GLOBAL Garden Products, an Italian producer of mowers and garden equipment is moving production from Slovakia to a more affordable location in China. It is, however, simultaneously moving part of its line of higher-value products from Italy to Poprad, the Hospodárske Noviny daily wrote in early April.
The firm, which is one of the market leaders in its field, employs about 500 people in Poprad. It plans to launch the production of its newest line of mowers in Slovakia within some months. The firm considers the plant in Poprad to be its key factory, and after six years of operation, is planning to expand it.
“From their European production capacities, Slovakia, along with Sweden and Italy, should be well positioned from the viewpoint of production costs,” Ivan Paule, partner for audit in TPA Horwath company said, as quoted by the daily. He added that production in China is the base for the firm’s activities in Asia, where there is long-term growth potential.
As of April, it was not yet known how much the Italian firm would invest in Slovakia, but the relocation of its top production line to Slovakia means the factory in Poprad will receive some of the latest technology. The daily estimated investments worth tens of millions of euros.
