Manufacturing-Journal vol. 4/3-2008

Manufacturing Journal Volume 4/3 - 2008

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magazine

The World of Business

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Coming home with High quality and a wet sail competive prices

A modern pleasure in the old tradition!

page 21

page 54

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Manufacturing Journal

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Covers All sides of International business

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PRELUDE International Trade Gets worldwide Through B2B…

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s businesses are getting more environmentally conscious, this phenomenon has fueled businesses across the world to use Business to Business (B2B) portals as their international business tool for all their trading needs.

However, in the early 1990’s, though the concept was well accepted by the business world, traders were sceptical about the positive results. But today leading B2B portals have proved beyond doubt the world that the concept is not only fast and cost effective, but also an eco-friendly medium to do international trade. Top trade shows still attract many companies to showcase their products and services, but a majority of small and medium enterprises (SME) have totally resorted to do the same through B2Bs. And this in fact, has reduced unnecessary movement of people and commodities to several such shows resulting in lowering cost of marketing as well as energy to every business entity involved. Besides, instead of traveling to meet a new client to a foreign land, traders found this new rendezvous in the form of B2B portal. In business development process, after making initial interactions through emails, they sometimes even confirm their business facilities through video-conferencing before inking the deals, and this too is made possible through B2Bs. According to studies, more than 60% of SME utilize the services of B2Bs directly or indirectly. Though there is a flurry and mushrooming of several B2Bs with claims of providing complete business solutions, leading B2Bs are still largely sought after in the e-commerce arena. B2Bs are environmentally appealing mainly because of the non-involvement of any kind global warming material being used in the business development process.

The complete business process except product delivery involves just electronic interaction and transaction.

Products or services are presented to the client/clients by redirecting them to their respective websites from their B2B profile or through the same profile itself depending upon the B2B package their have opted for.

Avoids physical presence in all stages of business, and in abstract services even delivery is made electronically.

B2Bs generated huge revenues as compared to other business models engaged in global trade without emitting any harmful green house gases or cutting trees which was otherwise used extensively in paperbased business processes of the past. Perhaps serious concern for the deteriorating health of the environment due to climate change and other related issues have prompted businesses to take a paradigm shift to opt for B2Bs. Most B2Bs expect bringing in such awareness among traders will also help these portals to grow besides other positive aspects. In addition, these portals hope environmentally conscious traders to market B2B concept to non-users through word of mouth or other means to adopt it as part of ‘save the planet slogan’. Some of the B2Bs provide even international services including transport, go-between and other services, besides the regulars, import and export to put their use into good effect. Apart from the eco-friendly aspects of these portals there are other attractive reasons for traders to adopt this model such as, negligible cost involved in marketing operations of any given company, userfriendliness and not to mention the speed in delivering goods. Though there are any scales to measure the amount or number of benefits to the environment after the arrival of B2B portals is available, looking into the features as well as the time presence, one is made to believe, they have made a huge positive impact in the eco front. The eco-conscious traders, if they have not started utilizing these services, will certainly adopt this business tool as a medium for their global and even for their domestic trading needs very soon.

Editor:

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Managing Director Patryk T. Zborowski Editor Patryk T. Zborowski Profile Writers Natalia Tokarska Agnieszka Rutkowska Claudio Corciulo Vladimir Grudin Aleksandra Strojek

Contents: 1 2 4 12

Prelude Contents News Country profile

Construction Industry:

Art Director Wojciech Kosmowski Project Managers Aleksandra Olejnik Agnieszka Bechta Katarzyna Marciniec Vladimir Grudin Administration Wioletta Zborowska

15 21 27 32

Bonatti Western Shipyard Klinkersire Ista

Z-MEDIA Dietla Street 11/11 31-070 Cracow Poland e-mail:info@manufacturing-journal.net advertising:adcopy@manufacturing-journal.net phone number 1: 0048 12 4337115 phone number 2: 0048 12 4337065 phone number 3: 0048 12 4337066 fax number: 0048 12 4337116 web:www.manufacturing-journal.net

Š Manufacturing Journal 2008 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form for any purpose, other than short sections for the purpose of review, without prior consent of the publisher.

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CONTENTS Food&Beverage Industry: Stumbras Western Milk Group MSM Mońki Lacpol Group Grana Padano

38 42 46 49 54

From the cover: Coming home with a wet sail page 21

High quality and competive prices page 49

Pharmacy Industry:

A modern pleasure in the old tradition! page 54

Darnitsa 59 BHFZ Pharmaceuticals 65

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NEWS Novartis completes first stage in $38 billion takeover of eyecare company Alcon Switzerland - Novartis AG announced it has completed the first stage of its $38 billion takeover of U.S. eye-care company Alcon Inc. Texas-based Aclon company makes Opti-Free contact lens solution and has 14,500 employees worldwide. The Swiss pharmaceuticals Novartis company paid current majority shareholder Nestle SA $10.4 billion cash for a 25 percent stake in Alcon. Novartis still has the exclusive right to buy Nestle’s remaining 52 percent stake in Alcon for about $28 billion between January 2010 and July 2011. The second step is optional, but both companies would have to agree not to exercise their rights for the deal to fall through. The sale of and is the largest takeover in Swiss history. Alcon’s turnover last year was $5.6 billion, with a net profit of $1.6 billion.

Donut King enters Chinese market The chain’s owner Retail Food Group Ltd (RFG) is taking Donut King to China after penning a master licensing agreement with Shanghai-based Mak Brands Ltd. Obviously the RFG would need to change its offerings to meet the taste profiles and expectations of Chinese consumers. “Chinese donuts” would be filed vanilla with green-beans paste or green tea donutholes because traditional donuts are too sweet for the Chinese palate. Similar taste profile have people in Korea and Japan. RFG said being first off the block into China gave any company an advantage.

It’s virgin territory and you want to take a first-mover advantage on that,” the company says. Another reason to enter the Chinese market is the massive population (of more than one billion), that is why there is a significant interest in parties wanting to exploit those rights in that particular country. The mast licensing agreement grants exclusive rights to Mak Brands to establish and expand the Donut King chain throughout China. Donut King would be the first brand within Mak Brands portfolio but he was not worried about working with a company without a proven track record. According to the RFG the agreement generated immediate and continuing revenue in the form of an initial licence fee, payable upon agreement execution, and ongoing royalties that were about 1.5 per cent of total gross turnover in all outlets. According to the RFG there is a minimum requirement to establish 140 outlets in the first 20 years. By the end of fiscal year 2009 10 to 15 outlets will have been established within east China, providing a firm platform for future growth. Retail Food Group said it wanted to take other brands to South-East Asia. The company is already negotiating two other licensing agreements within South-East Asia.

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NEWS Kazakhstan – China natural gas pipeline construction began

It is impossible to feed the world without genetically modified organisms The European Commission has said that it believes biotech crops can alleviate the current crisis in food supply. The chairman of Nestlé, the world’s biggest food group, has said it is impossible to feed the world without genetically modified organisms. The British government’s former chief scientific adviser, David King, has said over the past week that genetically modified crops hold the key to solving the world’s food crisis. Obviously, genetically modified (GM) technology still has many opponents, who fear that genetically modified crops can create health problems for animals and humans, and give far-reaching control over the world’s food to a few corporate masters. However, soaring food prices may cut opposition to GM food and acceptance of the technology.

“For me it is just a matter of time before we get our head around GM,” said Jonathan Banks at the market information company AC Nielsen. “The way people will learn to live with GM is to say ‘we do it product by product and make sure everything is OK.” The European Union has not approved any genetically modified crops for a decade. The Union’s 27 member countries often clash on the issue. Outside the EU, Switzerland has a moratorium on growing GM crops. Agrochemical companies are riding a wave of high food prices and soaring demand for farm goods, and Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta have all raised 2008 earnings forecasts. In June, the chocolate maker Mars, the computer giant IBM and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said they would map the DNA of the cocoa tree to try to broaden the crop’s $5 billion market. The fact is that knowledge of GM good among the EU citizens has fallen to 26 percent, compared with 40 percent in the previous survey, which took place in 2005. “People do change attitudes, just gradually, because they become used to technologies,” said Jonathan Ramsay, spokesman for Monsanto, the world’s biggest seed company. “Consumers are looking at prices, consumers hear the stories about food production, growing population in the world, and I think people do understand that agriculture needs to be efficient.”

The construction of a natural gas pipeline to link Kazakhstan with China began, the Kazakh construction company Kazstroiservis announced.

Kazakhstan is a energy rich country. It estimated reserves of natural gas, including the Kazakh sector’s Caspian Sea shelf, stand at around 3.3 trillion cubic meters. The gas pipeline will be the country’s first natural gas export route to external markets bypassing Russia. The new gas route is part of a larger project to build a system of pipelines running from Turkmenistan across Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to energyhungry China. The gas pipeline is expected to eventually pump 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year by late 2013, including 30 billion cu m for China and 10 billion cubic meters for Kazakhstan. The project is expected to be completed in June 2010 and have an initial capacity of 4.5 billion cubic meters annually, Kazstroiservis said.

Ukraine’s Export In view of the planned for 2008 grain yield at the level of 40 mln tonnes, next season Ukraine may export 13.5-14 mln tonnes of grain, reported Yuriy Melnik, Minister of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine. He also noted that Ukraine in 2008/09 may return to its position as one of the leading countries-exporters (along with Russia, Kazakhstan and EU countries). Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy said that in 2008/09 wheat, barley and maize will remain the main exported grain crops from Ukraine. At that, Minister Yuriy Melnik did not specified planned export volumes by crops and said that more specifically about these can be said after completing of the harvesting campaign and conducting consultations with the participants of the Ukrainian grain market. It was reported that currently there is no necessity of introduction of any restrictions for grain export from Ukraine because of favorable forecast regarding new crop as well as considerable carryover stocks of grain, that currently total 5.7 mln tonnes.

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NEWS Imerys Tiles Minerals’ approach to the Eastern European ceramic markets.

Supplier of quality raw materials to the tile making industries, Imerys Tiles Minerals has extended its own sales network from Western Europe, including Poland, to the enlarged Eastern European area, including Turkey and the Middle East.

Thanks to its extensive product portfolio and the chemical properties of its products, Imerys Tiles Minerals is able to answer the needs of the many requirements of tile manufacturers all over the world.

With 25 sites dedicated to the tile industry, including major sites in the UK, France, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, Thailand and China, Imerys Tiles Minerals supplies its customers with good quality products and innovative solutions for tile body formulation and its application (super white, glazed porcelain and unglazed porcelain tiles), for frits, glazes and engobes, and a range of natural body stains with Cesar’s Grès de Thiviers, Natural and Derived Colours.

The products portfolio range include ball clays (France, UK, Ukraine, Thailand and USA), kaolins (France, UK, Ukraine, Turkey, Thailand and USA), feldspars and feldspatic sands (France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, India and USA), quartz (France and Spain). Niche products like the FMT ball clay or Kaolinor 1C have established themselves as international high value products. Thanks to its unique plasticity, the FMT ball clay is both an economical solution to Ukrainian ball clays and a cheaper solution for super white bodies where it can replace to some extent zircon silicate. The FMT is used all over the world, including in the Far East and Middle East countries. In the glaze application, another Imerys product has also established a strong reputation among tile makers, the Kaolinor 1C, also known as d’Arvor Kaolin in the South East Asia region. This high value kaolin with a suspensive effect ensures the formulation good homogeneity. The product consistency with a low residue at 45µ means significantly less impurities leading to a production output without defect.

In Ukraine, at our Kaolin deposit in Belaya Balka (KBB), we have already succeeded in getting 99 % control. The matrix material extracted has a kaolinite content of 45 % and, thanks to its good physical properties and its high whiteness, can be used in most ceramic applications without processing. We are now operating a crushing plant to be able to deliver a controlled grain size (95 % lower than 1 mm).

We have started to sell the material for the production of high-quality, large-size tiles in Italy and Spain. At the same time our technical teams are looking to evaluate the properties and potential of a refined kaolin product from Belaya Balka. Another strong point of KBB is the location itself, with convenient logistics solutions for export (more that 75 % of our sales).

Today we can rely on a dedicated sales organization in Ukraine and a focused team of geologists and R&D specialists who will make the best out of this deposit.

Imerys Ceramics other businesses

In addition to its products aimed at tile makers, Imerys other ceramics business

are dedicated to the tableware, sanitaryware, glass/fibreglass, technical ceramics and electro-porcelain industries. Imerys Tableware is the European leader for supplying porcelain bodies to the tableware industry. With production facilities throughout Europe and Asia, Imerys Tableware offers to its customers all over the world a wide product portfolio, suitable for forming techniques ranging from isostatic pressing and jiggering to casting. A complementary line of compatible glazes has been developed in collaboration with customers. Imerys Tableware’s raw materials provide outstanding mechanical strength and plasticity. The very low levels of iron oxide and titania give exceptional whiteness and translucency to customers products. Imerys Sanitaryware, it is the leading supplier of quality kaolins, ball clays and prepared bodies to the world’s sanitaryware industry. Imerys Sanitaryware markets its products through Imerys brand names like ECC (UK), Ceratera (France), Spica (Italy), MRDECC (Thailand) and KT-Clays (USA and Mexico). Imerys is already present in Eastern Europe through its Romanian of-

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NEWS therefore be accompanied in their business growth, from Western to Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia, India, North and South America. Understanding minerals is the first prerequisite for good business practice. Imerys international teams of geologists ensure that all the adequate mineral resources are not only available to the group for all its activities but will also cover clients’ future needs in raw materials.

Imerys Expertise Belaya Balka quarry, Ukraine fice in Bucharest. In addition to its ceramics business, Imerys Tableware Balkans also supplies the glass/fiberglass, technical ceramics and the electro-porcelain industries.

Imerys Resources

With a portfolio of 29 minerals, 250 sites in 47 countries, employing over 17,500 persons, and with a turnover of €3,402 million in 2007, Imerys mines and transforms minerals into innovative solutions to improve its customers’ products and manufacturing processes. All Imerys’ businesses, from specialty minerals, materials and monolithics, pigments for paper to refractories, abrasives and filtrations, show a sound grasp of market needs, technical innovation, operating excellence, tight cost control and a developed sense of service. Its growth has recently been due to some major acquisitions: first in 1999 with ECC, and more recently with Lafarge Refractories, World Minerals and Denain-Anzin Minéraux/DAM and AGS. Imerys’strategic mineral assets are well balanced geographically. Clients can

To obtain the required properties from a mineral, it has to be transformed. Imerys’ plants are the focal point of this transformation process (crushing, grinding, physical or chemical separation, screening,

to super white for tiles, to high quality kaolins, ball clays and prepared bodies for the world’s sanitaryware industry.

A customer dedicated partnership

Rigorous testing procedures are employed at every stage of the production process, from the mineral deposit itself through to the final product. Adjustments to processing conditions and blending of different batches are carried out in response to these test results, ensuring Imerys customers can always rely on high and consistent quality.

Developing for the future

Imerys dedicated development team of each business unit Imerys Ceramics France, Site des Kaolins works in partnerde Bretagne, France ship with clients to provide them with the best possible raw materials solutions for their application. It is also part of Imerys strategy to be at the forefront of ceramic innovation process through the new Ceramic Centre and to suit evolving technological, process, trend and etc.). For each of its main market segments Imerys provides its customers with design requirements. The company subsolutions that optimise the technical and scribes its activity in a strong sustainable economic performance of their products, development rationale, offering its cuswhilst still respecting the environmental tomers assistance to develop new soluregulations. Thanks to its large mineral tions reducing energy consumption, CO2 product portfolio Imerys’ ceramics busi- emissions, waste and effluent production. nesses can serve clients with different needs: from bone china for tableware,

Belaya Balka crushing plant, Ukraine

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NEWS As coffee consumption increases, the overall risk of death decreases According to a recent study suggestions drinking up to six cups of coffee a day may lower the overall odds of dying, mainly because it cuts the risk of dying from heart disease. The studies were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Esther Lopez-Garcia, lead author of the Harvard School of Public Health report, says: “Our results suggest that long-term, regular coffee consumption has several beneficial health effects.” The study examines the relationship between coffee and mortality. It is based on the coffee drinking habits of 41,736 men and 86,216 women with no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer. The men were followed for 18 years, the women for 24 years. Study results show that as coffee consumption increases, the overall risk of death decreases. The association is mostly explained by a decrease in CVD deaths. Participating women who drank two to three cups of coffee per day, for instance, had a 25 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than non-drinkers. “Coffee has some beneficial effects on inflammation and endothelial function, which are the first stages of CVD development,” Lopez-Garcia says. The findings suggest that a component other than caffeine explains the relationship between coffee and a lower risk of death, Lopez-Garcia says. Participants who drank both decaf and caffeinated coffee had lower death rates than non-drinkers. Some experts still warn, however, that caffeine can lead to detrimental short-term health effects, such as anxiety and sleep problems. However, no connection was found between heavy coffee consumption and cancer deaths. “More studies are necessary to confirm this lack of effect,” she says.

