Within the framework of an investment project valued at more than HUF 320 million, Johnson Electric Ózd Ltd has boosted the production capacity of car industry components.

At an event marking the completion of the project,  Minister of State for Employment Sándor Czomba said that along with expanding capacity the company is contemplating to bring research and development facilities to Hungary in case they find optimal conditions.

The company received funding of HUF 163 million for the investment project from the Northern Hungary Operative Programme of the New Széchenyi Plan.

Sándor Czomba added that at the Hatvan and Ózd production facilities of the company with 950 employees the enterprise will continuously expand capacity in the coming years and as a whole they are planning to hire another 600 people.

The Minister of State stated that over the past period the company has implemented even larger investment projects than the current one and past plans are signalling that the investor has been satisfied with the work of local residents.

He called attention to the fact that it is crucial to foster close and good relations with the University of Miskolc and the region’s secondary schools, as the company finds it the largest challenge to find good professionals with the proper skills and in the required number.
Sándor Czomba said that in the coming EU 2014-2020 fiscal period more attention will be paid to developing regions.

Johnson Electric Ózd Ltd. (formerly Saia-Burgess Ózd Ltd) has been a key employer in the region. The Switzerland-based Saia-Burgess conglomerate purchased the Kont-Union Ltd of Ózd in 1998 and developed it through an investment project worth more than HUF 1bn. In 2002, within a greenfield investment the conglomerate built a new assembly plant in Hatvan, which was also valued at some HUF 1bn.

Johnson Electric Holding bought 99.7 percent of shares of Saia-Burgess Holding in November 2005. The company is the second largest world-wide among designers and producers of micro motors. The holding is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and employs 40 thousand people all over the world.

(Ministry for National Economy)