PM Bolojan: Private sector workers carry our country on their shoulders

 German group STIHL officially opened on Wednesday its first plant dedicated exclusively to battery-powered equipment, in Oradea, in the attendance of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, being an investment worth EUR 125 million, completed in just a year and a half."This investment in Oradea means technology transfer, means access to important markets. The decades during which Stihl company conquered markets, during which it integrated technologies now enable job creation, technology transfer, the accumulation of capabilities so that it will help us develop this region in the coming years. This company would not be operational without the people who will work here, some of whom are present in this hall. I want to thank you in advance for what you will do and I will keep repeating this: those who work in private companies carry our country on their shoulders because everyone pays taxes and from these taxes collected from the work of employees, the state budget receives revenues with which we can invest to build better schools or better hospitals and I thank you for what you will do in this company. Jobs mean opportunities, in addition, they also mean a chance for families to remain here, in our communities, in this case, in Oradea," Prime Minister Bolojan said.The inauguration event brought together members of STIHL's international leadership, including members of the Stihl family, senior figure Hans Peter Stihl, executive management, as well as Romania's Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, Oradea Mayor Florin Birta and local, county and national officials.The exclusive programme included the official opening ceremony, with speeches delivered by Stihl representatives and guests of honor, a guided tour of the facility and discussions.Prime Minister Bolojan thanked Chairman Nikolas Stihl and the company's leadership for choosing to invest in Romania and in Oradea, stating that "this plant is the group's easternmost outpost in Eastern Europe". He also praised the Romanian leadership of the company for managing to build five hectares of facilities and all necessary infrastructure in just a year and a half, "with organisation and seriousness, meeting all commitments."Prime Minister Bolojan expressed his respect for Hans Peter Stihl, a leading figure in the German industry who led the company for many years, an example of continuity and professionalism.Ilie Bolojan also brought to mind that another significant project was inaugurated in Oradea on Wednesday, namely the Technology Transfer Centre, "an important step to ensure companies investing in the community have access to skilled labour and can transfer other activities and production systems here."The Prime Minister also appreciated the support for multilingual education, mentioning the Friedrich Schiller German Theoretical High School, dual vocational education at high school level and also at university level.PM Bolojan also said the Stihl plant is located in one of the largest industrial parks in western Romania, a model of cooperation between professionals, local and county authorities in order to create business infrastructure with utilities and quality services.The new plant, located in the Eurobusiness I Industrial Park in Oradea, currently employs 145 people. Wednesday also marked the start of production.Certified DGNB Gold for sustainability, the facility incorporates photovoltaic and geothermal technologies alongside fully digitalised production processes, in line with Industry 4.0 principles.The construction began in March 2024 and was completed in under 18 months. The plant will gradually increase production capacity, aiming to reach one million battery packs annually by 2026. By 2028, output is expected to hit 1.8 million battery packs and 1.7 million battery-powered tools. Initially, the plant will produce battery blowers and AP battery packs from the STIHL professional range. Over time, the portfolio will expand to include other battery tools such as brushcutters, chainsaws and more.The new facility covers 47,000 square metres of operational space on a total site of 147,000 square metres. It features flexible, multi-product production lines and a high level of automation, integrating Industry 4.0 principles to ensure digital traceability, optimized processes and remarkable operational efficiency.Battery technology has become a key growth driver for the company. Currently, more than one in four Stihl products sold globally are battery-powered. The company aims to increase this share to around 35 percent by 2027 and about 80 percent by 2035 - a clear sign of the industry's rapid transformation.