Established only 15 years ago, URBAN-TECHNICS is a leading manufacturer of extruded plastic components supplied to major home appliances brands and has managed to forge a solid position in the highly competitive European market.
URBAN-TECHNICS (UT) situated in the small Serbian town of Valjevo, 90km southwest of Belgrade, has come a long way since its establishment in 2003. In its relatively short existence, the company has become a trusted supplier to leading global companies and their subsidiaries around the world.
Founded in June 2003, the initial focus was on the sale and servicing of machinery for PVC joinery production, with German U-R-B-A-N from Memmingen as the main supplier. Ivan Stojilkovic, Sales Executive Officer & Deputy CEO, tells us what accelerated the company’s growth: “In 2006, URBAN-TECHNICS launched the development and production of magnetic gaskets for refrigerator and chest freezer doors for the Slovenian multinational group GORENJE. We all worked very hard and were passionate about becoming a reliable long-term partner of GORENJE as we knew that the contract would be the first step towards entering GORENJE’s supply chain on a larger scale.”
Investment in growth
Extensive investment in first-class technology followed, when the plant acquired a fully automated co-extrusion line for production of PS sheets and foils for inner liners and door liners supplied by AMUT. This was the first major investment, prompting further growth and setting the path to future prosperity. In 2013 URBAN-TECHNICS introduced co-extrusion technology and started to make co-extruded plastic profiles.
In 2013 URBAN-TECHNICS struck up a cooperation with the German LIEBHERR Hausgeräte, today its third biggest strategic customer, followed in 2014 by the Swiss V-ZUG Kühltechnik, which has become the company’s second biggest strategic customer.
“The following year 2015 was very important for us for two reasons; firstly we introduced hot-stamping in-line-roll-on technology and purchased our first hot-stamping modules from German LEONHARD KURZ; secondly, in May 2015 we installed the second fully automated PS Foil and Sheet co-extrusion line supplied by the Austrian company SML,” says Mr Stojilkovic. “This was not the end of the investment, of course. Each year, URBAN-TECHNICS spends around €500,000 to 800,000 on new extrusion machinery and auxiliary equipment, as well on the expansion of our production area as needed.”
Today the company operates two production sites – the main plant is located at the headquarters, and produces plastic profiles, PS sheets and foils and magnetic gaskets, while the other, much smaller plant some 10km away, houses additional warehouse capacity and additional space for developing new programmes and potential capacity expansion.
For global brands
URBAN-TECHNICS specialises in the production of all extruded plastic parts needed for the home appliances industry. “All of our products are customised. Our clients recognise UT as a one-stop shop for all extruded plastic parts of a very high, consistent quality, such as PS sheets and foils for the inner liners and door liners, gaskets for doors and all other plastic profiles for complete refrigerator/freezer interior,” remarks Mr Stojilkovic, adding that the R&D department is currently working on seven new extrusion dies and calibrators required for new product development and preparation of serial production.
“Our R&D team is actively involved with the customer’s teams during new product development. We help them to define the final specifications on the basis of our experience and technical know-how and may point out specific advantages regarding product applications.”
The company is a regular participant at major shows and trade fairs including K-SHOW, FAKUMA, PLAST MILANO and PLAST EURASIA, where it can further boost customer and supplier relationships, look for new opportunities and keep abreast of new technology developments. “Accumulating this kind of experience and contacts helps us to achieve our strategic goals,” says Ivan Stojilkovic.
Uncompromising quality
Mr Stojilkovic further confirms that the company’s top customer segment continues to be the multinationals from the home appliances sector and their production facilities worldwide. “The last two years have meant a breakthrough for us as we have managed to expand our global reach – we started to supply our clients’ subsidiaries in new markets including Thailand, India, France, Turkey and others.
“It goes without saying that we would not be able to guarantee our superb, consistent quality standards without reliable suppliers. Our suppliers are mostly companies providing raw materials and include, for example, Trinseo, Versalis, Schulman, Vanetti, Borealis, Szeplast, Benvic, ROA, Rehau and Magnetoplast. Those are all our long-term stable partners and we know we can rely on them.”
Mr Stojilkovic explains that the company is now scanning business opportunities in other sectors such as the lighting, POS/ POP, furniture and automotive industries. “URBAN-TECHNICS has become a serious medium-sized family-owned company as a result of our partnership with some of the best companies in the home appliances sector. This has helped us gather the required knowledge, know-how and customer respect, making us into a prime Serbian supplier of leading brands such as GORENJE GROUP, LIEBHERR Hausgeräte and V-ZUG Kühltechnik. I would like to take this occasion to thank them for their trust and assure them that our business strategy will continue to reflect our company’s core value – ‘Quality without Alternative’.”