Plastik Gogic invests EUR 4 million in development of new products – Waste containers from Indija penetrating markets worldwide

(From the production facility of Plastik Gogic in Indjija) The Indjija-based company Plastik Gogic launched a new product line in early October, four-wheel plastic waste containers, finding itself among the rare manufacturers of such products in Europe. This is one of the four basic types of containers proscribed by the EU through the EN 840 norm.

Plastik Gogic already exports its products to over 30 countries of the world, and thanks to the new line of products, they estimate that they might double the number of exporting markets, that is, reach another 25-30 states.

– After the successful completion of the previous investments cycle, we began a new one in late 2016. So far, nearly EUR 4 million has been invested in new production halls, warehouses, sophisticated machines and equipment, as well as the accompanying infrastructure. The project has been realized for the most part, and the production started in early October. Thanks to the knowledge and the experience of our employees and the support provided by our suppliers in Serbia and several countries of the world, we have managed to make quality, modern and competitive products and create the foundation for our future growth – Zarko Bogovac, commercial director of Plastik Gogic explains in his interview for eKapija.

He points out that investments in development are necessary if a company wants to be competitive in the market. Our interviewee believes that there has to be constant growth, progress and investment, because “the biggest risk is not to invest”.

Family company present in the market for over four decades

Plastik Gogic has existed for over 40 years. This family business has already experienced a generational shift, and its old owners have successfully transferred the business to their two sons, Slobodan and Goran. Most of the 60 employees, they point out, are young and educated people.

– Our facility in Indjija consists of around 7,000 m2 of indoor and 15,000 m2 of outdoor space. The capacities are big and will be doubled through the new investment. The company's annual income is between 5 and 6 million euros and is estimated to exceed EUR 10 million in the next couple of years – Bogovac says.

According to him, depending on the year, up to 70% of the company's income comes from export.

– Aside from the utility program, that is, waste disposal containers of various volumes, shapes, colors and purposes, we also produce stadium seats and sports court surfaces. We are currently active on a project with a partner which is making donations to 100 sports courts all over Serbia, providing multifunction surfaces. They have been used in America and the richest countries of the Western Europe for a number of years, and we have mastered the product, made the tools and molds and initiated a serious production process. The material we use is of very high quality, the design is modern, and the product is used primarily in futsal, basketball, handball, volleyball and tennis courts, but is also found in playrooms, around pools, in restaurant gardens, kindergartens and similar facilities. It is good for the joints, it softens falls, it is easily maintained and has a long lifespan – our interviewee points out.

Zarko Bogovac reminds that they also produce plastic barrels of 110 to 1,000 liters used in agriculture to store plums, grapes and other products, as well as in households and the industry.

When it comes to cans, containers and similar products, they cooperate primarily with public utility enterprises, cities and local self-governments, wholesale stores and big commercial chains.

Africa and South America on export map

Plastik Gogic has partners and distributors in all the countries it exports to. Most of its sales are realized through tenders placed by big European cities and regions, and they also supply big hypermarket chains all over Europe, so waste disposal units “Made in Serbia” can be found in Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Hungary...

– We work in three shifts continuously, at full capacity. We have expanded gradually. We first exported our products to the neighboring countries and then further and further to Europe, Africa and South America. In Italy, for example, we have been operating very well for several years now, and our new realized investment aims to help us penetrate other markets on these three continents – Bogovac says and announces that they will present their products this November at the Rimini fair, the biggest fair of its kind in south Europe.

They will promote new containers there, and our interviewee believes that they will have great success at the fair, as they already have a developed sales network in Italy, and there will be visitors from many other countries as well.

New employments planned

Zarko Bogovac says that the business climate in Serbia has been relatively stable in the past several years, though there are still plenty of elements related to the involvement of the state and its institutions that could be improved. The company's representatives have regular talks about this with all the relevant people, through chambers and business associations they are members of.

In order for a company's vision of the future to be clear, our interviewee says, there has to be good will and enough knowledge, along with the readiness to constantly learn and enhance the operations.

– At the moment, we are completing the current investments and we will surely hire around twenty more workers in the upcoming period. We will work on product promotion and marketing, as all our current and potential new clients need to be notified of the new features. When it comes to further investments, we plan to acquire more machinery and equipment in order to strengthen our capacities – eKapija's interviewee concludes.

Marko Andrejic

MNG Plastik-Gogić doo Inđija

Slobodan Gogic

Goran Gogic

Zarko Bogovac

plastic containers

four wheel plastic waste containers

plastic wastebins

stadium seats

sports court surfaces

multifunction sports court surface

plastic barrels

export from Serbia

carrels

wastebins

waste containers

court surfaces