Italian wine producer Casa Vinicola Zonin has launched a new wine range Casa Vinicola Zonin is a Vicenza-based wine producer. Nowadays, Zonin launched a new wine range, Terre Palladiane, comprising three reds and two whites from selected wine-growing areas of Italy. Zonin Export Manager Luca Ardiri presented the selection at TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore earlier this month. Wine experts say that Terre Palladiane is an excellent wine selection which is hoped to be very well appreciated in Asia. Terre Palladiane is the latest step forward by the family-owned Zonin in Asia, and the company has positive forecasts for the region. Zonin has been present with Alpha in Sri Lanka since 2005. in India Zonin appeared in 2007, where it is enjoying a loyal clientele. TFWA Asia Pacific was successful for the company, attracting positive interest from retailers and advancing plans to expand its duty free in new duty free markets in the Indian subcontinent and in Africa. Zonin’s Primo Amore wine selection, introduced into travel retail in April 2007, has been well received with the help of screw-cap tops.

It is said that screw caps for medium-priced wines were gaining interest in Asia, and especially in Japan. But for now the company is planning to stick to cork for all its other wines, sourcing it from different suppliers to provide a variety for each vintage, to minimise the risk of corking.

Poland is interested in cooperation with Ukraine in nuclear powerengineering, Polish official say.

Poland is interested in cooperation with Ukraine in nuclear power engineering, Wojciech Zajaczkowski advisor to the Polish prime minister, said during a meeting iwith Yuriy Nedashkovsky, president of Ukraine’s National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom. The meeting took place in the end of June. The greatest interest in cooperation with the Ukrainian nuclear power was showed by Polish energy firms Enea and Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE). Wojciech Zajaczkowski said, that Poland was ready to invest in the construction of new generating capacities and infrastructure development. Polish nuclear program was blocked in the early 1990s. However, the Polish official also said that due to rising environmental problems and the growth of electricity consumption, Poland plans to revisit it. Nedashkovsky informed Zajaczkowski of plans for the development of Ukraine’s nuclear-industrial complex in compliance with the country’s energy strategy until 2030, and of the implementation of a project to complete the third and fourth power generating complexes at the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant. “We are open for a dialogue and are interested in further cooperation”, he said.

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NEWS India’s Glenmark Pharma conquers Polish market Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GPL) is a Indian research-driven, global, fully integrated pharmaceutical company. The firm announced it has acquired 7 pharmaceutical brands in Poland, from generics maker Actavis, the international generic pharmaceutical company from Iceland, and its affiliate Biovena (an affiliate of Actavis in Poland). According o the Glenn Saldanha, Managing Director & CEO, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., the acquisition of the products from these two different companies for an undisclosed sum will provide Glenmark its first access to the exciting and growing Polish market the largest, pharmaceutical market in Central Europe and East Europe. According to the Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharma company the agreement was signed through its Czech unit Medicamenta. The company expects sales of $15 million from the acquired product portfolio in fiscal 2009. The largest products in the new portfolio are antidepressant Cital and epilepsy drug Lamotrix. These products comprise about half of the total sales of Glenmark’s newly acquired portfolio. The Glenmark company is a leader in India in the discovery of new molecules (Both NCES and Biologics) and is focused in the areas of inflammation [Asthma/COPD, etc] and metabolic disorders [Diabetes, Obesity, etc]. The company has branded generic formulation interests in over 85 countries across the world including India, Europe, Brazil, Rest of Latin America (excluding Argentina), Russia/CIS, Africa and Asia. The formulations business spans several product segments such as Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Respiratory, Diabetes, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, ENT, and Oncology. The company employs over 4100 people across its global operations and its shares are listed on India’s two large stock exchanges, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

GlaxoSmithKline, the UK-based pharmaceutical company, is unlikely to receive US approval for its key cervical cancer vaccine until 2010 at the earliest.

After requests for fresh information on Cervarix from the Food & Drug Administration in December, GSK said it had decided to await completion of a pivotal clinical trial to be filed with the US regulator during the first half of 2009. Cervarix is a probable blockbuster treatment that is central to the company’s future growth. The cervical cancer vaccine market is expected to be worth more than $1bn a year in sales. GSK’s timetable change confirms long-standing analysts’ fears of delays for Cervarix, which is competing with a rival vaccine, Gardasil, produced by Merc of the US and already on sale in north America. Observers believe the queries focus on the nature of Cervarix’s proprietary adjuvant, a chemical that boosts the immune response to the vaccine. The FDA has not approved a new adjuvant since the 1930s. Cervarix has been already approved for sale in 67 countries, including across Europe, which has sparked an intensifying competition for contracts between Merck and GSK in recent months. Barbara Howe, GSK’s vice- president and director for north American vaccine development, said: “We continue to have positive and productive discussions with the FDA and remain confident in the vaccine’s safety and efficacy profile.” According to Eddie Gray, president of pharmaceuticals Europe for GSK Cervarix provides cervical cancer protection with a strong and sustained immune response.

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NEWS Prebiotic potential of almonds Almonds are known for their high vitamin E and mineral content. Moreover, they have cholesterol-reducing and diabetes-combating potential. New research indicates that they also have a prebiotic effect. Almond Board of California researches founded that almond powder significantly increased levels of certain gut flora. As a result prebiotic effects were increased. However, the prebiotic effect did not occur when the fat content was removed from the almond preparation, indicating lipid concentration is key to activating the prebiotic reaction. The study was published in the July edition of Applied and Environmental Microbiology. “We investigated the potential prebiotic effect of almond seeds in vitro using mixed faecal bacterial cultures,” the researchers wrote. Institute of Food Research scientists led by Dr Guisy Mandalari used a Model Gut to simulate the physical and biochemical conditions of the gastro-intestinal tract so that the almonds experienced an environment similar to that of the stomach and the small intestine. Digested almonds were then mixed with an in vitro batch system to mimic the bacterial fermentation in the large intestine. The populations of intestinal bacteria were then monitored.

“The results show a prebiotic effect of finely ground almonds (with lipid) but not with defatted almonds,” Mr Mandalari said.

Other research has indicated lipid content of almonds is reduced if almonds are not processed by grinding as in this case, or via mastication. The researchers called for further research into almond digestibility, with prebiotic effects tested on human subjects.

Food crisis deepens because of export restrictions In recent months some countries, to ensure that their citizens have enough to eat and can afford the food, have sharply curbed food exports. India, Vietnam, China and other countries have for instance limited or even banned exports of rice. Pakistan and Bolivia, have capped or halted wheat exports. More than a dozen countries have limited corn exports. Kazakhstan has restricted exports of sunflower seeds.

The Japanese protect their rice industry by making it nearly impossible for imported rice to compete. India has banned exports of vegetable oils. The European Union limits beef and poultry imports, and Poland goes further, banning soybean imports as well. “One country’s act to promote food security is another country’s food insecurity,” Susan Schwab, the U.S. trade representative said. “It’s obvious that these export restrictions fuel the fire of price increases,” said Pascal Lamy, director general of the World Trade Organization. “People are in a panic, so they are buying more and more,” said Conching Vasquez, a rice vendor who sat one recent morning among piles of rice at her large stall in Los Baños, in the Philippines, the world’s largest importer of rice. Her customers buy 8,000 pounds, or 3,600 kilograms, of rice a day, up from 5,500 pounds a year ago. Nowadays, the world is more and more dependent on a handful of countries like Thailand, Brazil, Canada and the United States that are still exporting large quantities of food. Negotiators have been working for years to free trade in farm goods - but the current crisis actually makes that more difficult for them. Food protests in places like Haiti and Indonesia that rely heavily on imported food have convinced many countries that it is more important than ever that they grow, and keep, the food their citizens need.

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NEWS

General Motors plans to build the worlds largest rooftop solar power plant Brazil to update oil law According to a senior government official, Brazil’s ministry of mines and energy has created a new working group that will aim to update the country’s existing oil law. “This group is studying the legislation of several countries, especially those which have a monopoly, and we are going to make a proposal to change the current law,” said Mines and Energy Minister Edison Lobao. It is said that every country changes the rules whenever new discoveries are made. “Brazil can’t be different.” Lobao, who said the changes are in the interests of the Brazilian people, was apparently referring to criticism of the proposed changes voiced by Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras, CEO Jose Sergio Gabrielli. Noting that 60% of Petrobras’ capital is private, while only 40% is held by the government, Lobao said Gabrielli represents a private company and, as such, is fighting for Petrobras’ interests. Lobao also gave assurances that the recently proposed creation of a new company to manage subsalt oil reserves will not result in a breach of existing contracts. “This is an initial idea but, in my view, all contracts will have to be maintained,” he said.” Earlier this week, it was reported that Lobao plans to propose to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva the creation of a new state-run firm that would manage oil discoveries made in recent months in the subsalt layer of the Santos basin. Last year in Brazil a huge offshore oil was discovered. It was said that the discovery could raise Brazil’s petroleum reserves by a whopping 40 percent and boost this country into the ranks of the world’s major exporters. The new ultra-deep Tupi field could hold as much as 8 billion barrels of recoverable light crude. According to Mr Gabrielli Brazil’s reserves approximately lie somewhere between those of Nigeria and those of Venezuela. He also added that the oil from ultradeep areas, including the Tupi field, would give Brazil the world’s eighth-largest oil and gas reserves. The Tupi field lies under 2,140 meters of water, more than 3,000 meters of sand and rocks, and then another 2,000-meter thick layer of salt.

The world’s largest rooftop solar power station will be located in on the roof of GM’s factory in Zaragoza in northeastern Spain. The decision to locate this European reference project at the manufacturing Plant in Zaragoza is of great importance. The project partners make pace for a new energetic balance for Aragon and for Spain. The biggest rooftop solar power station worldwide being built in Aragon is another proofpoint for the leadership of this region in terms of renewable energy. Apart from General Motors Europe, which is a part of the leading global automotive group, Veolia Environnement, Clairvoyant Energy, the energy developer, and the Government of Aragon, Spain, announced a further commitment to energy efficiency with the construction of the world’s largest capacity rooftop solar power station. Veolia Environnement and Clairvoyant Energy are building a solar power station with a capacity of 10 Mega Watts at GM’s Zaragoza plant. As part of the scheme initiated by GM, the rooftop power station will be owned and operated by a joint-venture company comprised of Veolia Environnement, Clairvoyant Energy and the Government of Aragon. GM’s Zaragoza plant will become home of the biggest rooftop solar power station worldwide. This has significant potential to reduce costs at the plant. Annual output from the photovoltaic solar power station at Figueruelas near Zaragoza is expected to be 15,1 million kWh annually.

The project will consist of 85.000 light-weight solar modules with an active photovoltaic surface area of 183.000 square meters and provide for an annual reduction in CO2-emissions of 6.7 thousand tons. GM currently has two of the largest solar power installations in the United States. The company is due to install solar panels on its factory in Saint Petersburg, Russia next.

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COUNTRY PROFILE Lithuania

Full name: Republic of Lithuania Population: 3.4 million (UN, 2007) Capital: Vilnius Area: 65,300 sq km (25,212 sq miles) Major languages Lithuanian, Russian Major religion: Christianity Life expectancy: 67 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas Main exports: Textiles, clothing, fertilisers, industrial machinery GNI per capita: US $7,050 (World Bank, 2006) Internet domain: .lt International dialling code: +370

L

ithuania is the largest and most southerly of the three Baltic republics. Not much more than a decade after it regained its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania was welcomed as a Nato member in late March 2004.

ing EU entry the republic saw very strong economic growth. It applied to join the eurozone from January 2007 but was rejected because the inflation rate was too high.

Leaders

Overview

The move came just weeks before a second historic shift for the country in establishing its place in the Western family of nations as it joined the EU in May 2004.

These developments would have been extremely hard to imagine in not-so-distant Soviet times. Russia, anxious about the implications of the eastward advance of the EU and Nato to include the three Baltic republics, has a particular eye on Lithuania which has an important border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The history of Lithuania has close ties with that of Poland, its neighbour to the southwest. By the end of the 18th century most of the country came under the Russian empire. German occupation in the first world war was followed by two decades of independence, although Vilnius was occupied by Poland for most of that time.

Following a pact between Stalin and Hitler, Soviet troops arrived in 1940. They were pushed out by the Nazis the following year but returned in 1944. For the next half century of Soviet rule, Lithuanians relied on Catholic tradition and memories of independence to preserve their national identity, a skill mastered through centuries of foreign domination. Pagan traditions with roots stretching back centuries have been kept alive too. Lithuania has embraced market reform since independence. In the run up to and period follow-

Adamkus was president between 1998 and January 2003 when he was defeated at the ballot box by Mr Paksas in a result which surprised many observers. During his first term he was credited with speeding up reforms, steering the country towards relative prosperity and overseeing Lithuania’s historic progress towards integration with the West and Nato and EU membership.

Mr Adamkus was born in Kaunas in 1926 but in 1949 emigrated to the US where he gained a degree in civil engineering and held a senior position with the Environmental Protection Agency. He returned to Lithuania after independence.

President: Valdas Adamkus

Prime minister: Gediminas Kirkilas

Valdas Adamkus was re-elected Lithuanian president in June 2004, defeating Farmers’ and New Democracy Union leader Kazimiera Prunskiene in a run-off.

The poll followed the impeachment and dismissal of the previous president, Rolandas Paksas, on corruption charges. Mr

Gediminas Kirkilas formed Lithuania’s 14th government in 15 years - a fourparty minority coalition - in July 2006.

This ended a political crisis which started when Algirdas Brazauskas, from the centre-left Social Democrats, resigned as premier in May. The Labour Party had pulled

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out of government, leaving the former PM well short of a parliamentary majority.

Mr Kirkilas, also from the Social Democrats, is a former defence minister.

He said he would strive to bring Lithuania into the eurozone, ensure better access to healthcare and curtail emigration.

COUNTRY PROFILE

Economy

In 2003, prior to joining the European Union, Lithuania had the highest economic growth rate amongst all candidate and member countries, reaching 8.8% in the third quarter. In 2004 — 7.3%; 2005 — 7.6%; 2006 — 7.4%; 2007 — 8.8%, 2008 Q1 — 7.0% growth in GDP reflects the impressive economic development. Most of the trade Lithuania conducts is within the European Union.

It is a member of the World Trade Organization, and the European Union. By UN classification, Lithuania is a country with a high average income. The country boasts a well developed modern infrastructure of railways, airports and four lane highways.

It has almost full employment, with an unemployment rate of only 2.9%. According to officially published figures, EU membership fuelled a booming economy, increased outsourcing into the country, and boosted the tourism sector. The litas, the national currency, has been pegged to the Euro since February 2, 2002 at the rate of EUR 1.00 = LTL 3.4528, and Lithuania is expected to switch to the Euro on 1 January 2010. There is gradual but consistent shift towards knowledge based economy with special emphasis on biotechnology

(industrial and diagnostic), because in Lithuania there are concentrated major biotech producers in the Baltic countries, as well as laser equipment. Also mechatronics and information technology (IT) are seen as perspective knowledge based economy directions in Lithuania.

Like other countries in the region (Estonia, Latvia) Lithuania also has a flat tax rate rather than a progressive scheme. Lithuanian income levels still lag behind the rest of the older EU members, with per capita GDP in 2007 at 60% of the EU average.

