Consortia including the company have secured €7.5 million (m) in orders; its share of the deals is worth €3.5m. This marketing success vindicates SW Umwelttechnik's decision to focus on local government infrastructure projects.
The improvement in trading conditions in Hungary due to growing local authority investment is being reflected in increased order intake. For instance, local subsidiary OMS is part of a bidding consortium that has won the order for a sewerage and drainage project in Kecskemét. The €4m contract, scheduled for completion by mid-2010, involves laying 40 km of sewers as well as 1.5 km of reinforced concrete drains with a diameter of 1,400 mm.
OMS is also a member of a threestrong consortium that is rehabilitating a wastewater treatment plant in Esztergom. This project is worth a total of €2.1m. It comprises expanding capacity to about 6,000 cubic metres per day, upgrading the sludge treatment plant, modifying the activation tank, and expanding the energy supply and control system. Completion is scheduled for September 2010, and will be followed by a sixmonth period of trial operation.
In addition, OMS is the lead company (50% interest) in a group that has made the winning bid for a drainage project in Hévizgyörk. Both pipes with manholes and open drains are to be laid. The total value of the order is €1.2m, and the scheme is due for completion by mid-2010.
SW Umwelttechnik's Water Conservation Division has also won an order. This is to supply reinforced concrete pipes and manholes worth €200,000 for the new Moto GP Balatonring motorcycle race track. The construction work is to be finished in March 2010.
Although SW Umwelttechnik expects 2010 to be another testing year it sees trading conditions steadying, bolstered by public sector projects. Due to the company's strong competitive position in both its industrial and commercial, and municipal markets, and to its heavy investment in modern production capacity, it is well placed to weather the current economic phase and make the most of the anticipated upswing in 2011.