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The ribbon-cutting ceremony, from left: Björgvin G. Sigurðsson, Minister of Business Affairs of Iceland, Lubomír Jahnátek, Minister of Economy of Slovakia, and Hörður Arnarson, President and CEO of Marel Food Systems.

The grand opening of Marel Food Systems’ impressive new 9,500 sq. metre production facility in Nitra, Slovakia, took place on Friday, 28 June 2008. Located in the Nitra Industrial Park, the new plant will be a cornerstone of Marel Food Systems’ production of high tech equipment for the food processing industry for years to come.

In an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, the facility was opened by Björgvin G. Sigurðsson, Minister of Business Affairs of Iceland, Lubomír Jahnátek, Minister of Economy of Slovakia, and Hörður Arnarson, President and CEO of Marel Food Systems. The ceremony was attended by some 200 people, including employees, their families and invited guests.

Once the official part of the programme was concluded, the real festivities began, with a gala dinner and top-class musical entertainment, ranging from folk and traditional music to jazz and rock. The evening was capped by an appearance by NoName, Slovakia´s most popular rock group. Having recently performed in front of 40,000 people at a major outdoor festival, the band seemed inspired by the occasion’s more intimate setting.

The new Nitra plant, which could well serve as a concert hall thanks to its very flexible open design, currently employs some 120 people and is equipped with the latest technology and equipment. At peak production, it will employ over 300. The production area occupies about 6,400 sq. metres, in addition to 1,035 sq. metres of office space. The 40,000 sq. metre plot of land, on which the plant stands, leaves plenty of space to accommodate a future extension.

Located in western Slovakia, at the foot of Zobor Mountain, Nitra is one of Slovakia’s oldest cities and the fifth largest, with a population of 85,000. The region is one of the most developed in Slovakia, with some 40% of the workforce employed in industry.

Marel Food Systems’ presence in Slovakia dates back to August 2005 when it first established a plant there in a rented facility. The new plant will expand Marel Food Systems’ production capacity significantly, in addition to serving as the company’s gateway to Central and Eastern Europe.