Lower wages may have been a factor that in 2004 influenced the trend of emigration

to wealthier EU countries, something that has been made legally possible as a result of accession to the European Union. In 2006, income tax was reduced to 27% and a reduction to 24% was made in October of 2007. Income tax reduction and 19.1 % annual wage growth is starting to make an impact with some emigrants gradually beginning to come back. The latest official data show emigration in early 2006 to be 30% lower than the previous year, with 3,483 people leaving in four months.

Media

Lithuania’s commercial TV channels have eroded public television audiences. The radio market is similarly competitive, with dozens of stations competing for listeners and advertisers.

Public broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) operates national TV and radio networks. In 2003 it launched a cultural TV channel.

Lithuania’s media are free and operate independently of the state, and there are no government-owned newspapers.

Nonetheless, the national broadcaster has sometimes encountered attempts by politicians to influence its editorial policy.

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ARTICLES

Construction Idustry 15-20

Bonatti

21-26

Western Shipyard

27-31

Klinkersire

32-36

Ista

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S.p.A.:

“The absolute primacy’s in the pipeline!”

B

onatti S.p.A. is a giant born in 1946.

At first sprouted up under the name of Ing. Saul Bonatti & F.lo, this volcano continues still today spreading its lava over new countries all over the world. An overwhelming expansion-process in the world of the manufacturing titans. Its activity begun as a Contractor specialized in drilling and mechanical wells. Nowadays it is the best-accomplished general contractor serving the Oil, Gas and Power industries, with great skills in the realization of various project around the globe, even in complicated environment circumstances.

Step By Step

Mr Frederic Santelli, competent in public relationships, interviewed by our reporter Claudio Corciulo, highlighted how the Important stages of the Bonatti

S.p.A. rush to the apex marked the history of this firm starting from 1974, when it became a Joint-stock company, followed by the buyout of the CO.TR.ECO. S.p.A. IN 1985. This last corporation is specialized in project, construction and management of ecological treatment implants. The S.C.I.C. S.p.A. was socked by Bonatti Group in 1985, bringing a huge contribution due to its expertise in the civil building trade, besides the I.C.E.F.S. S.p.A. sucked in by the leader pilaster during 1988, also specialized in the same field, and boasting a profoundly traditional knowledge started in the far 1930. To make the point, Bonatti S.p.A. is an expert in oil and energetic implant-construction, Services and contracts EPC in the upstream in high-oil-potential-countries such as Libya, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Manufacturing-Journal 15

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Saudi Arabia. Moreover it is a master in gas pipeline construction and reliable on the long run for the maintenance of all their artefacts. As the web magazine “Eccellere” reported on http://www.eccellere. com/rubriche/Impresedisuccesso/bonatti. htm. The international history of Bonatti S.p.A was marked by the 1979 with the expansion overseas, precisely in Libya.

This country represented for the firm the unfailing occasion of experimenting the upstream world abroad in the same way it was already actively known in Italy.

In the “peninsula italiana”, previously to this date, the company-beginning was led on by the construction of enormous gas pipelines with an approximate diameter of 48”, besides the realization of massive fuel-depots on behalf of the Marina Militare Italiana (Italian navy), the ministry of defence and the NATO. Ever since Bonatti S.p.A. has never shown to be incline to a regress, on the contrary, it keeps escalating the peaks of the world professional challenge, daring new conquests, day by day, even far from its geographical boundaries. The growth chains the corporation up with about ten different countries such as Latin America, Asia, Europe, Mediterranean and western subSaharan Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. This indispensable Heritage of technical, organizational and managerial competences has been gathered during

over a half-century experience in several sectors of plant-design and infrastructural engineering. The latest ace in the sleeve of this economy-giant is represented by the absorbing and control-achievement of the “CARLO GAVAZZI IMPIANTI”. The society is renowned for its credited size and talent and it offers to its clients integrated multidisciplinary services , mechanical, electrical and instrumental activities and it is leader of a society-cluster with location in Italy, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

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tells our reporter Claudio Corciulo how the Bonatti Group in 2007 gained a sales proceeds of 381.000.000 of euro; with its average growth rate of the 20% from the 2002 “hitherto”, the estimate for the 2008 climbs up to 485 millions of euro.

The manufacture-growth has been of the 30% from 2006 as yet . This colossal company cart is carried-on by the huge amount of about 5.000 employees, no words to describe the grandeur of this firm which keeps increasing its momentum.

FLY - HIGH - TECH…

The latest technological advancement achieved by the Bonatti S.p.A. are: • The ability at realizing and operating in early-production implants.

• The technological automatic pipelinewelding.

• The expertise in realization/operation/ maintenance of gas-compressor stations.

A know-how which allows them to be task-solving even in extreme environmental condition. All the manoeuvres are executed since ever in Quality and Work-Safeness and procedures; it is a “Must” for the company which subordinated all its operative activ-

VICTORIOUS STRATEGIES!

The Bonatti industrial model is mainly based on three key-factors: 1) The entrenchment in the territory as a commitment of the local staff training and research of partnerships with the neighbouring firms.

2) The buyout of production features at competitive costs in strategic areas such as Asia, identifying and meticulously selecting efficient and specialized means amongst technicians, engineers and administrators.

The ability at operating in difficult work conditions, shuttling from the freezing -40C in Kazakhstan to the piping hot +50C of the Libya deserts and from the mountains of the Chilean and Argentinean Andes to the steppes of central Asia.

A myriad of occasions which put to the test the international skills of a trustworthy general contractor. All in all Bonatti S.p.A. offers several facilities required by different markets: Global services and After sales, expansion of the alreadyexisting implants (small EPC); projects for the installation of new oilfields. Furthermore the Bonatti S.p.A. provides services of engineering, construction, procurement, project management, operation & maintenance in the civil and automation fields. Mister Frederic Santelli Manufacturing-Journal 17

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ity as a maximum importance priority.

THE GLOBETROTTER

The Bonatti Group chooses as its main markets countries with a high-oil-potential. Nevertheless they are constantly active even in other different countries around the world which import the energy from the above named supplier lands; thus the need of a reliable company like Bonatti S.p.A. for the construction of pipelines for the transport and distribution of gas and oil. The corporation is therefore engaged in Algeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Austria, Germany, Kazakhstan and Eastern Europe and on the go with apposite Branches. Bonatti brags a range of clients which are the major protagonists of the sector such as ENI, KPO, Total, ChevroTCO, Engas, Wintershall and Wingas, Gazde-France, Sonatrach, Endesa, Repsol, OMV, Agoco, VebaOil and many more.

QUALITY AND TRUSTWORTHINESS, A PERFECT LONGEVITY COCKTAIL!

The Group is currently aiming at expanding its web in the already business-colonized countries and in new areas with a high-oil-potential. Clients pursue problem-solvers, for those tasks where mulManufacturing-Journal 19

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tidisciplinary competences are a “Must”.

Each of these competences is the fruit of cultures and diverse experiences which merge into Bonatti as a surplus value drawing the best out of this world-Oilcompany-leader. This is why everyone keeps choosing Bonatti as a break for the mind. The problem solving requires as a matter of fact a business-atmosphere in which all competences cohabit and homogeneously melt together for the perfect result-blend, each of them distinct from the other but aiming to a common goal.

Ulterior development and geographical expansions are nowadays still considered for the run-on keeping an eye on all those countries ready to offer interesting and contributing opportunities. For the next 5-10 years, as already mentioned above, the company is planning to follow step by step every growth-opportunity which will see the Bonatti S.p.A. drawn in beside the International and National Oil Companies in the earlier-mentioned territories, and a glance at the neighbouring ones. Bonatti is planning to become for the next 2-3 years a one billion dollars company. More information are available on the website (www.bonatti.it). BONATTI S.p.A.: an “independent global contractor”, whose aim is gaining the top level, to be the “bestin-class” and have not competitors in the whole industry of Oil, Gas and Power.

Light the world and choose Bonatti S.p.A!

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Coming home with a wet sail

A

chieving new records every year, dynamically developing Western Shipyard (WSY) company continuously gains customer trust, succeeding in accomplishment of more and more complex tasks. Advantageous reorganization performed in the company in 2003 brings visible results: the high growth figures are evident over the last years, while the growth steadily continues. This year the realization is expected to increase more than 60 percent.

One of the biggest companies in Klaipėda, Lithuania, SC Western Shipyard is a part of Estonian BLRT Grupp, and presently consists of 23 subsidiary companies. The main spheres of activity of the group of companies: shipbuilding, ship repairs, trade of metal, production and assembly of metal constructions, processing of metal, loading services, port services, transportation services. For customers’ convenience, the company may make a product out of company’s own raw materials, process it technically, test its quality in its laboratories, store it, and deliver it by using its own transport. Besides its strategic activity – ship building and repairs – company’s production areas and equipment enable it to produce both large-dimensioned (of weight up to 100 t) and highly complex metal constructions, to clean, prime, and cut steel sheets and profiles, to perform loading works, transport cargo both by local and international routes.

History

It was being established when Lithuanian fishing fleet, having expanded significantly during several post-war decades, required a bigger repair base. It was decided to build a specialized ship repair workshops, indented for fish industry ships of big tonnage, trailers-coolers, fish handling and processing depot ships, refrigerators, in the southern part of the port. According to the project, the workshop was to be the largest and most modern enterprise in the north-western region, as well as the biggest one in Klaipėda – 50 ha territory, 3 km of quays, producManufacturing-Journal 21

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tion workshops – 100 000 sq. m., 10 000 employees. Construction works began in 1966, and on the 18 July 1969, the dock accepted the first ship for repairs. In 1975, 2600 people were employed by the company; at that time, the second stage of construction of the company’s workshop was begun. JSC Western Shiprepair repaired trailers-coolers, refrigerators, depot ships, and other fishing ships.

After relationships with USSR were discontinued, the giant fishing fleet became a burden too heavy for the Republic of Lithuania. Ships were sold or written off as metal scrap. The successfully operating company could lose work; therefore, in 1993, it started to repair ships of Western countries. Since then, the company’s position in the international market has been getting stronger. Customers trusted the quality of company’s work.

In 1998, a Norwegian group of companies Western Invest AS privatized the company. In the same year, the company started a shipbuilding business. However, as the Norwegians failed to fulfil their financial obligations, in 2001, an Estonian concern BLRT Grupp acquired a controlling block of stock of the company, which at that time was called SC Western Shiprepair. In 2003, the company was successfully reorganized into SC Western Shipyard group of companies which then consisted of 18 companies of different specialization.

WSY Today

All companies of the group are situated on the territory of SC Western Shipyard.

About 96 thousand sq. m of covered production premises are situated in the area covering almost 50 ha. In the company, there are five docks, lifting capaci

ties of which are 27 000, 12000, 8000, and 4500 (two docks) tons. Five 175 m long and 20 m wide piers with all necessary communications are provided for moorage of ships being repaired. The fact that SC Western Shipyard controls synergized companies of different interconnected specializations enables it to carry out ship repair projects and shipbuilding projects of large scope as well as other projects. Implementing them jointly, the companies controlled by SC Western Shipyard use all of their potential, offering the final product to the customers. „Currently each of our subsidiary companies has its own competent, motivated manager and staff, and efficiently performs its task. This was a great improvement in the company‘s administration.

Reorganization has proven itself. During the last four years of activity, sales and profit have grown three times bigger. This was achieved while maintaining the same number of 1400 employees. It can be said that the company‘s results were strongly influenced by the investments of the last years“, as Western Shipyard‘s general director Arnoldas Šileika explains.

Two of the groups companies are established in co-operation with well-known foreign investors, while in 21 other companies WSY holds a 100 percent of the share. WSY group continues to expand.

There are ongoing negotiations with the world-class ship cranes, hold lids, ramps manufacture and repair company McGregor, and the joint company is expected to be established as soon as this year.

During the first half of this year, the loading volumes of companies managed by WSY amounted to 328.000 t (last year, during the same time period – 241.000 t). It is estimated that company’s capac-

ity is about 1 mln t per year; this year, it is planned to invest over 20 mln LTL in ship loading and storage business.

Approximately 8 mln LTL will be allotted for the new shipbuilding equipment. It is presupposed that the activity of JSC Western Shiprepair will be divided, while making the performance of WSY group more efficient; therefore, until the end of the year, a few new companies might be established.

“Power sources, raw materials, and manpower are becoming more and more expensive; therefore, efficient performance under such circumstances is possible only by investing, training personnel and introducing modern technologies,” Mr. Šileika explains.

These are one of WSY group‘s most rapidly developing companies: Western Shipbuilding Yard, Western Shiprepair, Western Constructions, Western Stevedoring.

Western Shipbuilding Yard

Western Shipyard subsidiary company JSC Western Shipbuilding Yard (WSB), which employs 160 workers, successfully gains a foothold in the shipbuilding market. In 2007 and the years before, most of its orders were coming from Norway and Denmark, and this year – from Germany and Finland.

WSB specializes in the non-standard shipbuilding. Its priority directions of activity are the building of ferries, multifunctional ships and the ships for an offshore market. “We have gained a trust and a good name among our customers, so now we can start building the ships up to full completion, as these projects are far more profitable”, says WSB director V. Čumakovas. In building complete ships, WSB cooperates with partners from Germany, Holland and other countries.

13 ferry hulls have already been successfully subcontracted to Fiskerstrand Verft. One of these, a 114-metre-Iong ferry for 350 passengers and 120 cars, was completed three months before its deadline. The three ferries for the Saaremaa Shipping Company are rather more complicated: these low draft vessels must be able to accommodate up to 600 passengers and 160 cars.

The company has successfully implemented two more projects. In the evening of July 19, passenger and automobile ferries FV 53 and FV 54 were launched.

These ferries, which will operate on Norwegian fiords, hold 38 (FV 53) and 50 cars (FV 54) and 160 and 190 passengers respectively. As per order of a Norwegian company Fiskerstrand Verft

22 Manufacturing-Journal

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Manufacturing Journal

We will surprise you !!!

info@manufacturing-journal.net

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AS, these projects were already the 7th and the 8th ones assigned to WSB. “Ferrybuilding company Fiskerstrand Verft AS, which is acknowledged and well-known in both Scandinavia and Europe, has appreciated our professionalism a long time ago; therefore, the orders were not particularly difficult for us,” WSB marketing director Jevgenijus Petrovas told.

“We feel that this market segment is very promising. Norwegian market, where a ferry renovation program is being carried out, is very attractive to us.

Customers highly appreciate our work; therefore, we will stick to shipbuilding business directions of utmost priority, as we have scheduled in our business plans,” WSB representative states.

Wind Lift I

The largest shipbuilding project in the Baltic states, which value is estimated at 50 million Euros, was started in June of 2007 under a contract between JSC Western Shipbuilding Yard and the German company BARD Engineering GmbH. Wind Lift I, an unique ship, designed for the transportation and hoisting of heavy and outsize cargo, is to be used for the installation and maintenance of wind power generators in the North Sea. The official keel laying ceremony was held in Klaipeda on 4th of April, 2008.

The crane vessel with helicopter platform has a total length of 101.80 metres, a width of 36 metres and can lift itself out of the waves by means of 71 metres long jack-up legs. Thereby the ship offers a stable work platform independent from weather and waves for the installation of offshore wind turbines. “The BARD project is unique and very interesting because it is build in two different docks” said the Marketing and Sales Director Jevgenij Petrov. Both parts will be later on

Book 3.indb 26

assembled in the water.

The construction time for the ship will be almost one year. The building shell of the deckhouse with the crew quarters is also already finished.

“We placed the order because PC Western Shipbuilding Yard stands for high qualifications and experience in shipbuilding”, stated Anton Baraev, managing director of BARD Engineering GmbH, at the keel laying ceremony of the “Wind Lift I”.

Also the delivery time fitted perfectly into the BARD time schedule to start installation of the first German commercial offshore wind farm.

