Kolektor - Manufacturing Outlook - Issue 12

Melding Credibility, Trust, and Quality

Melding Credibility, Trust, and Quality The numbers from the last decade speak for themselves – Kolektor Construction has grown roughly three times faster than the construction sector average. Andraž Mezgec, Director of Operations, tells us how this reflects consistent strategic thinking, the right investments at the right time, and a team that has delivered under pressure year after year Writer: Ed Budds Project Manager: James Melton

2 | Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12

KOLEKTOR CONSTRUCTION EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12 | 3

KOLEKTOR CONSTRUCTION EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

C

onstruction is an industry that never sits still – and right now across Europe, that’s truer than

ever.

It plays a fundamental role in every economy, with a multiplier effect that reaches far beyond the construction site itself, driving regional development and social stability.

The last few years have been anything but straightforward. With the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs, the industry has had to absorb a series of shocks in rapid succession.

“By nature, construction craves stability – long project cycles, significant contractual commitments, and complex stakeholder environments create a pool of uncertainty that makes all of it harder to navigate,” introduces Andraž Mezgec, Director of Operations at Kolektor Construction.

“Moreover, the European construction industry is being shaped by regulatory pressures, sustainability goals, national investment programmes, and labour challenges that are reshaping how we operate and the way we think.”

For companies such as Kolektor Construction, the challenges that lie ahead are key to increased productivity, overcoming the labour shortage, the internationalisation of business, and achieving greater resilience within the industry.

“From a personal perspective, that’s what makes this space exciting. The businesses that can read the environment, manage risk intelligently, and stay focused on building resilience rather than just chasing volume are the ones that will define the next chapter of the industry in Europe,” he muses.

DIVERSE OPERATIONS Kolektor Group is one of Slovenia’s most established and respected industrial brands, with roots 4 | Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12

WHAT CORE ELEMENTS OF THE BUSINESS HAVE BEEN KEY IN THE COMPANY BECOMING ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLAYERS IN SLOVENIAN CONSTRUCTION? Andraž Mezgec, Director of Operations: “Undoubtedly, a shared vision between owner and management created a solid foundation for growth.

“Our group identified opportunities early, invested at the right time – in capacity, technology, and people – and used larger, more demanding projects as the platform to grow not just our revenues, but our competence.

“Every significant project we have delivered has raised the bar internally and built the experienced team we have today.

“Another aspect we deliberated on was preserving lean decisionmaking throughout that growth. Staying agile in a period of rapid expansion and constant change is not straightforward, but it has been one of our genuine competitive strengths.

“Our expansion into Croatia was a further milestone – it tested our model beyond the Slovenian market and, combined with the introduction of new technologies into our portfolio, established us as a credible player in this part of Europe.

“In short – the right vision, timing, projects, and discipline to execute consistently have driven our rise.”

Divača–Koper second railway track

stretching back six decades. Today, it operates across three strategic divisions – Mobility, Technologies, and Construction.

With a presence spanning Europe, the US, and Asia, and core divisions delivering high-performance solutions for the automotive, energy, and infrastructure sectors, Kolektor Group is known for its innovation, quality, and reliability.

Within the group, the construction strand of the business is now the largest of its kind in Slovenia.

“We, Kolektor Construction, operate through two companies – Kolektor Koling and Kolektor CPG – and together we bring over 60 years of experience to the market with 1,000+ employees and more than €500 million of annual revenue,” Mezgec sets out.

Kolektor Koling is built around the idea of complete solutions, whereby a project is taken from the

“Deploying the same experienced teams, applying proven methodologies, and leveraging accumulated knowledge is how we drive efficiency and deliver consistently strong results” – ANDRAŽ MEZGEC, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, KOLEKTOR CONSTRUCTION

initial concept all the way through to handover, covering design, civil works, mechanical, and electrical installations.

Meanwhile, Kolektor CPG brings a complementary set of capabilities – infrastructure, tunnelling, road construction, and maintenance, backed by substantial in-house production.

“We have our own quarries, asphalt plants, concrete plants, and prefabricated element facilities. That level of vertical integration gives us a

real competitive advantage – in terms of quality control, cost efficiency, and the ability to mobilise quickly on large and complex projects,” he lists.

A key part of Kolektor Construction’s strength also lies in its in-house production platform, where it operates seven concrete plants – including mobile and permanent facilities across Slovenia – as well as two asphalt plants in Laže and Vrtojba, supporting a wide range of infrastructure and urban projects.

Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12 | 5

Built to Last: Alu alprem’s High-Quality Aluminium Solutions A Strong Heritage Alu alprem is one of Slovenia’s oldest metal construction companies, with roots dating back to 1947. The company evolved from small craft workshops and became the first business in the former Yugoslavia to manufacture aluminium windows.

With a strong heritage and a commitment to quality, Alu alprem has established itself as a reliable manufacturer of aluminium windows, curtain wall systems, and panoramic glazing, serving both commercial and luxury residential sectors. The names on its client list speak for themselves: Infineon, Ricola, Geberit, Sandoz/Novartis, Cargo Partner, and Bosch have all trusted Alu alprem to deliver the façade and glazing solutions that define the face of their buildings.

Reliability in Complex Projects Key advantages of Alu alprem include strong in-house engineering, consistent, on-time delivery, and financial stability, reflected in its Platinum AAA credit rating. In an industry where project delays and contractor instability can disrupt even the most carefully planned projects, this level of reliability proves more valuable than it may initially seem.

