Austria's Soulier to expand in Slovakia

Austrian holding Soulier Kottingbrunn Liegenschaftsverwaltung has unveiled plans to set up a new research and development (R&D) centre in the Eurovalley industrial park, in close proximity of Malacky, in Slovakia’s western part. The amount of the investment in Slovakia was not disclosed by the Austrian group.

The facility will serve the group’s subsidiaries Maplan and NewCO, the state-run Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) said in a statement. 

Maplan says it is a market leader in the field of machines and installations for elastomer and plastic injection moulding. The company owns a production facility in Austria, and has sales offices in the US, Germany, France, China, India and Russia. Maplan supplies its machines to companies active in the automotive, sealing, household products, rail technology, medical, food, energy, oil and mining industries, according to data released by the firm.

The Austrian manufacturer is operated by a total workforce of about 230 employees, of which 200 work at the plant in Kottingbrunn. Maplan reports annual revenues of €45m, and as much as 99% of its revenues are generated by export sales. The company says it sells about 280 machines per year.

Malacky is located less than 100 km from Kottingbrunn.

NewCO is based in Yspertal, in eastern Austria, and specialises in selling paper products, toys, household products, gift items, and other products.