“That is the surmount of our ship building activity. Step by step we realize more and more complicated projects. Last year we approached a grand, complicated, sublime amount project that will really enter not only our company history, but also the history of the Lithuanian ship building”, said A. Šileika. “We can truly be proud of our ship building company that has come in for such challenges, such projects and that is determined to realize so high raised bar and to sew up more reliance of customers in such a way.”

Western Shiprepair

JSC Western Shiprepair (WSR), after its reorganization in 2006, is experiencing a boom. Company’s results are the best in the four last years. 2007 was an outstanding year for the company, as the technically complex projects DP Falcon, Crane Arrow, Amanda C and others were successfully carried out. „In 2007, we were the first ones in the Baltic region to try the next-generation silicone paints.

For the biggest

enterprise of Polish shipping company Polska Żegluga Morska, Unity line, we performed repair works of ro-pax type ferry Gryf“, tells company’s marketing director V.Černuševičius. The hull was covered with 2 types of antifouling. Total area covered with silicone paint – app. 4800 sq.m. “Formerly such ferries were repaired in Gdansk’s ship repair company, but this year the tradition was broken, we’ve managed to finish the repairs both successfully and in time. We are looking forward to more ships requiring a high repair quality coming in the future“, – V.Černuševičius shares his expectations.

Technically most complex was the project of Italian customer ARGO Ship Management’s ship DP Falcon. It was so special because it was the first order for WSR to finish the ship completely. The supply ship was lengthened, superstructures and upper deck were constructed, conversion carried out, multiple new constructions and devices installed. The project was managed by Marius Arkušauskas. According to the recent contracts signed, this year WSR shall perform modernizations of Thorshovdi and DP Polar ships. From container vessel Thorshovdi will be recast as krill processing factory. This contract’s

2008-07-22 21:43:03

peculiarity is that there exist no ships of this type in the world as of yet. There are currently 3 similar ships being recast in other countries. Thorshovdi will be the biggest ship of this type, as well as the biggest fishing ship in Norway. This is an experimental project for WSR, which proves the perfect administration, technical and technological resources of the company. The largest orders were placed by these companies in the previous year: Norbulk UK Ltd (UK), Argo (Italy), Aquaship (Latvia), KG Jebsen Skibsrederi AS (Norway). Most of the orders came from Italian, Latvian, Polish, Lithuanian, German and Norwegian companies.

jor economical concept that the growth of the wages shouldn’t be higher than the growth in work efficiency. Currently work efficiency is growing, and yet there are even more reserves for its growth.

As for now, I cannot see the end of the process“, tells WSY general director.

Last year work profit figures for single worker increased by 37,7 percent. On average, one worker earned 340 thousand LTL for the company group. A statistical

average for Lithuanian machine-building enterprises is app. 100 thousand LTL.

Future

In the coming years WSY is planning cardinal renovations in the production process, and large sums are to be invested. The size of those will be determined by the situation in the ship repair and building, stevedoring business. Thisyear WSY is going to invest 107 mil-

The Staff

The tremendous schedule of WSY activity wouldn’t be possible without qualified engineers and projectors. „This year we offer our customers ship projects to be developed in our company – both repair/alteration and basic ones. The fact that we no longer provide only physical labour, but offer an intellectual product as well, is an important improvement. There’s a great prospect to be seen in the development of engineering services“, explains A.Šileika.

In previous year wages in WSY were raised by 20 percent. „While raising the wages, we seek to keep with the ma Manufacturing-Journal 25

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lion LTL altogether. These will be a record one-year investments of all time.

One of the most promising enterprises of WSY group is „Vakarų cinkas“, which is expected to receive 24 mln LTL of investments. There is a new galvanization plant being built in Vilnius, which is going to be the most modern one in Baltic states. According to the plans, 25 000 tons of metal construction will be galvanized per year.

Reforms are scheduled for Western Shipbuilding Yard: purchase of special automatic compartment production lines, efficient welding equipment, expansion of production areas, IT system renovation.

Another investment block is intended for Western Stevedoring company. Second line of bulk cargo terminal and cargo storage yards are to be established, general cargo storehouse built, stevedoring equipment renewed. While the cargo turnover has amassed a total of 770 000 tons in previousyear, this year Western Stevedoring plans to cross the boundary of 1 million tons.

A decent share of investments is intended for the work process renovation in the metal-processing enterprise. Purchases will include an additional plasma cutter and cranes, working areas of metal-cutting workshops will be expanded. Yet an-

other course of investments – renovation of ship repair technologies. Purchases of additional ship painting and lifting equipment are scheduled, as well as a reconstruction of a 12 000 tons capacity dock. „While we have long-term plans for development, we’ve concluded multiple contracts for several years ahead.

The shipbuilding projects are contracted up to year 2010. We seek not to be dependent on one sort of products or services“, as WSY group’s strategy is explained by company’s leader.

Coming years bring favourable tendencies for WSY. The company succeeds in gaining foothold on ferry, multifunctional ship and offshore market ship building business. It has also won for itself a share of the ship repair and metalwork market.

www.wsy.lt 26 Manufacturing-Journal

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All roads lead to...

Klinkersire S.p.A. A

constant guaranteed high quality shot up to the apex the KLINKERSIRE S.p.A.(joint-stock company) world leader producer of first-class extruded klinker products: how reporter Claudio Corciulo personally confirms that after a direct contact with this evergreen corporation.

The SIRE S.p.A. is a big Italian company founded in 1970, almost forty years of peak-climbing took out of it excellence, class and endurance, Joined by the widest range of choice ever, including a great assortment of tiles, a huge variety of trims, accessories and decorations.

The klinker is one of the numerous materials derived by the shaping and the high-temperature cooking of the clay (1230-1290 C ) for a long length of time.

Historically the klinker was created in Northern Europe for the first time in Netherlands followed by Germany. At the beginning it was created in a filled up

form showing a great endurance to the compression for buildings with a high brick-work. At the time it was often used also for street-flooring with high traffic due to its excellent hard-wearing capacity. Moreover it was utilized in the construction of private and public buildings, schools and bridges. The klinker resumes better the technical characteristics for the most onerous usage such as the external side of the constructions, where the thermic abrupt change puts the materials to the test. Hardness, endurance, impermeability, resistance to atmospheric agents and acids are the attributes which make of this product the most ideal way out for yard-flooring, or where the pavement is surrounded by sand or gravel, both highly abrasive. Greatly recommended for swimming-pools where the surfaces are subject to several stresses, such as the frost and defrost action, the usage of disinfecting chemical sani-

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tizer and the mechanical stress generated by the continuous water activity. The KLINKERSIRE S.p.A. assembles all this qualities generating manufactured goods with great physical-chemical-mechanical characteristics.The existing proof of its quality and hardness is the large amount of perfectly-preserved buildings in Northern Europe still admirable nowadays. From the 1930s onwards, with the introduction of the reinforced concrete load-carrying masonry walls, the klinker hits for many years a severe abandonment owing to its elevated costs. A new modus

operandi introduced in Germany opened the way to new revolutionary horizons for the world of the klinker. The new Technique consists of the usage of new extrusion machines shaping the clay paste into lighter and thinner tiles then coupled together, two by two, in a vertical fashion.

Ever since the klinker has conquered the trust of different country around the whole planet and it has found application also in historically famous major buildings. Its production-process is fully controlled by highly automatic means, as by electronic devices. This advanced computerized

28 Manufacturing-Journal

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Manufacturing

Journal

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Please contact us for more information and examples of our offer. info@manufacturing-journal.net www.manufacturing-journal.net

Manufacturing-Journal 29

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systems allow a meticulous monitoring as much as a the optimization of the whole work without damaging or changing the quality of the final result. The design engineer Giovanni Muzio was the first at adopting this hard-wearing bricks for buildings of great importance such as the “Palazzo Dell’Arte” in Milan. The origin of the word klinker comes from the Dutch “Klinkaerd” and “klinker” which means “to chink”. KlinkerSire S.p.A. made of this product the highest standard ever by reconciling the material natural essence with the most advanced technol-

Book 3.indb 32

ogy. A delicate process easily managed by the painstaking Sire S.p.A. through avantgarde control systems and plants capable of a 25.000m2 daily output. Visiting the establishment located in the north of Italy, Roreto di Cherasco (CN) it is visibly clear how behind a world popular name there is a rock-solid company, attentive in every detail and quality and always renewal –ready in order to offer the best services and merchandise. Klinkersire sources its raw materials from international companies with high quality standards like IMERYS, WBB, Ferro and Esmalglass.

2008-07-22 21:43:16

The KLINKERSIRE represents a significant reality of authenticity for its own territory from where it draws out most of its work-power. The Doctor Maria Bossolasco responsible in advertisement and public relations disclosed that most of the 220 employees, which carry-on the cart of the company, come from the areas surrounding the Sire S.p.A. Furthermore, several satellite companies, operating in different sectors, gravitate around the Brick-master. Approximately the 75% of the output relies on the national needs, the remaining 25% spreads towards the world-markets, shuttling from Europe to the Eastern Asia.

To figure out the production-volume of the SIRE S.p.A. is sufficient to think that the actual potentiality of this firm achieves a turnout of 5.000.000 m2 per annum in all the available different formats from panellists to big tiles besides a vast array of other special pieces. This triumph arises from a meticulous control of the various manufacturing stages which commence from the accurate selection of the primal matter and the processing of the obtained mixture through an exclusive industrial technique. A lengthy desiccation is followed by the glazing then to the final phase up to even 34 hours in special ovens.

This long-lasting procedure consents the achievement of a product with extremely sophisticated physical and esthetical characteristics. The long manufacturing and the elevated temperature grants the tiles of unique original shades just like it use

to be in the old hand-crafted workshops.

The Doctor Bossolasco confessed to our reporter Claudio Corciulo about the last ten years climbing-to-the-success and smiles with a sense of profound satisfaction lived and straggled on her own skin.

Ever since the KLINKERSIRE has started a long period of rejuvenation traduced with the modernization of the implants and the purchase of innovative groundbreaking machineries in order to hold high up the competitiveness in the whole world-market-cost. A fight-for-the-supremacy which has to deal with the guarantee of maintaining unvaried the quality.

This ratio quality-cost distinguishes the trademark KLINKERSIRE amongst the competitors. The technological evolution forced the company management levels at adopting complex choices “in primis” concerning the necessity of diminishing the number of employees from 400 in 1996 down to the actual 210.It has been a delicate passage along the years trying to make it the least abrupt possible also with the support of outsourcing solutions.

AHEAD OF THE PACK...

Nowadays the KLINKERSIRE S.p.A. is a corporation which guarantees a 24 hours-continuous-cycle smoothed by an elevated work-life-quality. The concern towards the energy-saving is the finishing link which joins the two extremities of the cost-optimization-circle. “In the SIRE establishments the world waste does not find place”. The huge amount of warmth produced by the ovens is saved and recycled for the desiccation stage. The wastes are all ground and safely stored to be soon mixed again with the new clays in a new mixture. The SIRE S.p.A. recently launched ion the market a new trademark named “Extraforte by Sire” grabbing the challenge of a new project-research which aims to a strong innovative content –product, a hard material ideal for the public pavements in hardwearing, endurance and esthetical characteristics. “Brick over brick” KLINKERSIRE reached the zenith, the highest skyscraper-satisfaction, the highest quality solution. Stay safe, last longer, choose Klinker sire..

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ISTA A DREAM OF ANY DRIVER T

he meaning of this title is very significant in case of National Accumulator Corporation ISTA. Its president, Mr. Oleh Petrovych Zimin tells our reporter, Natalia Tokarska, a story about how this dream came true.

Company was founded in 1995, and in such a short time has become an unquestionable leader of Ukrainian market. Till 1995 there was no such a plant in Ukraine. It was actually NAC ISTA, which started manufacture of accumulators in this country, founding “Ista-Center”. There went another plant in 2001, and another in 2002, and gradually the company became more and more reliable and successful. For the time being NAC ISTA has 4 plants, based in Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine), they are following: - already mentioned JSC “ISTACentre”, specialized in production of starter batteries of different dimensions in polypropylene boxes,

- DOZ “Energoavtomatica” LLC, focused on production of new generation starter batteries as well as stationery, traction batteries and batteries for special machinery, - “Ukrsplav” LLC, a plant for used batteries recycling and lead scrap processing, which production capacities is more then 20 000 tons of lead alloy with versatile ratio of alloying components and admixtures. The technical equipment of the factory provides ecologically clean production taking into account features and more hard norms of the Ukrainian legislation on the guard of environment and industrial sanitation.

- “Interplast” LLC, which lets out plastic parts for batteries assembling.

Undoubtedly, the key to such a success was continous work to achieve a goal – what means to be more and more creditable and professional. Implementation of the newest technologies and know-how in the company is being conducted practical

ly without a break. It is planned to increase company’s productivity by a method of increasing quantity of manufactured accumulators to 5 mln in the nearest future. There are many successful companies manufacturing accumulators in Europe, Mr. Zimin admits. They are always a good example and motivation to try even harder and become better and better. There is a group of highly skilled technologists in the enterprise, and with their help company menaged to create so called “clean dirty manufacture”.

Production of accumulators is quite dirty occupation, but NAC ISTA can make it clean in the meaning of ecological issues.

In the fact, manufacture of NAC ISTA’s batteries is based on such principles like use of the modern equipment delivered by leading firms of Europe and America; application of highly technological materials for preparation of active components, alloys with low antimony con-

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tent and alloys on selenium base; use of 50% funds for the ecological equipment; conformity of manufacture to requirements of a control system of quality of production (ISO-9001). For producing various solutions which are used in manufacture of batteries, well cleared water is necessary. Function of preparation of water is carried out by shop of waterpreparation which is equipped with the special ion-exchange installation working in an automatic mode on strictly set parameters. Clearing of industrial drains

Production known well and appreciated both in Ukraine and abroad

In order to suit the needs of all customers, NAC ISTA produces a variety of batteries: starter batteries used in cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, agricultural

ISTA was founded as a plant manufacturing accumulators for vehicles. That’s why manufacture of starter batteries is so privilegous. Other directions, which are production of traction and stationary batteries, are important as well, but at the moment at the stage of implementation. In accordance to the data from 2007, export of NAC ISTA’s production reaches 57%.

Main strategic partners for the company are of course Russia, CIS countries like Kazakhstan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uz-

is carried out by station of neutralization.

Technological process is constructed in such manner that the water cleared at station of neutralization repeatedly used in a production cycle. Work of clearing installations allows to remove completely from industrial drains waste products of manufacture and to direct them for repeated processing. Paying so much attention to the matters of preservation of

and special vehicles, trains, traction batteries used in electric cars, elevators and different kind of industrial vehicles, stationary batteries used in communication systems, electric power stations feed systems, (including atomic power stations), UPS systems, etc. According to the words of Mr. Zimin, production of starter batteries is main and most important direction of the company’s activity, as NAC

bekistan, Tadzhykystan, and Western Europe’s countries like France, Italy, Austria, Great Britain, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania and others.. More than 50% of export goods are sold in the Russian market. NAC ISTA is planning to stabilize its already strong positions at CIS market. Apart of that, many of Ukrai-

environment by enterprise during the implementation of new methods, technologies is certainly another vital factor favouring NAC ISTA’s success.

Manufacturing-Journal 33

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- Solutions for your battery making - Supplying materials & machines from all over the World SORFIN YOSHIMURA TOKYO LTD TEL: 81-3-5575-3111 tokyo@sorfin-yoshimura.jp

SORFIN YOSHIMURA QINGDAO, LTD TEL: 86-532-8597-1191 qingdao@sorfin-yoshimura.cn

SORFIN YOSHIMURA LTD NEW YORK TEL: 1-516-802-4600 sorfin@sorfin.com

SPECSNAB Ltd. Produces

and realizes polypropylene fibre DIFLON - ELEKTRO.

Range of exploitation: – admixture for positive and negative paste, which is used at production of lead- acid trucks battery and techniques of car tractors. Fibers DIFLON - ELEKTRO are reliable, single, uncolored, shortly cut polypropylene fibers of advanced chemical clearness. Fiber is synthetic, it is not spoiled influenced by solution of sulfuric acid in range of concentrations accumulator electrolithium. Fiber is free of toxic components and it does not render harmful on human organism at direct contact.

