Hungarian automotive industry: week 26 2018 edition
Mayor says Pécs is just as suitable for an automotive investment as Kecskemét was for Mercedes. Trade unions prepare to save cafeteria benefits. Let´s recap what week 26 brought in Hungary´s auto sector.
Interviews
"Pécs is just as good as a location in terms of a larger automotive investment as Kecskemét was before the arrival of Mercedes. In fact, parts manufacturing has decades of history in Pécs," town mayor Zsolt Páva said last week.
"Our biggest problem is that the tradition of tube manufacturing has not survived in Hungary. Most of the expert workforce have retired, and new ones are not being trained. There are very few experienced metallurgical engineers.
"As a result, we have to start from scratch with the workforce we hire, and prepare them for top-quality manufacturing on our new production line in one year, Nóra Laczkó, deputy-director at Hungarian-owned tube manufacturer Tom Ferr Zrt.," explained in an interview last week.
"I worked as a process engineer for a year, then I became a Kaizen engineer: my tasks included the development of logistics and operational activities. Every year there was a business objective we had to fulfil. On April 1st this year, my career took a new turn when I was appointed as the head of process engineering. Fortunately, up until now I have been able to tackle the challenges arising.
"Currently, I’m supervising a group of eight engineers, overseeing their tasks but my responsibilities still include Kaizen activities. My everyday work consists of the evaluation, development of equipment and assigning and delegating tasks," Tamás Kovács, head of process engineering at SMR’s Mosonszolnok site, told us in an interview.
Suppliers
The Bosal group has announced to sell its Automotive Carrier and Protection Systems (ACPS) and its tow systems divisions to Transatlantic investment management firm TowerBrook Capital Partners. Kecskemét-based Bosal Hungary is engaged in the manufacturing of tow hooks luggage carriers and wind deflectors.
In just two years, ZF Slovakia plant will create 250 jobs, while wages are expected to go as high as HUF 400,000 a month.
ABB has donated technical equipment to the Department of Electric Power Engineering of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics at BME at a total value of HUF 2.5 million to support vocational training. The company donated three REF615 compact feeder protection devices and two AFS660 switches.
MÁV-Start signed a HUF 19.5 billion contract with Dunakeszi Járműjavító on the renovation and repair of passenger cars and conducting examinations.
Caadex Kft., a company engaged in the manufacturing of steel structures and metalworking, has invested HUF 750 million in expanding production capacities at its Mindszentgodisa site, purchasing four new machines.
According to a new survey conducted by PwC with Hungarian automotive suppliers, one third of companies operating in the country have struggled with unavailability due to workforce shortage.
Forwarding
The the maximum load capacity of the bridge to be built connecting Ipolydamásd, Hungary, and Chľaba, Slovakia, has been lowered from 12 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes. The decision has been made taking into consideration the wish of the locals, who were concerned over a potential increase in vehicle traffic.
Labour market
Autopro.hu is set to organise the three-day Techtogether student competition in collaboration with its partner companies for the fifth time.
The idea for the competition was born out of industry needs: many Hungarian companies are looking to develop but fail to find an adequate engineering workforce. The Techtogether competition is set to alleviate this burden.
The government is planning to support the employment of retired persons and women raising children in order to promote employment in the country, to be further helped by labour force returning from abroad.
The Hungarian Trade Union Federation (MSZASZSZ) has initiated negotiations on the proposed changes in the taxation of cafeteria benefits with party leaders and leaders of parliamentary committees prior to passing them as laws. According to MSZASZSZ, cafeteria benefits are an inherent part of income, which cannot be curbed.
Engineer students
Arrabona Racing Team have presented their fifth vehicle, set to line up at three international competitions this year. The team has been preparing for the Formula Student series all year: supported by the sponsors, they have designed and built a racing car that meets the series’ strict regulations. This year’s entry is lightweight at 155 kilograms.
Szenergy Team has built an energy efficient vehicle with just HUF 5 million to compete at Shell Eco-marathon and cover the largest distance using a single litre of fuel. Save for the bodywork, the team has redesigned the entire vehicle.
