Visit of the US Ambassador at TPV

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Strengthening customers’ trust, gained through long-years demonstration of our development and production capabilities, we have been increasingly given more complex and wide-ranging projects, and the latter also include extension of our operations. Therefore, our Management and Sales Division are intensively involved in examining possibilities to set up new locations which will allow us to simultaneously support several customers with complex and logistically demanding products which are difficult to deliver to remote places. As a result, an extension to the USA is also envisaged in the near future, preparations for which are ongoing and strategically most favourable locations are being examined.

In order to strengthen the cooperation with the US Embassy in Slovenia, we hosted this week the US Ambassador in Slovenia, His Excelleny Mr Brent R. Hartley, who was accompanied by the Economic Officer, Mr. Donald Baker and the Economic Advisor at the US Embassy, Mr. Matjaž Kavčič.

We presented our guests with the TPV Group and our objectives related to the extension, and toured the facilities in BU Novo mesto and BU Velika Loka. They expressed extreme satisfaction over the visit and plans of extension, and offered us support and advice we need.

Successful presentation of AGV at the LogiMAT trade fair

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From 13 to 15 March, Stuttgart hosted one of the biggest intralogistics trade fairs in Europe. This year was TPV’ s second successful presentation of innovative solutions for comprehensive automation of internal logistics.

The yellow AGV Optimatik 160 was again the star of the exhibition. As the lowest tunnel AGV exhibited at the trade fair, it attracted great attention both with its compact dimension and applicability thanks to its wide array of functions and autonomy – wi-fi connection, interface with planning systems, etc.

The Automatization Team was at the exhibition represented by Igor Lekše, Aleksander Brence and Janez Sluga, and was reinforced with Aleš Gričar, Marko Gorjup, M.Sc. and Ivan Erenda, Ph.D. In three exhibition days they made altogether over 100 interviews with potential customers, among them most reputable companies like Daimler, VW, Faurecia, BSH, Bosh, Siemens, Aerospace, Elektrolux, Škoda, MAHLE, Michelin, Plastic Omnium and others. The team received several requests for elaboration of studies of internal logistics or complex offers and agreed to make several individual presentations and meetings in different companies, including some OEMs.

Visitors’ responses to our exhibition stand show again that development of solutions for automation of production logistics is a good strategic decision and that TPV with their experience and competencies is becoming an important player on the market. Our participation at the LogiMAT trade fair was surely the right decision which raises expectations for positive sales effects.

Marko Gorjup, M.Sc., becomes member of the Management Board of the University of Novo mesto

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Upon entry in the register of legal entities on February 1, Novo mesto was given its own university, established by four faculties: Faculty of Business and Management Sciences Novo mesto (FPUV), Faculty of Business, Management and Informatics Novo mesto (FUPI), Faculty of Technologies and Systems (FTS), and Faculty of Health Sciences Novo mesto (FZV). All faculties together have about 600 students and 100 professors, and they are also proud of their research activities, international cooperation and close connection with local business entities.

March 5, the University of Novo mesto hosted the constituent meeting of the management board, where Mr. Marko Gorjup, M.Sc., Director – President of Management TPV d.o.o., was appointed member of the management board. Mr. Gorjup is as a representative of the industry sector suggested by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Dolenjska and Bela krajina.


Connections between the economy and educational institutions are of a significant importance as they allow customizing educational programmes to the needs of economy in order to acquire high-quality personnel. TPV is well aware of this and therefore closely integrates with schools in a wide range of areas.

5th TPV Day of Innovation

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TPV Day of Innovation is a yearly event where the corporation TPV Group presents their innovation actions and achievements made the previous year, and also points out new trends, aspects and findings in the area of innovation. This year, the event took place on Tuesday, February 13, in the new showroom of TPV Group on Kandijska cesta 60. The ceremony was opened by  Mr. Marko Gorjup, Director – President of Management TPV d.o.o., who in the opening speech stressed the importance of innovations which in the increasingly changing environment allow us to adapt to changes and gain competitive advantages. In TPV, they are well aware of this and therefore systematically develop, promote and reward innovations in all levels.

The innovators were virtually greeted by one of the biggest and most famous Slovenian inventors Peter Florjančič, author of about 400 patents. He addressed the innovators with words of encouragement and shared some interesting stories and ideas with the audience about the birth of perfume atomiser and car airbag which he had sketched back in 1957.

Krunoslav Šimrak, the director of research and development division, presented the technology trends in the automotive industry, such as: autonomy, electrification, connectivity and car sharing. The global innovation index for 2017 has revealed that the world’s most innovative countries have been Sweden, the USA, Germany and the Great Britain, where are also located TPV’s biggest customers. The latter attach great importance to innovations and expect their suppliers, among them also TPV, to demonstrate such a commitment.

