Following a soft opening of its latest production plant in December 2021, FACC has officially inaugurated the €15m high-tech plant in Croatia where it is manufacturing lightweight components for aircraft cabin interiors.
The ceremony was attended by 400 guests as well as FACC’s entire Croatian workforce, with a highlight being a helicopter show by Austrian aviation icon, Felix Baumgartner (best known for jumping to Earth attached to a helium balloon from the stratosphere), who landed in front of the building before officially opening the new plant. He was joined by FACC CEO, Robert Machtlinger, Pang Zhen, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic.
Planned in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute, the new factory is situated close to Zagreb. The local infrastructure, proximity to highly trained experts and universities in the surrounding area with highly qualified specialists in many fields as well as the logistical connections to FACC’s corporate headquarters were all contributing factors to manufacturing cabin components for business jets and commercial aircraft at this particular location.
“After the successful start with more than 170 employees, we plan to expand the workforce of the plant to around 600 employees within the next four years,” said Macthlinger.
During the official opening of the factory, the next expansion phase of the site was revealed. Expansion stages two and three, which will be started with immediate effect, will see a threefold increase in the size of the plant.
