Nördlingen, Skopje, June 28, 2024 – In a festive ceremony on June 19, 2024, the Franz Kiel Group opened its newest production plant in North Macedonia in Tetovo, Zhelino. The official opening ceremony took place in the presence of North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickowski, who emphasized the strategic importance of the investment for the country and the surrounding region.
The company has been operating in the region since 2017 and specializes in the production of high-quality passenger seats for buses and trains.
With the founding of “Kiel Macedonia DOOEL” in 2017, a modern production unit was established that includes various production areas such as CNC cutting, sewing, upholstery and final assembly.
The decision to invest in North Macedonia was a strategic move by the Franz Kiel Group to strengthen its market position and meet the growing demand for high-quality passenger seats. The company relies on state-of-the-art technologies and highly qualified specialists to ensure the high quality standards of the Kiel brand.
With “Kiel Macedonia DOOEL”, the Franz Kiel Group is underlining its commitment to growth and innovation in the industry. The subsidiary in North Macedonia plays a key role in meeting global demand and implementing the high quality standards for which the Kiel brand is known worldwide.
The newly built production plant, including administration, covers an area of over 8,000 square meters and offers the option of expanding by a further 20,000 square meters. This means that production capacity can be significantly increased. More than 60,000 seats are already being created here this year, and this number will increase significantly in the coming years due to existing orders. There are also plans to expand production with a metal processing facility in 2025.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickowski attended the opening ceremony and emphasized in his speech:
„I am greatly pleased to attend the launch of a new and enhanced story, represented by Kiel’s new investment. In these challenging times, I would say that the decision to invest in the country is not only wise but also truly bold. In this sense, as a person who soon expects to receive parliamentary support to lead the future Government, I am determined to contribute and actively support every process that will create new jobs, bring more investments into the Macedonian economy, and foster successful business stories that confirm my sincere intention to return the state to the people through investments, development, and technological progress, putting control back in their hands and creating a happy future for all.“ (Excerpt from the speech of Prime Minister Histijan Mickowsk)
“This plant is another milestone in our long-standing presence in North Macedonia and a significant step in our global expansion strategy,” explained Jürgen Mill, CEO of the Franz Kiel Group. “The new production facility will not only enable us to significantly increase our production capacities, but also optimise our supply chains and further consolidate our market position in Europe.”
The decision in favour of North Macedonia was made due to the country’s strategically favourable location, the availability of qualified workers and the favourable economic conditions. The Kiel Group’s commitment not only creates new jobs in the region, but also helps to boost the local economy. “Our investment reflects our confidence in the economic potential of North Macedonia and our commitment to continuously improve the innovative strength and competitiveness of our company,” added Mill. “From here, we want to further increase our production and expand our global presence.”
Christian Schrandt, Managing Director of Kiel North Macedonia, added: “This location is of great importance for our further expansion and underlines our commitment to innovation and quality. I would particularly like to thank our employees, who I see as the most important asset of our company. Their commitment and motivation are the key to our success.”
With the opening of this new production plant, the Franz Kiel Group is strengthening its goal of reinforcing its market leadership in the passenger seat manufacturing industry and continuing to supply innovative solutions for the global transportation market.
The Kiel Group
The Kiel Group is a leading manufacturer of seating systems for commercial vehicles and public transport by bus and train in local, regional and long-distance travel. We provide both complete seating systems and customised, customer-orientated seating solutions to meet specific requirements. Our products are characterised by premium quality, sophisticated technology and modern design, and meet the highest of demands in terms of safety and passenger comfort. They are not only of high quality, but are also long-lasting, durable and cost-effective. The aim of the Kiel Group is to increase safety and comfort through our premium products and to meet our environmental responsibility through innovative development and efficient manufacturing processes. The Kiel Group is therefore currently represented in almost all European markets, as well as in North America, Australia, the Near East and Asia. This means that we can provide a wide range of products that meet both national requirements and individual customer demands, and can guarantee a real proximity to customers, efficient coordination and short delivery routes and times. These factors guarantee consistently high standards of quality, which are typical of Kiel, and across the globe. For more information, please visit www.kiel-seating.com.
Press contact:
• Franz Kiel GmbH
Nürnberger Straße 62
D-86720 Nördlingen
Josef Vega
Telefon: +49 (0) 90 81 / 21 03 – 0
Fax: +49 (0) 90 81 / 21 03 – 151
E-Mail: j.vega@kiel-sitze.de
• Kiel Macedonia DOOEL
St. 101 No. 6,
Tetovo, Zhelino 1226, MK
Vladimir Stefanovski, Plant Manager
Mobile: +389 (0) 71 292-129
E-Mail: v.stefanovski@kiel-sitze.mk