In TPV Group, innovations have become a significant part of all work processes and employees’ mentality. Last year, a 10.000th innovative proposal was submitted by the employees  representing 2,9 suggestions per employee. The number of innovative ideas is increasing year by year. Last year, the TPV employees submitted almost 3.000 inovative proposals. Among the innovative ideas, the Innovation Committee traditionally selects the most valuable proposal submitted by an individual and a team and they receive an additional award. At the ceremony, the awards and  recognitions for the best innovative ideas  were conferred by the director – president of management, Mr. Marko Gorjup, the director – member of management, Mr. Ivan Erenda, and the director of R&D division, Mr. Krunoslav Šimrak. According to the Innovation Committee, Marko Malnarič was the most impressive innovator with the innovative proposal called »Robotised manufacturing of a product for Range Rover vehicles«. The award for the most valuable team innovation was conferred to Srečko Basarac and Primož Kozan for their innovation called »Feasibility study and implementation of protection in the press tool«.

In accordance with strategic guidelines adopted by TPV Group, the further education of employees is besides the innovation system also a part of  the incentive plan. Therefore, Mr. Marko Gorjup and Mrs. Martina Brec, the HR director, granted recognitions to all employees who finished education last year: Boštjan Piletič, Davor Tramte, Lea Gregel, Bernard Lesica, Borut Čeh, Marko Erjavec, Stefan Cvijanović.

The Martin Sever Award for the best graduate thesis was conferred by Mr. Marko Gorjup and Vladimir Gregor Bahč, the procurator of TPV Group, to Davor Tramte for the diploma thesis called »3D scanning and making of a 3D model based on a point cloud  as a step in  reverse engineering process of a trailing arm” (Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto).

The ceremony itself was held in an innovative way, as a collaborative robot helped passing the awards. Moreover, Janez Dovč also spiced up the ceremony in an innovative way by playing different instruments from Tesla Coil, the theremin to the laser harp while performing pieces of Tesla music show.

The guests of the event were Vedran Tare from the company Rimac Automobili, who presented a concept of developing an electric car, and Robert Gril from the company Universal Robots, who  pointed out the novelties and tends in the field of collaborative robots.

A proof that our care for innovativeness is not fruitless, are also 10 innovation awards TPV received last year: two silver awards by the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Posavje Region, a gold and three silver innovation awards by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Dolenjska and Bela krajina Region, a silver and a bronze recognition by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Štajerska Region, a silver recognition by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, and a gold recognition by the Innovation Association in the municipality of Karlovac, Croatia. In future, the company is going to focus their innovative strength even more intensively on the area of automation and robotization, digitization, cloud management, and innovation platform implementation.

 

A multipurpose pathway between TPV and Revoz opened today

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Safety provision – for users of our products, our employees and local people – has always been a priority in TPV. As a socially responsible company, we have joined the project of a multipurpose pathway arrangement connecting Grm and Žabja vas.

The new pathway – a collective project between the municipality of Novo mesto, Revoz and TPV – in particular represents an important acquisition for the primary school Grm pupils from Gotna vas, Žabja vas and Jedinščica, as it will shorten and above all make safer their everyday way to and from school.  The pathway is also intended for other users – pedestrians and cyclists. They are the most vulnerable road users, this is why it is all the more important  to attend to  their safety.

Although the project  seemed to be impossible to realize as this area serves as an important supply connection between Revoz and TPV, all investors involved have made a step further  and found the best solution and therefore proved that good cooperation results in optimum coexistence for welfare of all.

The project included construction of a new asphalt pathway for pedestrians and cyclists in a length of 260 m and width of 3 m. The pathway was opened today by the representatives of TPV, Revoz and the municipality of Novo mesto and children who are the everyday »walking bus« commuters from Žabja vas and Grm.  Darko Janežič, director of TPV Group d.o.o., who was the project team member on behalf of TPV, said    »We are happy to see children and other citizens are now offered a shelter between two large industrial buildings. We hope this pathway is only the first step – a piece of mosaic – to be ugraded into an overall cyclist and pedestrian circle connection around Novo mesto.«

TPV Group opening an advanced technology production-logistics center

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TPV Group has only six months since the placement of foundation stone opened a new advanced technology production-logistics center at the business unit Velika Loka with a useable area of  7.300m2.