Contact: Дніпропетровськ, вул.. Виконкомівська 15, Ukraine Tel.: +38 (056) 770-15-25, +38(056) 744-23-38 http: www.specsnab.com.ua E-mail: specsnab@ua.fm, r.dyadushko@optima.com.ua

Manufacturing Journal

We will surprise you !!!

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34 Manufacturing-Journal

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nian factories (in Zaporozhye, Lutsk, Cherkassy) are equipped with NAC ISTA’s production (in general, 40-45% of Ukrainian market is occupied by the company’s goods), and many Belarussian and Russian car and tractor plants use NAC ISTA’s accumulators.

Important strategic direction of the enterprise is to expand in countries of Western Europe, Mr. Zimin admits. In his opinion, NAC ISTA has every reason to hope that its accumulators will be present in every country all over the world.

NAC ISTA is certainly a company which managed to gain costumers’ trust and loyalty. Due to its highest quality and availability , NAC ISTA’s production is well known and appreciated among Ukrainian consumers. The best proof of this fact is a brilliant slogan, created more than 10 years ago by company’s PR-managers – “ISTA – MECHTA AVTOMOBILISTA”, which can be translated from Russian as “ISTA – a dream of any driver”. These three words have appeared to be so catchy and true, that now, anyone asked what NAC ISTA is known for, answers immediately, reapeting this slogan. Company’s production is also popular owing to its flexibility and wide spectrum – there are many brands under the trade mark of NAC ISTA, and these brands are aimed to every social class and every client, having at his disposal both small and big amount of money.

Achievements as impressive as company itself

Though there are no more and less important clients for NAC ISTA, as each of them is equally respected, last year brought company particularly significant partner. In December 2007 the first cars Renault Logan equipped by accumulator batteries of manufacture of National Accumulator Corporation ISTA were released from conveyor of “Avtoframos” (Moscow, Russia). Deliveries of com-

plete set for the cars which are produced by the world leader Renault are testify new level of development of NAC ISTA. The company was first among CIS-based accumulators-manufacturers to deliver its production to European autoproducers. It became possible after realization of the program by technical modernization which included also training of the staff, quality assurance of entering materials and finished goods, measurement of additional parameters of technological processes.

Further cooperation between NAC ISTA and Renault will assume expansion of assortment of delivered accumulator batteries for a complete set and service of cars Renault, Nissan, Samsung, Dacia.

About 1300 diligent, skilled and devoted employees work at the moment for company’s success. It’s worth saying that their efforts are very profitable, as NAC ISTA continously gains more and more appreciation among consumers. The main proof of National Accumulator Corporation ISTA’s success and achievements are numerous prizes and diplommas, which company was awarded. The most important are the following: - diplomma “European Quality”, for “Achievement of highest quality in accordance to European standarts” - prize “Ukrainian National Olimp” in field “Manufacture of highest quality’s accumulators” - diplommas “The best developer” from Minsk Tractor Plant, Minsk Automobile Plant, Serpukhov Automobile Plant, Micro-capacity Engines Automobile Plant and Avtovaz.

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National Accumulator Corporation ISTA pays much attention also to the social ground. The best example of this is support of Dnipropetrovsk teenage soccer club “ISTA” (President of which is Yury Nakonechny), for administration and young sportsmen of which this year will be particularly significant - it will be 10 years since the club was founded, and support of National University of Transport’s moto-team as well.

NAC ISTA regularly takes part in industry events, exhibitions, competitions etc. Not so long ago, on 24th-26th of March the company was participant of he 17-th International specialized exhibition “Autonomy sources of a current” in Moscow. NAC ISTA is also present in such events as Kiev International Autosalon, “Car of the year” and many others.

In the latest years company’s activity was additionaly focused on technical re-equipment and modernization of its plants, in order both to make it suitable to European

requirements and standarts, and to increase the control of let out production’s quality. Apart of that, there was entered in a company a special, modern labolatory on testing acumulators, cooperating with Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.

As we can see, NAC ISTA has indeed many reasons to be proud of. Accord

ing to Mr. Zimin, conquest of consumers’ appreciation and respect was the biggest achievement of 13-years company’s activity. It should be always most important factor for any manufacturer, Mr. Zimin underlines. If company follows this simple principle, like in case of NAC ISTA, every dream can come true.

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ARTICLES

Food and Beverage Idustry 38-41

Stumbras

42-45

Western Milk Group

46-48

MSM Mońki

49-53

Lacpol Group

54-57

Grana Padano

Manufacturing-Journal 37

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Stumbras

Products of national pride J

ust as the long-term preservation of a strong drink, such as brandy, improves its quality and subtlety of its taste, so does Stumbras, the oldest and largest strong alcoholic drinks company in Lithuania, continues to meet the highest expectations of its customers by preserving its hundred-year-old traditions of alcohol production. Drinks produced

by Stumbras have already become a part of the national heritage and are also highly valued all over the world.

Stumbras AB is the leading strong alcoholic drinks company in Lithuania. The company produces vodka (brand family: “Lithuanian vodka”, “Stumbro” vodka, “OZONE vodka”), bitters (“Starka”, “Trejos devynerios” (“Three times nine”), “Green nines”, “Red nines”, “Dainava”, “Palanga”, “Malūnininkų” (“Millers”), “Stumbras”), brandy (“Gloria”, “Gloria Flavoured”, “Stumbras”, “Victoria”), liquors (brand family: “Legendary liqueur

collection”, “Poema”, “Santa Lucia”), whisky, etc. Production of the company is exported to more than 30 countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Denmark, United Kingdom, Israel, United states, United Arab Emirates and others.

Company’s birth and growth

Stumbras made its first steps at the time, when Lithuania was under ruling of Imperial Russia. In 1903, a land-plot for the future plant was purchased at a particularly high price; rumours had it that an enormous amount of money was paid by the Emperor of Russia himself. Construction of the Stumbras plant was completed in 1906. The site accompanied not only the necessary assets for production of vodka, but it also had electric power station, charcoal burner (for filtration purposes), well established canalization, evaporation heating, three dimensional water supply system, six artesian wells, even a railway connection was made available.

The height of the still existing chimney is 26 m., diameter – 1 m. The factory had two coal filtration pillars. The main pillar had five coal filters and was purposed for 40 degrees vodka. Such vodka was filtered three times. The additional pillar was purposed for 57 degrees vodka and was comprised of three coal filters. The company produced it’s own coal for filtration purposes. The coal always had to be burned in a certain way, to avoid any dash leftovers. Birch wood was usually used for that purpose. There were around 30 variable size cisterns in the factory, with the starting size of 72 000 litres. Vodka was produced from two types of spirits (96 and 90 degree), bottled into various shapes and sizes bottles and transported for trade. Production of vodka in the tsarist Russia was under particularly strict control. Therefore Stumbras, which later became a subject of pride of Lithuania, also had to satisfy the requirement to follow the highest quality standards applied

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on the production of vodka and traditional, classical technologies, taking over the vodka-making experience of several ages.

Stumbras follows the same principles up to this day. Till 1914, Stumbras was undergoing continuous modernization and development. When the World War I started and the Imperial Russian government collapsed, Germans occupied almost all territory of Lithuania. In the attempt to impoverish the country and the entire Empire, Germans nearly destroyed the Stumbras plant. In the period under the ruling of Germans, the plant was operating only partially. In 1918, when Lithuania regained its independence, the new Government tried to do its best to revive exhausted economy of the country. In 1921 to 1922, thanks to enormous investments of the wealthy of that time, Stumbras recovered and once again became one of the most modern vodka distilleries in the entire region. Vodka, and later on – bitters, liqueurs and brandy made by Stumbras were proudly indulged all over Lithuania. The drinks that became a part of the national heritage were also highly valued by foreign guests. Stumbras retained its glory in the Soviet times as well. Some of the best strong drink experts, who were working in the plant at that time, aimed at maintaining authentic recipes of Lithuanian drinks, and have even restored many of them. This is how the most famous herbal bitters – Stumbro Starka and Trejos devynerios – saw the daylight. In autumn 2003, “Mineraliniai vandenys”, a company controlled by MG Baltic Group, won the invitation to tender for the privatisation of Stumbras.

On the 27th October 2003, “Mineraliniai vandenys” successfully took over the management of the Company. “After the

privatisation, in order to withstand competition, we had to continuously invest in new technologies, marketing. This, of course, had an impact on the company’s success. Another important step – refinement and systematisation of brands. Prior to 2004 we had quite a lot of products, which we successfully systematised into product families – now we have strong brand names.” – explains AB Stumbras General Director Česlovas Matulevičius.

Upholding the traditions in upto-date production

Stumbras has earned the recognition that has been lasting for a hundred years thanks to the company’s ability to keep in step with the progress and understand that thousands of consumers evaluate the products of Stumbras day by day. “Drinks we produce have become a part of the national heritage – we strive to make them the classical way. Knowledge and experience of our workers help to create the best of our products. We value natural ingredients. Therefore preservation of traditions, expertise and naturalness are the basis of Stumbras work: without them we wouldn’t be who we are – the market’s leader.” - as company’s strategic principles are explained by Mr. Matulevičius. Many professionals admire the technologies of the Stumbras plant. The company has never given in to temptation of choosing an easier or a faster way. Experts at Stumbras are never in a hurry, as they know what it takes to produce quality. Original Lithuanian Vodka is a good example of that: up to this day Stumbras produces it in the classical way only, it goes through natural quartz sand and coal filters at the speed necessary to remove any and all ex-

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traneous odours and flavours. It takes as much as fifteen minutes for vodka to pass through one meter of filters. It is known at Stumbras that it takes suitable and natural ingredients to make an excellent drink.

When grain is needed, the ripest is chosen; when honey is needed – the season’s best is taken; and when there’s a need for herbs – some of them are brought from the furthest corners of the world. It is one of Stumbras key principles that recognition is gained only by every worker’s contribution of their knowledge and skill to achieve the best result. Each product here is valued in accordance with complex and time-refined techniques. The process of development and production ends only when experts at Stumbras are absolutely sure that a drink has reached perfect harmony of flavours, colour and odour. The company has been acknowledged for developing the best recipes of vodka, bitter, liqueur and brandy. Today, drinks made

by Stumbras that have become a part of the national heritage of Lithuania reap their laurels at the most prestigious international contests. These drinks have been awarded gold medals both in the West and in Russia, which is well-known for its old vodka-making traditions. Statistics show that in 2007 sales volumes grew by 65 percent – total net sales comprised the sum of 168,5 mio LTL. Export volumes have grew even more than twice – from 6,90 mio to 14,88 mio LTL net value. Company’s net profits reached over 32,7 mio LTL (9,5 mio EUR), which makes them 64,8 percent higher compared to 2006 figures.

Vodka

Technology process of production of “Stumbras” vodka is a long one and demanding especially accurate work. Vodka is produced of rectified ethyl alcohol and softened water. These main components

Book 3.indb 42

of preparation of vodka have significant influence on its quality. Water has to be crystal clear, colourless, without additional odour or taste. In production of “Stumbras” vodka, special filters and their combinations are used which soften the taste and aroma of vodka. The final stage of production is mixing of rectified ethyl alcohol of “Lux” type with specially prepared and filtered water. Prepared vodka is filtered by employing classic method through special equipment and system of filters. Vodka which has been filtered and prepared in this way is bottled in automatic distribution lines. “Lithuanian Vodka Gold” has been highly evaluated as many as 7 times – its latest award was received in Moscow at the international exposition “Prodexpo 2008”. “Lithuanian vodka” has three times received the highest awards in USA and Germany, and it also was included in “Drinks International” magazine’s „Millionaires club“ list of leading brands. This magazine provides an overview of worldwide alcohol market and alcohol product brands, but only those brands which make 9 mln. annual sales in litres make it to the list.

Bitter, Brandy, Liqueur and Whisky

“Trejos devynerios” bitter produced

by Stumbras is considered a part of national heritage of Lithuania, and has five times won international awards. Its formula was already known in the XIII–XV century. It is believed that the recipe of “Trejos devynerios” may have been created already in the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the reign of Vytautas the Great and was passed from mouth to mouth. In the beginning of the 20th century the old recipe was revived by the experts of the joint-stock company Stumbras. The herb brandy, made by

2008-07-22 21:43:34

colour. Bernardines who were settled in M.K. Radvila Našlaitėlis Nesvyžius made this unique liqueur of honey and sweet-scented herbs. For the first time, officially, in the year 1593 guests were treated to KRUPNIKAS on the occasion of construction of the Nesvyžius Radvilai Castle. The secrets of liqueur’s formula were passed from one generation to another for centuries. Speaking of brandy, GLORIA 10, with its noble taste and the subtle aroma of fresh walnuts with a hint of almond and vanilla, received a two-star evaluation at the international contest Superior Taste Award 2006 in Brussels. Raw material for this Stumbras product is supplied by “Distillery Merlet & Fills”, one of the largest and oldest cognac and brandy plants in France, which was established in 1853 and is located just a couple of kilometres away from the town of Cognac in south-western France.

Stumbras AB, as written in the ancient recipe, contains 27 herbs, roots, bark and fruit. In the production of bitter Stumbras uses only rectified grain ethyl alcohol of the “Lux” kind and drinking water filtered through six-stage filtration system (including filtration in the way of reverse osmosis), and ratafia made of 27 different herbs, applying a specific technology. To achieve transparency, the bitter is filtered through specific filters, using the filter cardboard of the highest grade. All of that enables securing steady taste and flavour of the product, as well as other quality indices. Another Stumbras product, which has attained a national heritage status, is KRUPNIKAS honey liqueur, a beverage of the perfectly balanced apian honey and vegetative raw material; it has sweet, slightly burning taste, yellowish golden

At the heart of Stumbras

“I am particularly proud of the people working at our company – without their efforts the best of our products would never see the daylight,” – admits General Director of the company Česlovas Matulevičius. Today 305 employees are building the success of Stumbras. Some of them, like Aldona Volkienė, production technology director and creator of production recipes, are working at the company for more then 40 years. Stumbras AB continues to maintain its best experts and attract new ones, as well as to improve employed technologies and implement new ones, refine the production parcels, expand and find new production export markets – this is what it takes to continue being the leader of the Lithuanian strong alcohol products market.

Professionalism Experience Innovation Answering an ongoing need to enhance packaging, DGS manufactures closures that give elegance and glamour to the most prestigious brands of spirits.

DGS S.A. Al. Kazimierza Wielkiego 6, 87-800 Włocławek, Poland Tel: 00 48 54 232 06 00 Fax: 00 48 54 232 06 22 e-mail:dgs@dgs.com.pl www.dgs.com.pl

Our extensive experience allows us to offer the highest quality products and finishes especially designed for the spirit industry.

Having established the highest standards in the market for many years, our experience and expertise are second to none in all aspects of Pilfer Proof closures.

We would like to express our gratitude to AB Stumbras for the fruitful partnership, close cooperation and joint developments which has been lasting for many years now.

We look forward to keep on successful developing the beverage market together with AB Stumbras, and to consolidate our cooperation even more in the future.

Manufacturing-Journal 41

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WESTERN MILK GROUP What can be more successful than natural products from agrarian country with ancient traditions of dairing??

U

kraine was always known as the agrarian country, and the domestic production of agricultural sector was always considered the most natural one. That’s why it was a point of honour for WESTERN MILK GROUP to become the national leader on releasing natural and qualitative dairy production onto the Ukrainian market.

Company “Trading house THE WESTERN MILK GROUP” was established in 2002. For the time being company conducts two independent business-directions: direction “Milk Group” and direction “KOMO” on manufacture of cheeses.

Today, the direction “Milk Group” is one of the leaders on Ukrainian dairy market, uniting trade marks “GURMANIKA”, “ MOLOCHNA RODYNA” and “OPTIMAL”.

