The Cognor Group has completed construction of a new steel site in Siemianowice Śląskie (Poland) and has already started rolling mill production, even though the official opening ceremony is still ahead. The total investment in the project amounted to approximately PLN 830 million, according to an article in Puls Biznesu.
The project began in 2018. About 80% of the old buildings on the site of the former Huty Laura were demolished and replaced with a modern plant. The plant will specialize in the production of profiles and bars for the construction, energy, automotive, and defense industries.
The planned annual capacity of the new site is about 450,000 tons of products. A key feature of the facility is its high level of automation. Robots and artificial intelligence systems are actively used here. This has made it possible to significantly reduce the number of employees—about 120 people will work at the plant, compared to more than 350 at previous production facilities of a similar scale.
In addition to automation, Cognor is also focusing on energy efficiency. The company plans to install an 8 MW solar power plant, which will cover up to 70% of the plant’s electricity needs.
The new plant also has modern logistics infrastructure, including an automated warehouse, which the company calls one of the most advanced in the industry.
Cognor President Przemysław Sztuczkowski emphasized that the investment is intended to strengthen the company’s competitiveness in difficult market conditions.
“Demand for steel has been declining recently, but thanks to automation and a broader product portfolio, we will be able to better withstand market cyclicality and open up new business opportunities,” he added.
The official opening of the plant is scheduled for October 23, but the first batches of products are already being shipped to customers.
As previously noted by Cognor CFO Krzysztof Zola, the launch of the line was planned for June of this year, with commissioning taking place in the third quarter and the plant reaching full-scale industrial production by the end of the year.
