Hungarian automotive industry: week 9 2018 edition
Export of Hungarian-built machinery on the rise, Debrecen-based bus manufacturer ramps up for mass production, support programme launched to promote SME development. Let’s recap what the 9th week this year brought in Hungary’s automotive industry.
Interview
The two executive directors of Allison Transmission paid a visit to the company’s Hungarian subsidiary. According to David S. Graziosi (pictured above), the Allison team in Szengotthárd are working hard and doing a stellar job.
According to Richárd Tunkel, the founder and IT director of IT consultancy firm REACH Solutions, there’s no need for plants to rush to remove old machinery, it is sufficient to make them smart.
He adds that IT technicians are sitting on a pile of data whereas all phases of production are still driven by traditional best practices.
Production line
Debrecen-based ITK Holding Zrt.'s manufacturing unit is ramping up serial production of the Mercedes Benz Reform 500 LE: starting with an annual capacity of 300 buses, production volumes could go as high as 1,200 units in a few years.
Thyssenkrupp announced back in 2016 that it would create 500 jobs by 2019 with a HUF 30 billion investment. The company kept its promise, their new plant will be the company’s largest manufacturing unit in Europe.
A HUF 8.67 billion investment by Canadian-owned Linamar will create 200 jobs at three manufacturing locations nationwide: 119 in Orosháza, 71 in Békéscsaba and 10 in Gyöngyös.
Kiskunfélegyháza-based Torus has invested in a hydraulic pulling press and furnace.
Student competitions
Regardless of the competition at hand, the teams are faced by similar challenges, be it the Pneumobil or Formula Student race. Last week, we interviewed Tamás Heimler, the team captain of the vehicle builders from Kecskemét to tell us about their best practices.
Arrabona Racing Team from Széchenyi István University of Győr have presented their latest design for their 2018 entry. All important elements of the racing car have been redesigned.
In this year’s race season, András Ziegler is responsible for electronics development at BME Solar Boat Team. He gave an insight into his responsibilities in a blog post.
Tendering
Additionally to their employees, Hungarian businesses will now have the opportunity to offer trainings to their suppliers.
Small businesses are eligible for non-refundable aids worth up to HUF 100 million and subsidised loans up to another HUF 100 million. The winners will be able to carry out development projects related to Industry 4.0.
A new support programme in Southern Transdanubia is set to help young entrepreneurs: 1,372 new ventures are expected in the region.
Labour force
Nemak has inaugurated its new dual education centre in Győr. In addition automotive metal parts manufacturing, the company will offer trainings in the fields of toolmaking, metalworking and maintenance.
The company has increased the number of annual traineeship positions it will offer for students from three different Győr-based vocational schools from 35 to 80.
A new technical engineering course will be launched in Veszprém and Nagykanizsa.
Wages in Hungary are lagging behind the EU average.
Hungarian success
Hungarian researchers have successfully increased the transmission quality of LED lights.
Demand on Hungarian-made machinery is on the rise, the export rate of units manufactured in Hungary has grown by 4.8 percent.