Production of ТМs “MOLOCHNA RODYNA” and “GURMANIKA” is already well-known in the market, having gained renown and appreciation , both of the

consumer and of experts during the various national tasting competitions. Goods of ТМ “GURMANIKA” first of all are characterized by high quality and flavouring properties giving real pleasure to all gourmets. If talking about production of ТМ “MOLOCHNA RODYNA”, it’s made on the modern Swedish equipment and owing to more economic packing, it is accessible to wide population. In order to broaden an offer of brands and widen a production of direction “Milk Group”, in 2007 the decision about updating an assortment by a series of new functional dairy products under ТМ “Optimal” was accepted. It is new segment in Ukrainian market, not stable yet, but already characterized by positive dynamics of increase. Owing to favourable structure of lactic bacteria, minerals and microcells, regular consumption of these products helps to avoid various gastric diseases, renews healthy balance of a stomach and

42 Manufacturing-Journal

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nutritious properties and food value during a long period of storage.The whole sum of investments per 2007 dedicated to the reconstruction of the equipment on which ТМ KOMO’s production is made, reaches $30 mln. Additionally, processing capacities of the enterprise have made 550 tonnes of milk and 50 tonnes of hard cheese per day.

Success measured not only with consumers’ appreciation, but also with firm market data

possesses immunity-stimulating function.

They are recommended for a rational and treatment-and-prophylactic diet. In connection with increasing popularity of ТМs GURMANIKA and OPTIMAL’s production per 2008 the planned investments should be directed on expansion of capacities on manufacture of dairy production, and on modernization of dry dairy products’ shops of three enterprises as well.

TM KOMO – company’s dearest brainchild

What’s the special pride of WESTERN MILK GROUP, is business-direction KOMO on manufacture of cheeses under the trade mark of the same name. It is the first national brand which initially became a symbol of the company and was associated by consumers with high-quality production. Today, this TM occupies worthy place on the market, as independent business-direction on production of wide assortment of cheeses used in preparation of most various dishes. Production of this trade mark is famous for its exclusive flavouring qualities and is a natural source of calcium. It has repeatedly gained awards on specialized exhibitions and tasting competitions, has received gold medals at “The best trade mark in Ukraine” competition and has gained renown not only in Ukraine, but also abroad. Besides, in this year the Dutch cheese (classical, 45% of fat content) of ТМ KOMO was awarded a Gold Medal and the diploma for excellent flavouring and nutritious qualities on international tasting competition “The Best Product - 2008”. Competition took place on February of 2008 under XV interna-

tional exhibition “PRODEXPO 2008” in Moscow with support of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation. Cheese of ТМ KOMO are made on the process equipment of firm “Chalon Megard” which is used for the first time in Ukraine by the diary enterprises. In order to manufacture a high-quality production experts of the company use the advanced technology of salting with river-type pools, excluding influence of the human and climatic factors, stably supporting the optimum parameters necessary for this process. Moreover, the modern equipment used and the newest technology of production meet ISO and НАССР standards and are capable to provide to the end-product the maximal maintenance of

The company actively invests in modernization of the enterprises: in 2006 volumes of investments have made $12 mln, in 2007 - $58,7 mln, and in 2008 plans to invest above $55 mln. On results of activity for 2007 the sales indexes of Open Company “TM THE WESTERN MILK GROUP” has increased for 42% in comparison with 2006, and has made more than $158 mln. According to independent experts, in 2007 the company shared 4,9% of the dairy market and 5,7% of the hard cheeses’ market. It is planned to increase production up to $247 mln. The own company’s marketing network consisting of branches across all Ukraine definitely favours the increase of both sales volume and market share. Company WESTERN MILK GROUP is focused basically on a domestic market. As if to production of firm cheese and dry dairy production - these are sectors in which the company is strategically directed to ready markets of other countries as well, planning their expansion in the nearest future. The greatest part of the company’s production is exported to the CIS countries, and also to Thailand, Afghanistan, Algeria, Turkey,

Manufacturing-Journal 43

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Chalon Megard CHALON MEGARD has provided state of the art cheese making equipment for WESTERN MILK GROUP. This line meets world highest standards in term of quality, hygiene, security, automation. It includes high yield cheese vats with continuous stirring whey removal, multipurpose tubular moulding machine for cheeses with or without mechanically produced holes, closed tubular presses, moulds and lids automatic stocking, use of block-moulds in stack, total factory control on SCADA with recipe management, production status. CHALON MEGARD commitment includes a broad technological expertise for cheese recipes optimisation. www.chalonmegard.com

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tIsrael, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Libya, Bangladesh, Syria, China, France, Philippines, Pakistan. As a whole the success of the company was favoured by a number of following factors: - Production of natural and high-quality products.

- Effective and correct ways of strategic development.

- Introduction of the newest production technologies.

- Optimization of the offer in order to achieve maximal satisfaction of all consumers’ preferences.

- Optimization of dairy assortment and cheeses: more than 100 assortment positions and 40 positions accordingly.

- Development of direct distribution which allows to supervise quality of the goods and to deliver it on shelfs on time.

Charities of the company

Under patronage of the company two charitable projects annually are organized.

The MOLOCHNA RODYNA festival The Company WESTERN MILK GROUP acts annually as the initiator of festival which has started in 2006. The main purpose of the festival is to propagate family values, a healthy lifestyle and to popularize dairy products. In 2006 organizers of festival presented the biggest and heaviest pack of butter in Ukraine (weight of 125 kg!) which has been given to orphanage in the village of Kornalovychy in the Lvov region. Every year Ukrainian artists and celebrities work for a festival, conducting various competitions, and also tastings of dairy products of TM MOLOCHNA RODYNA.

The OPTIMAL AGAINST THE FLU action This action is conducted with support and assistance of the greatest pharmacy networks of city of Lutsk – Salve and Gedeon Richter. Advertisements in drugstores constantly remind visitors of the immunity-stimulating influence of new functional ТМ OPTIMAL’s products. Within the action fortnight sampling is organized which enables consumers to estimate qualities of a product. Active advertising support of the action is held as well: videoclips and advertising are accommodated in public transport and the informating articles can be read in various newspapers.

The social responsibility of the company

WESTERN MILK GROUP is aware of its responsibility towards the society on preservation of environment and rational use of natural resources. The company finds it vital to guarantee safe working conditions to its workers, protection of health both to staff and population living in areas of the company enterprises’ activity. In order to achieve this goal, there are created control systems of industrial and ecological safety in the company, and labour safeties functions work successfully as well. They are implemented in accordance to legislative norms, on the basis of the best domestic and foreign practice and meet all requirements of international standard ISO, which are following: - During the reconstruction of the enterprises there’s established the equipment allowing to reduce use of potable water on technological purposes for 20 %.

- Reconstruction of evaporators allows to reduce garbage emissions of dry milk into the atmosphere for 50%.

- Installation of heat-generators allows to reduce use of gas during the manufacture of dry products for 30%, and also to reduce losses of whey by 30% to 3%.

The company’s policy is developed and accepted in full accordance to the State’s strategy in the field of industrial and ecological safety and rational use of natural resources.

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MSM Mońki A SUCCESS STORY

T

he history of Moniecka Dairy Cooperative in Mońki is one of those, which you read about in the newspapers – a well earned success achieved through hard work of passionate people, creative ideas introduced in the right place and in the right moment, top position as far sales figures are concerned and – last but not least – great consumer recognition, who thanks to the high quality and taste values of corporate products cannot stop taking delight in what the company has to offer.

Harsh beginnings

The Moniecka Dairy Co-operative is currently one of the most modern and thriving dairy industry workshops in Poland. The company was though grounded in 1972 through the fusion of two independent dairy industry workshops in the northeastern parts of Poland – Territorial Dairy

Co-operative in Dolistowo and Territorial Dairy Co-operative in Krypno. The enterprise in its current legal and production form is nowadays based in Mońki, around 40 km away from Białystok. That region of Poland has very long agricultural traditions – due to the distance to the more “central” and populated regions of Poland the area has for quite some time been deprived of large-scale industry of whatever kind. Mońki itself was given the municipal rights just in 1966, at that time the number of citizens amounted to around two thousands people. It can be then remorselessly said that the company boasts a green-field investment history, both literally as well as figuratively, since during the thirty six years of its activities it made its way from a small company at the edge of Poland to a modern workshop ready to compete not only with Polish but also with European

market players. What is more, the ambitions of the company go even further…

Receipt for success and good dairy

Those interested in repeating the success of the Moniecka Dairy Co-operative must undoubtedly wonder how the company managed to move so far and so quickly.

The answer to the question is more then easy, but ultimately crucial for producers of fast moving consumer goods – good quality of resources used in the production process combined with dynamic management, modern technology and highly qualified group of people. The mixture of those ingredients is good enough not only to satisfy the taste expectations of the final consumers, but also to compete with the demands of the changing market as well as new competitors of the indus-

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and Edamski are the most popular ones, when it comes downs to consumer preferences. Amidst Swiss type cheese, Aldamer is the most liked one. What the cheese offer includes are besides: Morski, Podlaski, Łowicki, Zamojski in the first group and Nadbiebrzański, Moniecki and Rywal in the second one. It is also very much plausible that the product offer may get another novelty soon, still though the idea is being conceptualized at the moment.

Picture of the whole

try. In fact, the dairy products delivered by the company receive positive feedback not only form the side of the consumers but also during diverse industry trades and meetings. After more than ten years of active participation in the events of the diary-product business, the company managed to create quite an impressive collection of various certificates, prizes, awards and distinctions. Expect for that, for more then a decade now, the company has its place among top-five dairy workshops in Poland in a ranking organized by Agro-Trendy magazine – alone in 2007 the company came the third position. Next to that, during the 16th edition of Milk Trade MLEKO EXPO 2007, the Moniecka Dairy Co-operative was distinguished for exemplary management and general achievements in milk processing.

What is also worth noting is that it is not just the company that is being praised, these are also its products. During the 21st cheese competition organized by the National Association of Milkmen, the Aldamer cheese produced in Mońki received greatest appraisal of the jury and was granted the first award. The Gouda cheese on the other hand received medal of Prof. Kazmierz Kornacki as the first prize during the 22nd National Cheese and Milk Novelties Estimation organized in Białystok. Still though, what matters the most for the company is undoubtedly the feedback received from the customers.

That in turn is better that one could actually dream of – the cheese is so much liked and eagerly purchased that the company is experiencing the so called “demand market” situation, i.e. it produces less than it can sell and the tendency does not seem to change soon. Reasons behind that derive from the certainty of the consumers that what they buy is a product of Mońki, which stands for a tasty, top quality dairygood at a reasonable price. What is more – the opinion is stable and thanks to the

corporate politics for the nearest future, most probably not to be changed quickly.

What we do well

When asked about the factors which brought the company to where it is now and which may contribute to its further development, its CEO – Mr. Stanisław Jamiołkowski – refers to good, yet courageous decisions met at the proper time.

The undertakings were first and foremost connected with a number of investments, which allowed the company to catch up with the best ones of the trade. Initially, the acceleration started with investments, but the modernization of the enterprise gained additional speed after the accession of Poland to the European Union, since the firm applied for all the funds available and in fact received the desired financial support. Thanks to those underlying changes it is now a modern workshop on European level, not lying behind competitors and because of that absolutely deprived of any inferiority complexes.

According to Mr. Jamiołkowski it is exactly the self-awareness that predestines the firm for further achievements. The changes introduced touched upon the production lines of the company in the first place. During the last five years a new cheese-production and maturing line were created. It is not only fully automatized, but also highly efficient (up to six hundred thousands liters of milk a day). The second large investment of the recent time is the whey protein powdering workshop, which ranks second among others of its type in Europe. What the last five years have also brought is a clear extension of the product line. Next to maturing cheese, butter and melted cheese, the company produces now powdered milk and powdered whey as well as the above mentioned whey protein. All the products delivered boast a very high quality and taste. From among the Dutch type maturing cheese, Gouda

According to what Mr. Jamiołkowski says, the deep changes of the enterprise could be partially viewed as an answer to the evolutions of the whole trade, since the latter has been changing enormously for the last half of the decade. The greatest transition concerns the customers and their preferences. What they search for more and more frequently is food with longest expiration dates possible together with high quality and good nutrient characteristics. Another consumer-dependant change concerns product potential – the future will most probably belong to portioned, small packaged cheese products, the segment of which is currently developing very dynamically. According to Mr. Jamiołkowski, what will also play the role will be a clear and significant growth in general welfare of the society, which will on the other hand entail further increase in the requirements of the clientele.

Human resource

All those challenges will have to be answered to somehow. Yet, with a modern machine equipment available, it shall not be of a problem for the Moniecka Dairy Co-operative. Another factor which will definitely allow the firm to rest assured that its future will be bright, are its people. During all the transformations that the company has undergone, its human resource has had an essential influence on their implementation, adaptation, monitoring and control. The number of employees connected with the Moniecka Dairy Co-operative amounts nowadays to 207 people. Unfortunately, the former number of workers decreased by around 150 – as a consequence of the production process modernization, a part of the personnel had to be dismissed. Those who stayed though are top class specialists with year long experience in automatics, information technology or marketing. At the moment the company intends to intensify the co-operation with milk-engineers.

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Attitude to ecology

It can be assumed that the location of Mońki has also had an impact on how the company entered the market and why it is where it is now. For its closest neighbourhood is one of the least polluted and most beautiful regions of Poland – the National Park of Biebrza, the Landscape Park of the Knyszyńska wilderness and the Narwiański Landscape Park. The specific microclimate of the area together with fresh, clean air and green meadows is where the products of the Moniecka Dairy Co-operative come to their being.

In order to pay off the nature and the milk suppliers for the high quality of the basic products they deliver, the workshop in Mońki does its best to diminish the ecological side effect of its activities to the minimum. The company has then decided to channel its undertakings in that area to financing and promoting pro-ecological attitudes and behaviours to the 2400 local farms, which supply the enterprise with milk. The efforts and the unwillingness to destroy the natural habitat of the location have actually been perceived by the Agricultural Chamber, which granted the company with the prestigious title of “Farmer friendly co-operative”.

Exports

The products of Mońki are then made of best quality milk originating from one of the most beautiful and clean regions of Poland. It must be then logical that the location and simultaneously the quality of the products play an important role in the marketing strategy tailored for exports purposes. Even though the majority of the production is distributed through Polish channels, around 30% serves exports and the ratio is to be increased in the forthcoming years. The directions

to be opened are the booming markets of China and India. The presence on the markets of the neighboring EU member countries and Russia is in turn to be made more visible to the local customers. The success story of Mońki may then continue and the today’s reasons to take pride in – an acclaimed and widely recognized in Poland maturing cheese brand, a modern whey powdering workshop as well as satisfied milk suppliers and customers – may even become more numerous.

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LACPOL GROUP HIGH QUALITY AND COMPETIVE PRICES

N

o matter what your dietary customs are, it is very much probable that you come across LACPOL Group’s products already at the very beginning of your day. You can either encounter one of the products still at home, at the breakfast table for example, or already at work, sipping your wake-up, morning coffee with milk or nibbling your cheese sandwich, which you did not manage to finish up any earlier. Whatever your eating preferences are, LACPOL Group does its best to meet those and bears the responsibility of ensuring that its high quality diary products will contribute to a good start to each new day of yours.

The company in a nutshell

LACPOL Group is a capital group fo-

cused on the production and sales of dairy products, both on the domestic as well as on the far-flung markets all over the world.

The diary-goods production is however not the only activity profile of the company. As the group constitutes of twelve independent units scattered all over Poland, the range of services is very diversified since four of the LACPOL Group’s entities specialize first and foremost in services delivery. To name a few of them – the branch in Gdynia offers its customers cold storage, the Kobylnica location would turn out to be helpful as far as concentrates mixing is concerned, finally the division in Murowana Goślina provides its clients with casein grinding and throughput services. Interesting enough, the company can boast a great contribution to the development of the Polish di-

ary industry as well – it is not only the owner but also the publisher of “The Diary Industry Journal”. The first edition of the magazine appeared more then 120 years ago, in 1896. Currently, it is published on a monthly basis and ultimately devoted to the diary industry issues and concerns. Last but not least, the company has its small input to the tourism industry – the Krynica-Zdrój branch offers accommodation services, which are admittedly tailored mainly for the employees of the LACPOL Group, but the hotel personnel does still its best to ensure that one’s stay at their premises will not slink into oblivion.

