Ceremonial Laying of the Foundation Stone in Novska
TECE invests in new production site in Croatia
Novska, Croatia, July 2025 – With a festive ceremony, the TECE Group has laid the foundation stone for its new production and logistics site in Novska, Croatia. More than 110 invited guests from politics, business, and society attended the event – a clear sign of the strategic importance of this project for the company, the Slavonia region, and Europe as an industrial location.
Guests of honour included Croatian Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar, Minister of Labour Marin Piletić, Mayor of Novska Marija Kušmiš, representatives from national institutions such as the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, customers from the region, and project partners such as general contractor ZTB Gradnja and architectural firm ATP Zagreb.
Following a musical opening by the local cultural association KUD Subić, Dr. Michael Freitag, Executive Board Member of the TECE Group, welcomed the guests and emphasized the strategic significance of the investment in his speech: “With Novska, we are not only creating capacity for further growth – we are also clearly committing to manufacturing in Europe. The Croatian location is a bridgehead for the future.”
Representatives of the Croatian government also underlined the importance of the project in their speeches. Labour Minister Marin Piletić, in the context of promoting economic development in the Slavonia region, emphasised the importance of close collaboration with industrial investors like TECE.
During the ceremony, Mayor Kušmiš and TECE representatives Dr. Freitag and Alen Avdaković, Managing Director of TECE Industrial d.o.o., signed the foundation charta. This was then placed in a time capsule and embedded in the foundation – a symbolic start for a future-oriented industrial project.
The construction project: TECE Industrial d.o.o. in Novska
A state-of-the-art new production and logistics site is being built in Novska under the name TECE Industrial d.o.o. The new company is headed by Managing Directors Dr Michael Freitag and Alen Avdakovic. The project marks an important milestone in TECE's expansion strategy.
The schedule for the construction project is tight but clearly defined: Official construction began on
March 3, 2025. A key milestone is the completion of the building envelope, scheduled by December
31, 2025. The goal is to begin production by July 1, 2026, at the latest.
The dimensions of the new site reflect its significance: On a plot of over 100,000 m², approximately
9,100 m² of production space, 6,800 m² of warehouse and logistics space, and 1,600 m² of modern
administrative space are being built.
In Novska, TECE will rely on proven and forward-looking manufacturing technologies. These include
plastic injection moulding, manual and semi-automated assembly processes, and state-of-the-art, fully
automated stainless-steel processing. These technologies will allow TECE to respond flexibly to market
demands and maintain its high standard of product quality.
Strategic location choice: Why Novska?
The decision to invest in Novska was the result of a careful and comprehensive evaluation process.
TECE always makes investment and site decisions from a long-term strategic perspective. As part of the project development, five countries and a total of 30 different sites were analysed and compared in detail.
Several key factors ultimately tipped the scale in favour of Novska: The city impressed with a dynamic
and investor-friendly local administration. Collaboration with local authorities was constructive and
goal-oriented from the start.
Another decisive advantage is the site’s excellent infrastructure, particularly its direct proximity to the
highway. This ensures efficient logistics processes and good accessibility for employees and suppliers.
Furthermore, the strong support for the project on local, regional, and national levels was compelling.
TECE experienced a high level of willingness to cooperate and proactive support from various
institutions. Attractive incentive programs for investors also played a role in the final site selection.
Strong partnerships for a successful project
To implement this demanding construction project, TECE relies on the expertise of established partners. The renowned Croatian construction company ZTB Gradnja d.o.o., with many years of experience in executing complex industrial projects, has been appointed as the general contractor.
Architectural and engineering planning is being carried out by ATP Zagreb arhitekti inženjeri d.o.o., a
renowned firm with international expertise.
Outlook
With the new plant in Novska, TECE is sending a strong signal for growth, internationalization, and
technological innovation. The project represents not only a significant investment in the company’s
future, but also a clear commitment to Europe as a production location. It also promises to generate
positive economic momentum for the Novska region through the creation of new jobs and the
strengthening of local value chains.