Elis Pavaje, Symmetrica and Leier are investing either in upgrades of their existing facilities or on greenfield plants. While Elis Pavaje in Alba County and Symmetrica were already well-known on the market, Leier is a recent arrival on the scene.
Austria’s Leier took over brick maker Brikston in Iasi at the end of last year. Leier already had a plant in Alba County which makes pavers, sewer system components and other products.
Leier’s is the biggest investment project now in progress, as it announced it would build a plant in a EUR7 million investment. The new facility will be located on a nine-hectare plot in Arad and serve Western Romania, Eastern Hungary and Serbia, its general manager Cristian Suciu said about two months ago.
The plant should be completed at the end of 2019 unless hampered by red tape.
Also in Arad, paver manufacturer Symmetrica held by the Stanciu family is expanding with a new plant, ten kilometers away from the city. The facility should be completed by the end of the year and the decision to build was made at a time when Symmetrica’s revenue went up 12% in 2018 over the previous year.
Symmetrica has also earmarked EUR4 million for investments in the development of plant it bought last year near Focsani, Vrancea County.
Elis Pavaje has allocated more than EUR2.5 million for investments in upgrading the manufacturing facilities acquired last year.
“Further investment, about EUR500,000 will go into equipment, vehicle fleet refresh, marketing and software needed to improve operational efficiency,” said Emil Gota, general manager of Elis Pavaje.
Another actor on this paver market put at about EUR100 million is Austria’s Wienerberger, which has is own dedicated division, Semmelrock.
Last summer Wienerberger bought a paver plant in NW Romania to develop this division. It already had one such plant near Bucharest.
The paver market is influenced by the investments in real estate, infrastructure and even the living standards, which make people more willing to spend on pavers for their yards. Residential segment generates the highest demand.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)