Slovak logistics company Budamar Group, Tatravagónka and Austrian company Innofreight have signed a framework agreement under which TŽV Gredelj will manufacture and supply Inno Waggons for the next ten years. The agreement has an estimated value of 2 billion euros. Under the agreement, TŽV Gredelj will produce 1,000 wagons per year, which will be acquired by Innofreight, which will operate on the European rail network in the coming years.

This means that TŽV Gredelj will complete the production of three to four vans per day. Modern, highly automated and consistent top quality will prevent downtime and achieve independence from external suppliers. The signing ceremony was attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovic, Minister of Oceans, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butkovic and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Tomislav Djoric. "This step towards our own van production makes it possible for us to continue down this path in the future and provide the company with high-quality and affordable Inno Waggons," Innofreight said.

TZV Gredelj currently employs around 400 people, and under the new agreement, 600 additional jobs will be created to guarantee the highest level of production throughout the year. This is a sustainable development that guarantees the reliability of Innofreight's production. Ivan Petriček, chairman of the Gredelj Management Board, said the contract will also have a positive impact on the Croatian economy. Long-term contracts will determine the increase in production capacity, which also means the added value of the entire industrial chain to the national economy. "After nine years of bankruptcy, TŽV Gredelj and its new owner, the Slovakian Tatravagonka, are moving towards a sustainable business," the Prime Minister said.

TŽV Gredelj has been in bankruptcy since 2012, with more than 2,000 creditors making claims of SEK 900 million (EUR 119.98 million at current prices). But in 2020, Tatravagónka proposed to invest 45 million euros in TŽV Gredelj and in 2021 lease TŽV Gredelj's production workshop to start producing vans for the Western market. Tatravagónka, who has joined the Budamar Group since 2018, has acquired 100% of TŽV Gredelj and wants to exploit the potential of the railway freight bogie and wagon production plant to develop repair and maintenance of passenger cars, locomotives and electric and diesel engines.Editor/XingWentao