How the new Szabó Fogaskerékgyártó Kft. production hall was built - podcast

Every project is unique and requires unique solutions – this was no different for the Szabó Fogaskerékgyártó Kft. greenfield investment in Kaposvár. Not only the strict budget, but also the tight deadline made the work of the contractors Szabó Fogaskerékgyártó Kft. and Weinberg ’93 Építő difficult, so they had to find a solution that would guarantee the success of the project. rel="noopener">Weinberg ’93 Építő Kft., so they had to find a solution that would guarantee the success of the project. That is why they chose Design and Build, i.e. parallel design and construction.

Krisztián Szabó, the company's managing director, and Sándor Bodnár, director and managing director of the Weinberg general construction division, in the third episode of Weinberg Podcast.

The roots of a family business

The development of Hungarian industry has many inspiring stories, but there are few examples that show the power of innovation, teamwork and perseverance as well as the story of Szabó Fogaskerékgyártó Kft. in Kaposvár, which started in 1976, when Ferenc Szabó, father of Krisztián Szabó, founded the company with a single lathe. In the first years they developed in line with market needs, and in the mid-1990s, in the midst of the challenges of the market economy, they started to compete with Western companies.

The breakthrough came when they specialised in the gear manufacturing segment, which required not only high technology but also significant investment, and they have now expanded to a 5,300 square metre state-of-the-art plant.

Key to success: parallel planning and implementation

Over the years, capacity expansion has become necessary, but the old site no longer provided the opportunity for further development. Thus, with the help of Weinberg, the plan for a new 5,300 square metre plant was born, which will not only serve gear production but also future ambitions for engine manufacturing.

The project was unique in its tight deadline and strict budget: design and construction started in December 2023 and had to be completed in just 9 months, by August 2024. This could only be achieved thanks to the Design and Build model, which allowed the execution plans to be made within the budget and timeframe.

One of the biggest lessons learned from the project was the power of collaboration and continuous communication. The close cooperation between the design and construction teams, as well as the on-site presence of Szabó Fogaskerékgyártó Kft.'s managers and prompt decision-making, all contributed to the successful delivery on time and on budget.

"It's a common boat, we are all in it together, there is no thinking about whether we row or not, everyone has to pull in the same way" - said Sándor Bodnár, Director and Managing Director of Weinberg's general contracting business.

Industry 4.0 and the challenges of the future

The new plant will not only open up new opportunities for gear manufacturing, but will also mark a completely new direction for the company: gear manufacturing. It is a more complex, higher added-value product line, which will also enable the company to conquer new market segments.

The new hall has been designed with special attention to the introduction of the latest technologies. For example, one of the offices is a design centre equipped with VR technology, where realistic modelling of the engines can be carried out. The new investment opens the door not only to Industry 4.0, but also to Industry 5.0. Automation, digitalisation and the integration of human-centred manufacturing processes all serve to ensure that the company remains competitive in the long term.

"Our company's ship is sailing on the sea of the stormy economy, practically Noah's ark, if I may put it so generously, because it is indeed the pledge of our future, so this is the hall from which the functions and opportunities we are working on and planning for the future of our company will grow" - emphasized Krisztián Szabó.

The key to the company's future is training for the future, which is also supported by the construction of a modern training workshop. The aim is to make the profession attractive to the younger generation and to show that automation and Industry 4.0 are not a substitute for people, but are built on them.

If you want to know more about this topic, join us during the episode!

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