Promoting the Economy and Investment in the Land of the Magyars

At the meeting in Stuttgart, COO Dieter Schäfer pointed out the importance of the Lajosmisze and Kecskemét facilities to FST and talked about the current expansion of the Kecskemét plant, whose formal opening is scheduled for July 1. In the future, the production of up to 8.5 million transmission seals per month is expected there to meet demand in Europe.

“Freudenberg has been producing seals in Hungary since 1998,” said Berthold Lannert, Head of the Competence Center Transmission and Driveline. “With the expansion, we have a highly competent facility and provide excellence in production, quality and logistics,” he added. FST has allocated a total of 25 million euros for investment in Hungary for the period 2010 through 2018; about two-thirds of that sum has already been invested.

Besides potential financial help, Foreign Minister Szijjártó offered support in other areas. The state is involved in language programs, lean training and special technical education, such as the acquisition of forklift or truck driver’s licenses.

“There is nearly full employment in the region around Kecskemét,” Lannert added. This is great for the people there but it occasionally gives Freudenberg headaches. Well educated young talent is in short supply. Major automakers such as Audi and Daimler, which have also settled in the region, are desirable employers. For the same reason, the issue of education is also high on the political world’s agenda. “Klaudia Szemereyné Pataki, the mayor of Kecskemét, and our Factory Manager Zoltan Augusztiny will soon meet to look into the possibilities of a collaboration and integration into the local educational system,” Lannert said. For FST, this means defining concrete needs and naming educational areas and fields of study whose graduates would be well suited to the company.

At the meeting in Stuttgart, Foreign Minister Szijjártó expressed the hope that Freudenberg would actively play a part in the planned dual education system in Hungary and held out the prospect of further support from the Hungarian government.

“The Hungarian government would like to develop four different ‘research and development cluster regions’ that would cooperate closely with companies operating there. Kecskemét, as one of the regions, is being further expanded,” Lannert said.

Hungary is also planning to cut the country’s income tax to strengthen Hungarians’ purchasing power, Foreign Minister Szijjártó said.