New car refinishing coatings centre, production plant for water-based coatings and center for metal coatings opened
Helios Group is now richer for three major investments: car refinishing coatings center and production plant for water-based coatings, which are located in Količevo at Domžale and the centre for metal coatings in Preska at Medvode. The investments by the company Helios, Tovarna barv, lakov in umetnih smol Količevo, d. o. o, were ceremonially opened by Ms. Darja Radić, M.Sc. the Minister of Economy and Mr. Uroš Slavinec, president of Management board Helios Domžale, d. d. Totally 14 million Euros were put into the investments, until 2012 still additional resources will be invested into the production plant for water-based coatings and car refinishing coatings center. The opening event at Helios was attended besides the Minister of Economy also by Mayors of Domžale and Medvode, Slovenian and foreign business and academic public.
Helios Group invested so far 4 million Euros into the new CAR REFINISHING COATINGS CENTER IN KOLIČEVO AT DOMŽALE. The Center has 2.400 square meters of net usable surfaces and it brings together development, sales and educational capacities of car refinishing coatings programme. »It is the vision of Helios Group to be ranked among the first ten leading producers of paints and lacquers in Europe and the new car refinishing coatings center is by all means a step forward to this goal,« said president of Management board Helios Domžale, d. d., 
Mr. Uroš Slavinec at the opening in Količevo. The car refinishing coatings centre programme is among the largest and strategically most perspective programmes in the company Helios TBLUS and Helios Group, therefore it is generously supported and invested into throughout the time. In 2010 the car refinishing coatings programme represented 1/5 of the realized sales in volume in Helios TBLUS and 13 % of the realized sales in value in the complete Helios Group. The Minister of Economy Ms. Darja Radić, M.Sc. highlighted at the opening: »In Slovenia we have solid, successful, competitive companies, that do business with added value, innovative and progressive. The companies, that prove that the Slovene economy has something to show. Helios Group is such a company. The opening of the car refinishing coatings centre proves also that the crisis of the recent two years did not prevent investments into the development and strengthening of competitiveness.«
In Količevo at Domžale Helios today officially opened also PRODUCTION PLANT FOR WATER-BASED COATINGS. The central part of this plant, into which already 7,5 million Euros were invested comprises 3.500 square meters of net usable areas and consists of technological part with mixing plant, grain room, manufacture and filling room.
The third Helios's investment is the CENTRE FOR METAL COATINGS, in value of 2,5 million Euros, located in Preska at Medvode on 1.270 square meters of net usable areas. Two Helios's production locations for metal coatings are joined in it, as well as the development, sales and technical service. By such organization we will achieve synergy effects, increase efficiency, and ensure profitability of business operations in programme of metal coatings in the future, The programme of metal coatings represented in 2010 in Helios TBLUS 10 % of complete sales value and 12 % in Helios Group.
HELIOS GROUP is ranked in the first third of largest producers of coatings on the world ranking and is among 15 largest in Europe. In the South Eastern Europe it is among the largest. It has approx. 2.600 employees in more than 30 companies in 17 countries, we market our products in 45 countries in the world. In 2010 Helios Group sold by 14 % more in comparison to 2009. In the business plan for 2011 we predict the growth of income of Helios Group in the height of 10 % in comparison to estimated value of 2010. At the same time the growth in net income is anticipated , provided that the circumstances in raw materials market will not further sharpen.
In R&D department of Helios Group we intensively follow the European and global legislation, that demand introduction of cleaner and eco-friendly technologies. We develop new market interesting products and programmes, most we contributed to development of water-based products, UV-curing systems and powder coatings. We care also for introduction of principles of sustainable development, such as the minimum possible energy consumption and minimum possible influence on environment. We are aware of importance of investments into research and development, innovations in all areas of our work. Development efforts in time of economic crisis were strengthened, we also strengthened personnel, we support education also at doctoral level, we increase investments into equipment and provide suitable working conditions.
