper alloy and aluminium alloy products)
- Metal Ravne (Manufacturing of basic iron, steel & ferro-alloys)
- Niko / Ring International (Variety of metal products for the use in offices, wood industry, upholstery, building industry and machine manufacture)
- Palfinger / Palfinger (Cranes, hoists and winches)
- Preis Sevnica / Jagersberger Gesellschaft ( Metal tanks, reservoirs & containers)
- SIJ - Slovenian Steel Group / OAO Koks (Steel bars for applications in the forging, spring and engineering industries)
- Skrlj / SK-Group (Winemaking machinery and equipment)
- Store steel (Steel bars for applications in the forging, spring and engineering industries)
- Talum (Aluminium products: foundry alloys, extrusion ingots, evaporators, castings …)
- Titan / Securidev (Locks & hinges)
- TKO / Dunes Limited (Components for excavators, bulldozers and loaders)
- Trimo (Metal buildings, structures, façade panelling, roofs)
- Unior (Machine and hand tools, forgings and sintered parts)
- Varstroj (Welding and thermal cutting machines)
- Yaskawa Ristro / Yaskawa Europe (Wide range of robotic solutions for industrial applications)
Faculties, research institutions, clusters and associations
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Institute of Metals and Technology
- Slovenia Partner, Development Group for Materials and Nanotechnology
- TECOS - Slovenian Tool and Die Development Centre
- Tool-making Cluster of Slovenia
