Over 100 people will find work in the production of filters in the Hengst factory, which was established in Gogolin in the Opole region. The value of the investment is estimated at 16 million euros. In a gesture of respect for the investor, the commune authorities gave the street, at which the plant was established, the name of the founder of the concern – Walter Hengst.
The German Hengst group is the world leader in the production of high performance filters, and the Gogolin plant is already its sixteenth in the world. It was established on a 6-hectare plot covered by the Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSEZ). The production area of the plant is 10,000 sqm. This is the second plant of the group, which was launched in Poland. The first one works since 2015 in Gostyń (Wielkopolskie), it produces filter inserts. The modules for fluid management will be manufactured in Gogolin.
25 new employees of the company already operate injection molding machines and assembly lines. It is planned to raise the employment to 110 people. The plant is already completing orders for well-known car manufacturers, including Audi, Mercedes or Volkswagen. Hengst devices are also used in many other fields: agriculture, shipping and cleaning equipment. After achieving full efficiency, the factory will produce 3 million parts per year.
Jens Röttgering, owner and president of the board of the Hengst group admitted that his company had also considered other areas in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary before deciding to build a factory. The openness of the authorities and professional service from the institutions responsible for contact with the company determined the location in Gogolin.
The company’s service in the investment process was dealt with, among others by Opolskie Centre for Economy Development (OCRG). The main planner and project manager was Metroplan Poland from Wroclaw.
– The proximity of the A4 motorway was important for the investor – says Michał Brzozowski, Managing Director of Metroplan Polska. – In addition to choosing the location, we helped in negotiations with the KSEZ, local government authorities and in the selection of the main contractor, which was the Hochtief company – he added.
– Opolskie Voivodeship is the smallest voivodeship in Poland, but it is a good place for the development of the company. We are very friendly to Hengst and offer business support. I recommend OCRG as a good place for contact between you – as entrepreneurs and the authorities of the region – said Szymon Ogłaza, a board member of the Opolskie Voivodeship.
In a gesture of respect for the investor, the commune authorities gave the street, at which the plant was established, the name of the founder of the concern – Walter Hengst. The official unveiling of the plaque was made on May 16th last year, when the first spade on the construction site was ceremoniously buried.
The Hengst company has existed since 1958. It was founded in Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany). The company currently employs 3 thousand employees. The order books are full and the company wants to create 600 new jobs around the world over the next five years. In autumn, the company plans to start the construction of a logistics centre in Rawicz.
