SARIO assisted by another investment in Eastern Slovakia

Lichtgitter FRP Slovakia company plans to manufacture gratings from fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) for indoor and outdoor floorings and staircase systems in the industrial park in Michalovce.

Lichtgitter a traditional family-owned business with almost a 100-year history and its headquarters in Stadtlohn, North Rhine-Westphalia. The company has already had an operation in the Czech Republic since the 1990s, but due to the further expansion of production and thanks to the previous experience with the Slovak market as well as the assistance of SARIO and AHK Slovakia, it decided to establish a new entity and production facility in Eastern Slovakia.

SARIO's investment projects department consultants have been in contact with the company representatives since the beginning of 2022, while several months of cooperation and consultations focused on the investment aid scheme, the availability of labour force, the identification and inspection of suitable locations — existing production halls as well as the organization of meetings with the representatives of Michalovce municipality and local environment department. 

We also accompanied senior representatives of the Lichtgitter company through the process of founding the legal entity Lichtgitter FRP Slovakia and mediated connections to several local partners from the field of HR or consultancy.

The company indicated an investment worth EUR 6.3 million and the creation of approximately 60 new jobs in Michalovce. During 2023, negotiations with the Slovak Ministry of Economy and adjustments in the application for investment aid were underway, while in February 2024, the Slovak government finally approved investment aid in the form of income tax relief in the amount of approximately EUR 1.23 million.

In the investment plan submitted for EIA as well as in the investment aid application, the company states that the production will start in several stages in terms of time and capacity, while the full production capacity of 34,000 gratings per year should be achieved in 2028. Unique production technology of GRP composite gratings using resin and glass fibers (GRP — glass fiber reinforced plastics) represents a competition to more traditional steel or stainless-steel gratings and floorings, which are less resistant to chemicals, corrosion and have a shorter lifespan.

A quote from the investor:

'From our point of view, Slovakia is a trustable, stable, and competitive partner, with a good infrastructure and also more potential in becoming even better for our project. We really appreciated the assistance from SARIO with a superb communication in different languages, trustable and competent advise and flexibility.'