TPV is an advanced technology company operating as a development supplier in the automotive industry which means they are actively involved in designing, developing and manufacturing most modern vehicles. Over the last few years, they have won several new development and production business. In addition to exceptional development competencies  needed to meet customers’ requirements, developing efficient production and logistics processes also represents a significant concern. This is why they are continuously in search of optimal and innovative technological solutions in the area of automation, robotization and flexibility of production and logistics processes.

All these reasons have led to invest in a new production-logistics center built on the principle of a smart factory.  The production and logistics processes will be automated to the greatest extent by using new robots and automated guided vehicles, while the implementation of a production management information system will provide an on-line connection with other production and business processes within the company as well as our suppliers and customers.

At the business unit TPV Velika Loka where the new production-logistics center is located, TPV uses different technologies for mechanical joining of components which are produced by other TPV production sites  or by their suppliers. Most parts produced at this production site are also cataphoresis or powder coated. As these are mostly TPV’s end products, location of the logistics center in Velika Loka is of exceptional importance for the company.

The new advanced technology production-logistics center has 7.300m2 of useable area. The total amount of investment is estimated at 20,3 million EUR and the work will proceed until 2020 when the center will glow in its final image. The investment includes exterior arrangement of the business unit, construction of a new building for production and logistics purposes, advanced technology production lines for new products, manufacturing execution system, system of automated internal logistics and digitized warehouse management system, and digitized connection with suppliers and customers.

 

Recruitment

As Marko Gorjup, Director – President of Management,  said in his opening address »the production-logistics center will, in spite of significant importance of automation and digitization, not involve only robots and machines. The most important are and will always be people. In future, our employment needs will even increase due to new contracts to win, so more than 100 colleagues of different educational levels, profiles and knowledge are expected to join TPV Velika Loka by year 2020.” They will need more and more professionally qualified staff like operators, maintainers, engineers, quality personnel, logistics analysts, production planners, and  project managers.

TPV – a smart factory

With the new digitized production-logistics center, TPV is moving even more decisively in the direction of a smart factory. TPV as a development supplier in the automotive industry, operates in a very demanding and competitive environment. In the automotive industry, a high level of automation and digitization is becoming necesary for the company’s existence and  growth. The industry is developing towards smart factories and TPV Group is becoming part of this trend by upgrading the information and communication technology systems, increasingly automating production processes and smart logistics solutions which are an indispensable part of smart factories. The process of digitization and automation will help them reduce their production costs, increase productivity and manufacturing accuracy, reach higher quality of end products, reduce the possibility of human errors which all leads to a higher competitiveness of TPV on the market.

In the area of smart factories, TPV is not only a follower but an active player. Based on rich experience in automation of production logistics in their own production sites, they developed together with a start-up company IKU their own comprehensive and reliable automation solutions with automated guided vehicles, AGVs, and the automated guided vehicle Optimatic 160 which is distinguished by numerous competitive advantages. These solutions have already been offered to the market. They also wich to be an active partner in implementation of future robotic technologies, advanced production technologies for materials, plasma technology and management technologies.

At the opening ceremony, the ribbon was cut by Mr. Marko Gorjup, Director – President of Management TPV d.o.o., Mr. Vladimir Bahč, Procurator TPV Group d.o.o. and Mrs. Violeta Bulc, the European Commissioner for Transport who also stated that this TPV investment is also important for the EU. »TPV strives for the same development goals as the EU. Our aim is a bigger industrial sovereignty which can be achieved with automation, robotization and digitization,« said Bulc. Beside Violeta Bulc, Aleš Cantarutti, the State Secretary, Franci Povše, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Government of the RS, Mr. Alojz Kastelic, the Mayor of Municipality of Trebnje, Tomaž Kordiš, the director of GZDBK and some leading industrialists from the region also attended the opening event.

 

10th anniversary of the company TPV Šumadija – record results and expansion of development activities

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At their 10th anniversary of business activity, TPV Šumadija announced to set up their own development center, signed a cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Engineering Sciences of Kragujevac and launched a call for scholarships for young engineering talents.

TPV Group as one of the first foreign investors in Serbia, established the company TPV Šumadija in Kragujevac which has been successfully operating as the center for engine gasket production and inceasingly developing production of automotive components for the direct assembly. Their products are exported to three continents and over 25 countries.

When they set up the production 10 years ago, they employed 70 people, 60 of whom still work for the company today. In the course of this period, they have obtained the ISO TS international automotive certification and this year they are preparing for transition to the IATF standard. According to Mr. Marko Gorjup, Director – President of Management, TPV Šumadija currently employing over 100 people, will end this year with a record result of 3,9 million EUR and 3,4 million of products sold. As underlined by Mr. Gorjup, the greatest thanks go to the well-played and committed employees. According to his announcement, TPV Šumadija will continue to be the center for engine gasket production, and in the light of customers’ response, they will also increasingly expand the production of automotive components for the direct assembly and strengthen their developing competencies.