How it all started and why it developed

When asked about the crucial and defining Manufacturing-Journal 49

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moments in the history of the company, its CEO – Mr. Kazimierz Łoś – goes back to the year of 1987, when the company was established and set its main goal, which was at that time exports of diary products to a number of consumers all over the world. The track of the company changed though with the implementation of political and economic changes in Poland. At the time, the attitude of the state to the independence of diary industry co-operatives was modified and LACPOL had to search for its new way and form of existence. What the company aptly decided on, was transition to an enterprise specializing not only in the production, but also in the trade of dairy-goods as well as purchase of a number of diary co-operatives all over Poland, either in the state of insolvency or liquidation. The newly owned enterprises formed the LACPOL Group in its nowadays status. The last two years have also been of great importance for the enterprise and its further presence on both the Polish as well as international markets – the company successfully managed to build one of the most modern, state-of-theart diary products workshop in Poland. It is located in Piotrków Kujawski and focuses on the production of highest quality maturing cheese. The CEO adds as well that a number of the company’s strategy aspects were altered at the moment of the Polish accession to the European Union.

According to Mr. Łoś the reasons behind the successful development and growth of the company are diverse, still though what mattered and still matters most is sincere, fair and partnership-based cooperation with both the suppliers and the contractors. Next to that, major corporate

rules have also played an important role, among them: top quality of products delivered, which reflects in the loyalty and satisfaction of the clientele as well as delivery punctuality, which in turn managed to build up high level of the contractors’ confidence and through that a number of long-term cooperation agreements. All that at competitive prices, which additionally distinguishes the company from other market players of the industry.

Satisfaction of the human capital

Meeting the needs and expectations of the customers goes in line with the need to satisfy those most closely related with the enterprise – its people. The human capital of the firm is perceived as one of the factors, which may significantly contribute to its evolution in the nearest future. The number of employees amounts currently to one thousand, working in all parts of Poland. As far as the number of workers is concerned, the biggest branch is at the moment the workshop in Piotrków Kujawski and Olsztyn, which derives partially from the production capacity of those units. The human resource strategy of the LACPOL Group consists of two dimensions, i.e. a professional and social one. What can be listed among the first module is undoubtedly the possibility to develop and learn, guaranteed thanks to a number of selforganized, intensive trainings in a number of profiles, which bring up not only the production issues, but touch upon technical or laboratory-phase concerns as well.

Moreover, the company does not avoid confrontation and meetings with its competitors, which take place during regular

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Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno – Usługowe

Spółka z o.o.

07-100 Węgrów, ul. Gdańska 67 tel./fax: +48 25 792 32 71 e-mail: rolmlecz@rolmlecz.pl, www.rolmlecz.pl Offer: - Domestic and international transport - Production of paper bags with foil input - Trade and distribution of packaging for food industry

We own Certified Integrated System of Management ISO 9001, 14001, 18001, 22000 - HACCP

P.P.U. ,, Rolmlecz’’ Ltd. P.P.U. ,, Rolmlecz’’ Ltd. In Węgrowie, have rise In 1990. Since the beegining of company activity the enterprise is managed by Chairman Witold Wycech. Leading profile of the firm activity is domestic and international transport.

For severall years we are working with the same business partners In France and Holland. We have at disposal modern camp of Volvo Trucks with semitrailers. Besides we are the Only firm on the Polish market which produces highest quality papers bags with foil input - with method protected patent. In our offer we own full assortment of packaging for food industry: foils, parchments, laminates, cardboards, BigBag sack and it similar. Our products own reports of National Institute of Hygiene and certificate of quality. Main recipient of our goods and services since the rise of the company activity is Lacpol, honest and reliable partner, But also very requiring when it comes to quality of supplied products. We are very interested in the feature cooperation with this firm.

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trade conferences. On the other hand, one of the most interesting social privileges of the company is the possibility of spending an unforgettable time in one of the corporate guesthouses – either in the mountains, in the already mentioned KrynicaZdrój, or at the seaside, in Jastrzębia Góra.

The word “satisfaction” is in fact very important for the company also in the prestigious sense. For it is more the intention of the company to gain the acclaim of the customers, rather then to compete and strive for tangible acknowledgements in the form of certificates, awards or trophies. Still though, the LACPOL Group makes it to numerous trade fairs, both in Poland as well as overseas, and frequently returns with honorable prizes.

A number of changes

Just like satisfaction, change seems to be of crucial meaning for the company as well. The adaptation skills of the enterprise paved the way to what it is now and ensured that it was not left behind the competitors. Because of that, saying that a lot has changed in what the firm does and how it functions, is definitely not saying enough. The first wave of alterations concerned the production capacity. Thanks to the newly opened Piotrków Kujawski and Toruń workshops, the product offer of the company was widened by two positions: maturing and melted cheese. The former comes into being in the Piotrków Kujawski location, the latter is produced in Toruń. The corporate novelty is also the cottage cheese, in production of which the Olsztyn branch specializes. With the new products available, the enterprise decided to move its focus from the production of desiccated goods (e.g. coffee cream, skim

and whole milk) to the manufacturing of fermented goods, i.e. diverse sorts of cheese. The product creativity was also channeled to the segment of milk-based drinks and something not known on the Polish market so far – the LACPOL Group is then the sole Polish producer of a Mediterranean yoghurt. The concept turned out to be a success and the product gets very positive consumer feedback, thanks to its untypical taste values as well as high quality and moderate price mainly. Last but not least, the geographical scope of the Group’s operations has changed. At the very beginning of the firm’s activity, the Polish market was not listed among the areas of its greatest interest. However, since the accession to the European Union, the company has reoriented its geographical goals and included the domestic market among the regions to be conquered. What the decision entailed was reorganization of the marketing strategy and launching steered and conscious brand building activities in order to let the Polish customers know about the existence and products of the Group. Surprisingly enough, the company does not want to stop changing. Additional two milky drinks are currently in the technical phase of production and will be launched on the market by the end of this year. Besides, the company intends to keep up the current speed as far as the consumer perception is concerned – because of that it will do its best to maintain the price and quality of its products at least at its today’s or even more competitive level.

Fifty-fifty

In simple words, the geography of the LACPOL Group’s activities could be called a fifty-fifty strategy. As mentioned

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above, the exports was not only the top but actually the sole interest of the enterprise at the beginning of its existence. The company managed then to find accounts on almost all continents of the world – the partners were headquartered in Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Algeria, Brazil or Bangladesh. However, the turning point proved to be the membership of Poland in the European Union – since May 2004 the firm has been playing more actively not only on the European but also on the domestic market. The decision was justified first and foremost by the competitiveness and closeness of the European economy. On the other hand, the recently more visible turn to the domestic client has been dictated by the strength of the Polish currency against euro. Strong zloty makes it no longer that profitable to export as before and it is contemporary more attractive to distribute products among the home clientele. That is why around 50% of the corporate partners are located in Poland, whereas the other 50% are internationals. To present the size of the exports activity, it is worth to refer to some figures – the company sends abroad around 35 000 tons of powdered products (both to the European Union countries as well as non-members), 6 500 tons of butter (Russia mainly) and around 50-60% of annual maturing cheese production (Western Europe) a year. What the CEO prognoses for the financial results of the running year, is a 5 percentage-points decline in the exports figures for the benefit of the domestic market. Still though, the proportion may change as soon as the Polish currency appreciates in value.

Ecology politics

What the LACPOL Group does in the area of ecology gives it also the top position amid the rest of the Polish diary industry companies. Since the most harmful side effects of the dairy industry activities concern the water system, the company draws its ultimate attention to the functioning of its sewage works. A good example is the workshop in Łaszczów, where in order to diminish the negative impact on the environment, the sewage works has been recently modernized and newly equipped, which allows it now to utilize in the first place and to produce biogas afterwards.

In Piotrków Kujawski on the other hand, the sewage treatment plant was designed in such a way that the sediment generated during the production is firstly dried and not till then utilized. It must be also emphasized that the company fully controls the level of noise and atmospheric pollutants, which accompany the production process.

Things to come…

The nowadays position of the enterprise, both in the sense of its size, value and the relationships with the customers, is – according to the CEO – what it takes greatest pride in. The current status has been however accomplished through a long and gradual development process, which was enforced by a number of external and internal factors. What mattered the most though was definitely the acceptance and good opinion of the customers and the fruitful cooperation with the contactors.

Because of that, the gist of the changes to come will undoubtedly concentrate among two most certain components of success – high quality and competitive prices.

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A modern pleasure in the old tradition!

I

t is fundamental to state that the “Consorzio per la Tutela del Formaggio Grana Padano” (Consortium for the Protection of the Grana Padano Cheese) is not actually a commercial company but rather an organisation with precise duties and tasks: to supervise and control the production of Grana Padano cheese in order to guarantee the full respect of the Production Specifications set by the European Union. Furthermore, the Consortium acting under Ministerial appointment has, since 1957, been responsible for safeguarding and controlling Grana Padano cheese, in addition to promoting it both

in Italy and abroad. The Consortium was established on the 18th June 1954, due to the initiative of Federlatte (Federazione latterie cooperative - Federation of milk co-operatives) and Assolatte (Associazione Industrie LattieroCasearie – Association of dairy industries) reuniting all the producers, seasoners and traders of Grana Padano cheese. In 1996, through its hard and enthusiastic work, the Consortium was awarded its P.D.O. status (Protected Designation of Origin, in Italian D.O.P.) by the European community, in order to safeguard its Intellectual Property rights and to increase the income of the right

holders. During 2005, over one million wheels were exported around the world.

This number rose to 1.164.487 wheels last year, which represents 26,73% of the entire production. In 2006, three distinctive logos were introduced on the packaging of Grana Padano to enable consumers to easily identify the preferred vintages of their choice: 9-16 months of ripening, over 16 months or “Riserva” which is over 20 months.One of the main reasons for the success of Grana Padano is definitely represented by the excellent proportion quality/price. By choosing Grana Padano, the consumer buys a product of

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an increasingly higher quality and taste at a competitive price when compared to the whole range of hard typical Italian cheeses and which also has an inflation rate surprisingly below average. In 2007 this increase was contained and did not surpass the 1, 1%.Grana Padano cheese also shows great versatility. It can be integrated in the lightest and most simple diets of the world, and is a centrepiece of Italian regional cuisine but also in recipes from other countries. All this is confirmed in a book of recipes made by the chefs of ICIF (Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners) in which Grana Padano becomes an ingredient in traditional Chinese dishes (CROSSROADS Project)

Successful strategies...

With a five-year production plan which will expire in 2010, the Consortium is the first in Europe that established a strict link between production and promotion in order to enhance turnover. In a first successful step, the Consortium managed to obtain more resources which increased consumption. In the following phase, the production stabilised, allowing more

competitive prices. Furthermore, the Grana Padano Consortium joined other Consortiums, such as the Consorzio Prosciutto San Daniele (San Daniele ham), also with EU funding, to realise promotional plans in Italy and abroad which increased the Consortium’s knowledge about habits and demands of consumers from various countries around the globe.

of 4.271.513 wheels of cheese were produced, equal to 158.017 tons of cheese from 2.270.583 tons of milk, which was about 21,6 % of the entire national milk production. According to the Commod-

Planning and production

Very few hard cheeses have the same seasoning of Grana Padano in the production cycle. This peculiarity is explained to the consumer with the segmentation of three different categories of seasoning, clearly marked on the packaging. In Italy, The Consortium relies on the Medical Marketing and diet education. Dr. Nicola Baldrighi, President of the Consortium, tells our reporter Claudio Corciulo: “We are firmly convinced that a customer well-informed and aware is capable of choosing without any doubt Grana Padano for its nutritional characteristics.

The intense promotional and educational activity abroad, consolidates traditional markets and opens new ones”. In 2007 Manufacturing-Journal 55

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ity Exchange of Cremona, Mantova and Milan, the production gross amount was of 1.070 million Euros, whereas the retail value of the gross production, calculated in the ACNIELSEN survey, was of 1.878

million Euros. According to the latest available data, the export in 2007 has increased of 6.2 % compared to the precedent year, reaching 1.164.487 wheels of cheese, 26.73 % of the whole production, which consolidates Grana Padano as most worldwide used P.D.O. cheese.

The Consortium

The Consorzio Tutela Grana Padano gathers 212 companies between producers, seasoners and stockpilers, some of which have combined functions; 165 out of these 212 companies are dairies. As a completing link, there are 179 firms responsible for pre-packaging, authorized by the Consortium. From 2002, a MIPAAF (Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies) decree assigned to the Consortium the role of protecting, promoting and enhancing the product as well as providing consumer information. This includes protection and safeguarding of its P.D.O. status from abuse, unfair competition, counterfeiting, improper use of its designation and any other practices forbidden by law, in every phase of production, packaging and sale. The Consortium has its head-

quarters in San Martino della Battaglia, in Desenzano del Garda territory on Lake Garda, thus in the heart of the Grana Padano production area, which encompasses 32 provinces from Piedmont to Veneto, from Trento area to Piacenza: the effective production is nowadays concentrated in 13 provinces. This area was set for historical reasons, where Grana Padano was created originally, and approved in the Production Specifications established by the European Community and therefore limited within the indicated boundaries.

Protection

Since last September 2007 with the introduction of an innovative device called “Biotracciante� (biological tracer), the Consorzio Tutela Grana Padano guarantees to suppress any fraud attempt, especially abroad. A great innovation, by using an infinitesimal quantity of a lactobacillus during production, which will enable to recognise the original product through a specific test. A two-millilitre test-tube of biological inactive lactobacillus is added in every cauldron containing 1.000 litres of milk, necessary to obtain two cheese

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wheels weighing 36 kg each. This lactobacillus is already physiologically present in modest quantities in milk; nevertheless it doesn’t alter or change the characteristics and quality of the cheese during the seasoning process. A simple PRC test which quantifies these specific chromosomes will be able to assert whether the cheese is Grana Padano or not, guaranteeing absolute authenticity to the most sold P.D.O. cheese in the world. Even grated or packaged cheese will be subject to this meticulous test and it will allow inspectors and attentive and exigent consumers and traders to be sure that the cheese in question is actually original Grana Padano PDO. Besides, the cheese is subject to other different analysis such as the isotopic test, the amino acid test and the phosphatase test. This research and activity required an overall investment of a million Euros a year. Apart from over 5000 test taken at the various dairies, about 8500 checks are made by inspectors at the pre-packaging companies, but also in retail shops and supermarkets around Europe, to make sure that the product sold with the Grana Padano Trademark is really Grana Padano.

Exports

With 1.164.487 wheels sold around the world in 2007, exports have quadruplicat-

ed in the last 10 years. As proven in previous years, Germany is the main importer with about one quarter of the total export production, followed by United States, Switzerland, France and United kingdom

Future

The segmentation into three different seasoning categories and the consumer education and information brought to the Grana Padano a new range of customers more knowledgeable and careful in their diet and eating habits. The interest in a foreign product which is tied to tradition and area of production, combined to a desire to try a new product which can also blend easily into local diets confirms Grana Padano as a global product. Dr. Baldrighi confesses his awareness of the difficult economic international situation which is visibly penalizing consumption.

However the “Consorzio Tutela Grana Padano” confides in improving the various performances thanks to an affordable and competitive price. China will be the maingoal to reach in 2008 through different enterprises. This summer, The Trading Agro Crai, society created with CRAI, Consorzio San Daniele and Cavite Boscolo Hotel, of which the Consortium owns 9,64 % of the corporation stock, will open the first of three flag stores of 3000 m2 each, with

shops and catering services inside. It will symbolize the whole Italian food-farming market. Furthermore the Consortium will continue with the CROSSROADS project, which is financed by Grana Padano, UnionCamere and Regione Lombardia, a project to emphasize the Lombardy Region and its products to the Chinese customers, creating also a cookbook with 40 “fusion” recipes. The Consortium is still investing in European Community countries, in the USA and Japan, but also planning investments on the Russian market.

Dr. Baldrighi proudly told our reporter Claudio Corciulo: The Consortium aims in the next 5 to ten years are to consolidate its leadership position in Italy and increase the growth of Grana Padano abroad, especially in emerging countries!

