Bridging the future Zagreb Montaža Group

BRIDGING THE FUTURE

Zagreb Montaža Group currently occupies one of the leading positions among Croatian construction companies. Engaged in a wide range of services from manufacturing and assembly of industrial plants to turnkey investment projects, the group’s annual turnover exceeds €100 million owing to many contracts both at home and abroad. Vanja Švačko reports.

IN 1989 Zagreb Montaža started its operations as an independent company for the construction and maintenance of buildings and industrial plants. ZM Ltd owns shares in several limited liability companies, which together comprise the Zagreb Montaža Group.

Zagreb Montaža has been operating on both the domestic and foreign markets in various structural forms since 1950. The company has grown continuously in this time, and in 1994 it was re-organised to become the Zagreb Montaža Group.

From a company dealing mainly in the construction and maintenance of industrial plants, Zagreb Montaža has grown into a company with a wide range of industry applictions, including: chemical & petrochemical plants, oil refineries, thermal power plants, gas cleaning plants, industrial food plants, metallurgy plants, natural gas and water pipelines, crude oil Tanks, flue gas desulphurisation facilities (FGD), electrostatic precipitators (ESP), steel structures and bridges.

ZM-Metal is the company in the group with an almost centurylong experience in metal processing and the manufacture of metal products, machine parts and industrial armatures.

The manufacturing company within the group is ZM-Vikom, located in Šibenik, Dalmatia. Owing to its excellent strategic position and proximity to the highway, railway and the Adriatic Sea, the company became a fast and efficient export wheel for the group, responsible for the production of various steel constructions and heavy industrial equipment.

The third company, ZM-Elemes, applies the most advanced technologies within the construction industry. It designs, manufactures and assembles aluminium, ceramic and tin facades as well as light metal constructions, and offers comprehensive technical surveillance, investment project executions and so on.

One of Zagreb Montaža’s branches is situated in Germany with its headquarters in Düsseldorf. Three companies operate in that branch: ZM-Montag (steel bridges, thermal power plant parts and industrial plant assemblage), ZM-Vikom (steel constructions, air and smoke chimneys, DeNox facilities, E-filters and fabric filters) and Zagreb-Montaža (shipbuilding and metal surface ennoblement).

In January 2015 ZM-Montag merged with Zagreb Montaža. It holds ISO 9001, 14000 and OHSAS18000 certificates.

Business advantages

Zagreb Montaža offers a wide range of activities that also include thermal energy plant assembly, water purification plant construction (mechanical and biological purification), electric and fabric filter assembly, high pressure main gas pipeline assembly, bridge assembly and many others. It differs from the classic contract company by the fact that it executes its own investment projects.

“In comparison to our competitors, our advantage lies in the wide range of services that we offer, which are embodied in the workshop production and installation of industrial plants,” says Mrs Sandra Miklavčić, PR in Zagreb Montaža. “Another advantage that we consider to be crucial for the success of our company is its modern structure within which each of our companies develops individually and demonstrates a high capability to meet the most demanding requirements in the construction industry.”

Zagreb Montaža has a long-term cooperation with renowned European suppliers Eiffel Deutschland, Hitachi, Alstom Power, Hitachi Zosen Inova Swiss and so on, which is an additional impetus to maintaining its strong market position.

Investment aims

Zagreb Montaža employs around 1200 staff, half of which currently work on international sites in Germany, Slovenia, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe. The main manufacturing plants are located in the cities of Šibenik and Hercegovac. The company invested in a large production plant in Šibenik, which covers around 20,000m2 and is equipped with the most advanced fittings for the manufacturing and welding of steel parts.

The group’s investment strategy is aimed at expanding its services and working towards new acquisitions on the European market, as well as the regions outside Europe.

“The foundations of our future development strategy will be implemented through additional acquisitions and gaining new customers, especially in the areas of environmental protection – i.e. in building plants for environmental protection,” adds Mrs Miklavčić.

Building bridges

Zagreb Montaža participates in many challenging projects in Croatia and abroad. It plans, designs and constructs various facilities for its clients such as shopping and business centres, residential areas and so on.

The company is also heavily involved in the bridge construction sector. It has gained a world-class reputation by building more than 50 bridges in Germany alone since 1994. Although in Croatia bridges are mostly made of concrete, Zagreb Montaža has been involved in some of the most challenging projects here, such as the bridge across the river Sava in Zagreb and the longest Croatian bridge, 2.5km across the river Drava in Osijek.

By 2017 the company will have completed ten bridges in Germany, the Netherlands and Scotland worth €10 million, which is a record in the history of the Croatian bridge construction industry. The newest project of strategic interest for Zagreb Montaža involves its participation in the assembly and welding of a 2660m bridge at the Fort Replacement Crossing in Scotland. The contract was concluded with a consortium consisting of American, German and British companies. This will hopefully open possibilities for new business deals and further market expansion.

An additional boost for the company’s business in this sector came from Croatia’s accession to the European Union. “Membership in the EU has created the preconditions for easier access to new markets outside Croatia and the possibility to offer services more flexibly,” Mrs Miklavčić states.

Although more than 70 per cent of its turnover comes from exports, the company sees further potential in the government’s launch of a series of infrastructure projects after a prolonged economic crisis. The construction industry in Croatia is set for a recovery, which is sure to secure stable growth for Zagreb Montaža. n Visit: www.zagreb-montaza.hr