At the formal ceremony taking place in the company facilities, they signed an agreement on research and technical cooperation with the Faculty of Engineering Sciences of Kragujevac and announced a call for scholarships for your engineering talents. By this means, they will expand and strengthen their development competencies with regard to engine gaskets and automotive components for direct assembly – body and chassis assemblies and seat components. Mr. Gorjup also stressed that »We are aware that Serbia with their long tradition in the automotive industry, quality educational institutions, talents and knowledge in the area of machinery, represents a big development potential which is worth being used. This is why we will establish a development center in this region next year. For this purpose, we will associate with local faculties and institutes.”

Beside the representatives of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences of Kragujevac, the president of the regional Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Predrag Lučić, represetatives of the city of Kragujevac, the representative of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Franci Povše, and numerous international business partners were also present at the event.

Silver national innovation award – automated guided vehicle Optimatik 160

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Yesterday, the Chamber od Commerce of Slovenia conferred the 15th national awards for the best innovations, which is the highest award for innovative achievements made by Slovenian companies and promotion of innovativeness in Slovenia. Twelve gold, one special  and twenty-five silver awards is the outcome of the national finals which involved 182 innovations and 774 innovators at the regional level. This year, they also awarded the innovation of the year, selected by the public.

TPV Group is placed among the most innovative companies as we received a silver award for the innovation called »Innovative, automated guided vehicle Optimatik 160« whose authors are: Janez Sluga, Dominik Rajšelj M.Sc., Robert Simčič, Aleksander Brence, Aleš Ucman, Matej Mikolič, Matjaž Sotler. Congratulations to all innovators for their outstanding achievement.

Slovenia is a country of innovators which is confirmed by the information published by Union Scoreboard 2017 according to which Slovenia is put second in the group of »strong innovators«. Relative competitive advantages of our country in comparison with  other EU countries lie in human resources, research and development investments and innovation-friendly business environment. According to the global creativity index, we are the eighth most talented nation in the world, while the global technology index has placed us among the first fifth of most successful countries. Therefore, TPV Group has confirmed again to be one of the most innovative and successful companies.

TPV holder of AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) certificate status

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The AEO programme is a part of the global  initiative to ensure security of the entire supply chain. The main purpose is to enhance security along the external borders of the Union and increase the movement of goods through simplified customs procedures and use of  information technology.

AEO status provides economic operators, who meet the conditions and criteria, with the following benefits in the form of facilitation of the customs controls in terms of safety and security and / or simplifications in accordance with the customs regulations:

  • a lowerrisk score in therisk analysis system;
  • fewer physicaland document-based controlsthan for other economic operators;
  • priority treatment of consignments if selected for control;
  • signaturesof different mutual recognition agreementsofthe AEOstatus between EUandpartner countriescanallow them faster procedures processin third countriesalso;
  • a reduced data set requirement for entry and exit summary declarations – security and safety;
  • easier admittance to customs simplifications.

That means that the holders of AEO certificates can complete the customs formalities faster than other companies. AEO certificate holders are recognized as safe and secure business partners in international trade.

In the presence of Mr. Vladimir Gregor Bahč, the certificate was handed to Mr. Marko Gorjup by the Director of the Financial Office Novo mesto Milan Kelher.

TPV awarded by Brose as the key supplier 2017

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Wednesday, 19 July, TPV was awarded by customer Brose as the key supplier 2017.

Company Brose is one of the world largest suppliers of mechatronic systems for car doors, seats and drives. They employ over 25.000 people working at 60 locations in 23 countries. Brose is also one of our most strategic customers. TPV provides  seat components to Brose in Europe, USA, Mexico, and South Africa mostly for the premium car brands like BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo.

By giving the award the key supplier of the year, Brose recognizes to TPV an advanced level of cooperation along with development and production  competencies in the area of seat components. Moreover, this recognition  confirms a very strong strategic partnership established between the two companies. Brose and TPV have also identified joint opportunities to enhance their future cooperation.

The award was given to the Director – President of Management of TPV d.o.o. Mr. Marko Gorjup  by Mr. Cem Yilmaz, the Purchasing Director for Central and Eastern Europe at Brose.

 

The merit for this recognition goes to all TPV employees  whose  quality work has contributed to   achieving these results and therefore strengthening the company’s position as the key supplier to customer Brose.