As Novac/Jozo Vrdoljak/Privredni.hr writes on the 9th of August, 2019, Tromont, a Split-based company, has just completed the expansion of its manufacturing facility. Now that it has obtained an operating license for the new production hall, it is moving to manufacturing parts for the rail industry, more specifically components for train manufacturers.

The investment in the new 3,400-square-foot production facility, as Tromont's CEO Ivan Parčina points out, is worth approximately 25 million kuna. Last year, Tromont invested 9 million kuna into its existing manufacturing facility, built back in 2012, with 35 percent of that amount being withdrawn from European Union funds. The bulk of that investment was related to the purchase of machinery and equipment. For the new hall, however, Tromont did not have the option of withdrawing European money.

''With the new facility, we have enabled the expansion of production and the acquisition of new projects in our component production segment for the rail industry. These are components and parts that are intended for train manufacturers and are also installed in trams. We manufacture various metal parts, train air conditioning and ventilation parts, for one manufacturer we produce the roofs and the sides of the train, cable trays, secondary metal parts, load-bearing parts for trains, control cabinets, control panels, wagon body parts... We plan to hire 25 new workers before the end of the year,'' explained Ivan Parčina.

''Most of the products are intended for export, mainly to Germany and Switzerland. We produce a small part for Končar. We mainly work for Stadler, Siemens, Bombardier Transportation... We also have significant cooperation with train system manufacturers, such as Knorr-Bremse, which is one of the larger suppliers of train and locomotive manufacturers,'' Tromont's CEO continued.

In its production facility in the Čaporica business zone, opened in 2012 on an adjacent parcel, Tromont produces metal parts and electrical cabinets. 80 workers work there.

''In addition to products for the railway industry, from this facility we also market products for the needs of our core business, and part of the production is placed on the Croatian market,'' Parčina revealed.

Tromont, like other Croatian companies, is finding it increasingly difficult to find a qualified, skilled workforce, but they aren't surrendering to such issues, Parčina says, but is instead trying to attract them in different ways.

Last year, this Split-based company generated revenue of around 210 million kuna. At the moment, it employs 230 workers, 30 of whom are from abroad.

''Last year was challenging. The construction sector is recovering somewhat. We're facing various challenges such as labour shortages and rising labour costs. The Croatian Government should see wages raised,'' Parčin warned, adding that they have about a dozen workers from Nepal and the rest are from Ukraine and Croatia's immediate region.

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