Try it, taste it, love it...

Grana Padano is the most used PDO cheese in Italy and in the world. A combination of refined taste and high energy values, rich in calcium and other essential nutrients, very digestible, and praises to be one of the lowest-fat existing cheese on the world market and, as such, advised in all diets. Enjoy little pleasures of life, try Grana Padano

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ARTICLES

Pharmacy Idustry 59-64

Darnitza

65-68

BHFZ Pharmaceuticals

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No. 1 of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical firms

T

o become a leader is not a simple task, and even more it is not so if you want to hold your position and establish it properly. With 78 years of drug manufacturing history of the Company, its staff has exerted every effort towards the achievement of this task.

From the small laboratory it was back in 1930th the Company has evolved as the leader of Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, it became a prominent exporter of the production to various countries of the world. Currently CJSC “Pharmaceutical firm “Darnitsa” specializes in development and production of up-to-date, safe and effective pharmaceutical products including tablets, capsules, injectables, macrolide and sterile cephalosporin antibiotics, liquids and semi-solid forms (ointments, creams and gels) which are distributed in the domestic and foreign markets.

The path to leadership

The Company started as a Kiev branch of Ukrainian Institute of Experimen-

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tal Endocrinology. In 1932 the production of hematogen in forms of liquid and tablets started at the Company. New workshops were constructed and put into operation in 1938, and the next three years saw a rapid growth of production output: in 1940 4 mln units were manufactured, accumulating a sum of 5 mln roubles. In august of 1950 the Company moved to its new facilities in Darnitsa. Production output made up 15 mln 190 thous. units in 1952. Overall production of several preparations, such as iodine-hypersalt, was reaching 3 mln units, which gave the ability to supply an entire Soviet Union.

From 1955, when the Darnitsa chemicalpharmaceutical plant moved to its new buildings, the production of new products in the form of injection solutions became one of the main lines of development.

An intensive work on mastering the production of new products in the form of injectables was conducted under laboratory conditions. In 1958 the production of the first ampoule product (ATP in form of 1% disodium salt solution) was launched. In 1959, together with Kiev Institute of Endocrinology, the production of new injectable was launched: splenin,

which is obtained from the cattle spleen and used for treatment of toxicosis, radiolesion and diseases associated with pregnancy. In 1964, new injectables workshop was put into operation, and a new phase of ampoule production development had started, which led to the growth in volume up to 100 mln ampoules per year. The production of 5-fluorouracil injectable

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which is used for treatment of malignant neoplasms, was launched in 1965, and soon production volume of this injectable satisfied the needs of medical institutions in the Soviet Union and the product was also exported abroad. In these years a glass-blowing workshop of 300 mln ampoules capacity was constructed at the plant. In 1994, Kyiv collective enterprise pharmaceutical firm “Darnitsa” was reorganized into CJSC “Pharmaceutical firm “Darnitsa”. Following important products were launched in manufacture: papaverine hydrochloride, aminophylline tablets, “Citropack”, diphenylhydramine in ampoules and tablets, aneurine (B1 vitamin), streptocide tablets, mercaptopurine tablets and others.

A fruitful decade of awards

After its advantageous reorganization in 1994, the path of the Company improvement has been marked by prestigious international awards and recognition. In the October of 1994, the firm has received its first international award “Golden globe” in Copenhagen. This prize is given for the competitive and quality production, as well as for the important contribution and involvement in the development of Ukraine’s economy and integration into the worldwide econ¬omy. “Darnitsa” was the first Ukrainian enterprise to be awarded by this prize, and still is the only laureate among the pharmaceutical firms.

As much as three awards were received in year 1995. First of them was the “Diamond Star”, which was received in Mexico in March. This prize was founded by the INAME Interna¬tional Marketing Institute as an incentive to those companies,

which have achieved high level of professionalism under the conditions of inflation and competitive struggle. The second prize was received in June for technology and quality. It was awarded on the 26th of June in Rome, and became yet another prove that company’s business follows a correct path, and a prove of the prestige the firm has both in Ukraine and in the whole world. The firm became a member of the Trade Leaders Club, established to assist the trade relations, exchange of knowledge and experience of companies from all countries. In November, in Madrid, “Darnitsa” pharmaceutical firm received the Birmingham Torch Award – for successful economical survival and development under the conditions of socioeconomic crisis. Three more awards were received domestically in years 20012002: “Brand of the Year – 2000” in main competition nominations “National Recognition” and “Impeccable Reputation”; “Best company of Ukraine” diploma in “Pharmaceutics” nomination of “TOP100. Best companies of Ukraine” competition; “Ecologically clean and safe” mark received in recognition that manufacture process in Pharmaceutical Firm “Darnitsa” is ecologically sound and safe. Finally, in 2003, in Geneva, “Darnitsa” was awarded “Golden globe” for the second time “For Technology and Quality”. Furthermore, this year Pharmaceutical Firm “Darnitsa” got over 200 mln boundary in sales volumes, which means that virtually every third pack of tablets or injectables made in Ukraine bears the “Darnitsa” trademark.

Elaborate quality policies…

Advantageous position of CJSC “Pharmaceutical firm “Darnitsa” is secured by: • usage of innovative technologies and equipment, enabling to guarantee the production of pharmaceutical products in controllable conditions.

• maintenance of GMP requirements, as well as those of Ukraine’s statutory instruments, regulatory documents regarding manufacture, storage, quality control and registration of medications.

• implementation of quality management system.

• wide range of goods, flexible and mobile production.

• optimal prices for high-quality products.

Technical reequipment and reconstruction are carried out according to the research data acquired by the leading European engineering companies research

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results allow the realization of balanced development and implementation of new production capacities into the Company infrastructure. Virtually every sphere of the Company activity – from starting material storehouses to finished products warehouse – are connected through the unified automated control system, allowing to render the fault risks at their lowest, limit the influence of human factor, ensure the high efficiency and reliability of account and control processes. Eventually this guarantees high working efficiency and flexibility in fulfillment of managerial decisions.

… plus clever marketing solutions

The Company effective marketing activity plays an important role in fortifying of its competitive positions in present-day Ukrainian pharmaceutical market. The priority goals of marketing activity are planning, development and implementation of innovative and highly effective promotion projects oriented towards consumers, pharmacists and medical specialists. The strong promotion strategy is wit-

nessed by the fact that the Company has leading pharmaceutical market position ranking No.1 in volume terms. The Company portfolio has increased by 119 positions during the period from 1996 to 2007, and presently consists of more than 229 pharmaceutical products. According to the information of “Pharmstandart” market research system by “Morion”, overall results for 2007 show that total volume of pharmaceutical retail market at final consumer values made up 12,4 bln UAH for 2,0 bln packages, increasing by 31,3% in monetary and by 6,4% in natural values, as compared with similar results in 2006.

As for medicament retail sales in 2007, its volume made up 10,3 bln UAH for 1,2 bln packages, thus increasing by 28,4% in monetary and by 1,8% in natural values as compared with 2006 figures. Speaking ofexport, “Darnitsa” pharmaceutical company finds itself among the top 3 companies-exporters of the country in terms of amounts of delivery in monetary value.

The geography of export expands continuously, as in many countries re-registration procedure is being carried out as a sign of compliance with the requirements

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cause and form corporative culture among the staff, and a crucial role here plays a system of humane interpersonal relationship at the firm. Achievement of common goal is furthered by the renunciation of command-and-control structure of “superior – subordinate” relationships, which is replaced by cooperation on the principle of “we are doing this work together”.

Ecology: leadership obliges

“Darnitsa” pharmaceutical firm is the only of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical enterprises to become a winner of I Pan-Ukrainian Contest and receive the “Ecologically clean and safe” mark. This award was gained in regard of the fact that its manufacture process causes no damage to the environmental condition. This is highly important for all the partners of the firm (distributors, doctors, pharmacists and ultimate consumers), since it dispels a prevalent stereotype that it’s impossible for pharmaceutical production to be ecologically safe.

“Darnitsa” has shown that leaders status is not just about the guarantee of production quality, but also a social responsibility for the environmental condition, and hence for the wellbeing of a society altogether.

of those countries deliveries are made to.

Company’s main treasure

Personnel of “Darnitsa” are the main value of the company. Their knowledge, creative potential, devotion to the firm’s interests is of far greater value than realty and equipment. The staff at “Darnitsa” is viewed not like a passive executor of orders and instructions, but rather as a creative force in itself, which has an active influence upon the operation of a business. With its employees the enterprise shares its responsibility for the results of its activity, quality of production, economical status. A system of both moral and material stimulation of the personnel is aimed not only at the fulfilment of the plans, but also at the active participation in the improvement processes. Personnel’s intellectual potential is the key

stone to successful conduct of business.

Today approximately 30% of “Darnitsa” pharmaceutical firm’s staff consists of qualified specialists with pharmaceutical or other special education, while similar figures for the whole Ukraine are mere 3-5%. Currently “Darnitsa” pharmaceutical firm employs 800 workers. 340 persons in the overall structure are managers and specialists with pharmaceutical or other special education: pharmacists and production engineers, chemists and biologists, biotechnologists and pharmacologists, marketing specialists and mechanicians. Leaders and specialists team includes doctors of pharmaceutical science and candidates of science. The key requirements to the personnel are expressed by the “PDD” formula: Professionalism, Devotion and Decency. These qualities are being inculcated at the enterprise in order to maintain the common

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BORSHCHAHIVSKIY

Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant

The motto of the company: “We work for the sake of people’s health”.

T

here’s no doubt that Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant is one of the leaders on Ukrainian pharmaceutic market. The enterprise was established in 1947 in capital of Ukraine, Kiev, so it has long and interesting history, but the period of most intensive development began certainly after the crush of Soviet Union, when Ukraine became independent state. After privatization of the state part of property the collective of a factory has laid down for itself the aim - to reconstruct the factory and to transform it into the up-to-date pharmaceutical manufacture completely respective to the European standards of manufacture of medicines (the Good Manufacturing Practice - GMP). As Vice-Director on Development, Mrs. Oksana Shestopal told our reporter, Natalia Tokarska, the best way to become successful is to choose staff of diligent, skilled and devoted people.

So did BCPP, and today the staff of 130 employees is the vital factor promoting the company’s success. The main goal of enterprise is to reach real European

level, and whole company has worked to reach this goal for more than 12 years.

DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNISATION AS A KEY TO SUCCESS

The company has highly professional management making right decisions for enterprise’s development. The enterprise put gradual implementation of European standards in production as a priority.

BCPP was the first pharmaceutical enterprise in Ukraine to start working on this.

At the time when the company built a laboratory of Quality Assurance Department and old manufacturing facilities were being updated to comply with GMP requirements there was no state inspection in Ukraine yet. In order to implement everything correct, the company asked for help Frech specialists, who helped it to enter new technologies in accordance with European Union’s demands. And when state inspection was finally welcomed in Ukraine, Borshchahivskiy ChemicalManufacturing-Journal 65

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Pharmaceutical Plant was first to receive certificate on quality. Then BCPP had modernization of the manufacturing shops to line them with European standards, and gradually, BCPP became more and more respectable and professional. Nowadays company’s laboratories of Quality Control Department are recognized as the best in Ukraine, certificated under GMP standards, which are considered among the most modern laboratories in the Europe. After results of international audits the company achieved GMP certificates from auditor “Certipharm” (France), National Certificate of Latvia and National Certificates of Ukraine. Moreover, BCPP introduced Quality System in respect of international standards IS0-9001-2000 and ISO-14001. BCPP has status of a leader not only due to high quality of products, but also because having European approach to preservation of the environment and maintenance of worthy working conditions. The following step was introduction of standards ISO-18001 (OHSAS-18001). Company is proud that it has wide spectrum of products. The special line of medicines for children – Drugs from little bear BO – has been presented at the market for more than 10 years and it is well known throughout the country.

BCPP is going to expand product range for children in the nearest future. The other medicines are being intensively promoted in Ukraine and submitted for registration in CIS countries. There are many brand new products manufactured by the company, and according to Ms. Shestopal they are very promising. Share of BCPP in domestic market of medicinal products is 9.67 % among Ukrainian manufactures.. Products of the plant are exported to the near and far abroad countries, the

part of export in terms of gross sales is 6.8 %. The plant exports the products to over 10 countries worldwide, including Baltic countries, Africa, and the East Europe (mostly Belarus and Moldova).

In the nearest future the company wants to stable market positions in mentioned countries as well as to enter new ones, including Western Europe. Nowadays BCPP produces more than 100 kinds of medical products, more than 50 of which have never been manufactured in Ukraine before, including production of 9 new medicines. Annual capacity of the enterprise is about 2 billion tablets, 4 million packages of syrup, 150 million capsules of antibiotics and 14 million vials of sterile antibiotics. BCPP invests firstly in reconstruction and upgrade of manufacturing facilities, research and development of new medicines as well as in charity.

CUSTOMERS’ APPRECIATION IS THE BEST PRIZE, BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE…

Brand “BCPP” is well known among customers. People appreciate products of the highest quality and trust the company, which is always the best prize for any enterprise. The best, but not the only one.

BCPP was appreciated many times and given many proofs of trust and respect.

2002 - Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant became the winner of National competition “Gold trade marks” in a nomination “Manufacture of medicines of new generation”, and the finalist in Seventh National Competition of Quality.

2003 - The decree of the President of Ukraine to General Director of

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Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant L.V. Bezpalko appropriates a rank “The Deserved Worker of the Industry”, as well as she received the award from the capital mayoralty - “The Sign on Honour”.

- Among six well known enterprises of Ukraine Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant was awarded with the Certificate “Reliable Partner”. The award was set up under aegis of the National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICC), which is the most authoritative self-managed business institution in Ukraine.

- Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant was the first Ukrainian pharmaceutical enterprise, which received Certificate testifying its quality system and production conditions are in line with GMP EU standards, PIC/S recommendations and requirements of the World Health Organization for products intended for trade and distribution in countries of origin and for export.

Some international audits were carried out resulting in certificates from auditor company “Certipharm” (France), the National Certificate of Latvia, and National Certificate of Ukraine.

2004 - Company passed a stage of national inspection on compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice in 2003 and since then it received the following national certificates: - Certificate № 1 (production of sterile antibiotics in vials); - Certificate № 2 (production of antibiotics in capsules)

- Certificate № 6 (manufacture of tablets and capsules); - Certificate № 11 (manufacture lyophilized powders for injections and solutions for injections in bottles and ampoules).

- GMP Certificate No.001 (for the laboratories of Quality Assurance Department).

- Quality System was introduced in accordance with international standards IS0-9001-2000 and ISO-14001 with appropriate certificates issued by authority body OSSK “Prirost” (Ukraine) and company “SGS” (Switzerland).

- For long and fair work, high profes-

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sional level, significant contribution in development of pharmaceutical industry L.V. Bezpalko, Director General of JointStock Company Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant, was awarded with the Certificate of Honour from the Supreme Council of Ukraine.

- The medal “For charity” from international fund “Social recognition” and the award “Prince Vladimir The Great” from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was handed over to L.V.Bezpalko, Director General of Borshchahivskiy Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant

air used in production). Responsible approach to environment was highly appreciated by Swiss Certification Society SGS. On behalf of the enterprise Ms. Shestopal would like to assure European readers of the Manufacturing Journal that products of Borshchahivskiy Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant are completely in line with European standards and that the plant is always open for cooperation.

“M

- The commercial director of a Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant Е.А Sova received an award “For merits”.

2005 - The diploma “The most successful top-manager of Ukrainian economy” was handed over to L.V. Bezpalko, Director General 2006 - The diploma for environment friendly manufacture from the Ministry of Environment Protection of Ukraine and the medal “Popular honour”.

- The diploma “The best domestic commodities of 2006” in nomination “Development and production of pharmaceuticals” for medicine Corvitin.

According to Mrs. Shestopal the company has very careful approach to ecology. The whole plant tries to use natural sources in a very responsible way. Among methods for environment protection the company uses special technology of air cleaning (the company cleans entire volume of

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