Growing Beyond Borders Today, Alu alprem operates across multiple international markets, demonstrating its flexibility and growing international presence. The company has a well-established presence in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), where it not only supplies aluminium joinery but also provides full installation services for projects within a 400 kilometre (km) radius of its Slovenian headquarters.

Outside this 400 km radius, Alu alprem adjusts its approach, focusing on supplying high-quality aluminium elements to projects as far afield as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia.

These projects demonstrate the company’s ability to deliver advanced systems on time while managing the logistical complexity of international construction projects.

A Foundation for the Future From a small craft workshop nearly 70 years ago to a trusted supplier for some of Europe’s most recognised companies, Alu alprem’s story is one of quiet, consistent growth. As it looks ahead, the company carries the same values that have defined it from the start - precision, reliability, and a commitment to getting the job done right.

A business, quite simply, built to last.

A barrel as a holiday apartment in Australia

PROJECT: ELES Beričevo Technology Center, Slovenia Alu alprem completed the ELES Beričevo Technology Center in collaboration with Kolektor Koling, marking the third joint project between the companies.

Designed by Scapelab, the building unifies diverse business activities under a single, continuous façade.

It is deliberately contrasted with its surroundings – rather than blending into the nearby rural settlement, it stands apart as a composition of large-scale gestures.

Fire Safety, Energy Efficiency, and Architectural Clarity in One Envelope Alu alprem executed the entire building envelope.

This included a mullion-transom façade, fire-resistant façade systems with integrated doors, and skylights, all delivered using high-performance aluminium systems.

The glass façades feature top-hung windows equipped with electric motors, enabling controlled natural ventilation and enhancing occupant comfort within a highly technical facility. The northern façade incorporates a two-storey fire-resistant EI30 system, demonstrating how advanced safety requirements can be seamlessly combined with architectural openness. Throughout the entire building, lowemissivity (low-e) glass was specified to support the project’s ambitious energy efficiency targets.

“WITH DECADES OF EXPERTISE IN HIGHPERFORMANCE FAÇADE SYSTEMS, ALU ALPREM TRANSFORMS THE MOST DEMANDING ARCHITECTURAL AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS INTO REALITY.”

Prestigious Plečnik Award for ELES Beričevo Technology Center The project received the Plečnik Award, Slovenia’s most prestigious prize in architecture. The award was granted in recognition of the facility’s exceptional structural and technical design, which was fully supported through the implementation of advanced façade systems, ensuring that the architectural intent was met with equal technical precision.

PROJECT Sachsendamm 63–64, Berlin: A Complete Façade Solution in the Heart of the Schöneberger Linse The office building at Sachsendamm 63–64 is one of Berlin-Schöneberg’s most striking new commercial addresses, a seven-storey, 5,400 square metre (sqm) building designed by Thoma Architekten and developed by Gewobag.

dependence on artificial lighting. The combination with a low solar factor significantly reduces solar heat gain, helping to limit overheating and thus striking a good balance between comfort and energy control.

Perforated aluminium sheets in front of the openable windows add a distinctive textural detail to the elevation.

Alu alprem delivered a comprehensive solution, covering curtain walls, windows, doors, and façade cladding as one integrated building envelope.

The Façade: Mullion-Transom Façade combined with Concrete Panels Given the building’s proximity to one of Berlin’s busiest rail hubs, acoustic performance was a key challenge. Alu alprem responded with a layered strategy: sound-proof panels and glazing, an acoustic curtain wall, and additional sound-proof cladding, creating a calm interior despite the urban setting.

The façade is complemented by glass fibre reinforced concrete panels, offering a contemporary aesthetic with excellent durability.

Windows: Performance Meets Natural Light Heat control was the second important demand, reflected in the choice of solar control glass. It allows a high transmission of natural daylight into the interior, providing bright spaces while reducing

Doors: Precision at Every Threshold The building’s mixed-use - offices, a kindergarten and a café - required carefully differentiated access solutions. Main entrances feature polycarbonate glazing and RC2-certified hardware for security, while kindergarten entrances were engineered specifically to meet child safety requirements.

Delivering the Complete Envelope Sachsendamm 63–64 demonstrates what careful material selection and technical expertise can achieve across demanding acoustic, solar, and mixeduse requirements - a project that reflects the depth of experience Alu alprem brings to every façade.

KOLEKTOR CONSTRUCTION EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

Majske Poljane – Pinja

Warehouse 22 at Rijeka Gateway Terminal

“In addition, we produce stone aggregates at our sites in Tolmin and Laže, ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality materials for concrete, asphalt, and other applications. This vertically integrated platform gives us strong control over quality, cost efficiency, and project execution,” Mezgec adds.

“At the same time, we are continuing to invest in the modernisation of our production infrastructure, including a new asphalt plant investment in Laže, which will further improve operational and energy efficiency, increase production flexibility, and reduce environmental impact through the use of more advanced technologies.”

10 | Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12

This is further reinforced by a welldeveloped machinery and transport division, which provides both internal support and services to external clients, ensuring operational flexibility and independence across all project phases.

“What ultimately defines construction companies, however, is execution. Delivering technically demanding projects within complex stakeholder environments, often under intense time pressure, requires not only engineering capability but also operational discipline, coordination, and reliability.

“Over the years, the ability to execute consistently on large-scale

and strategically important projects has become one of Kolektor Construction’s defining strengths,” highlights Mezgec.

EXPERTISE AND CROATIAN EXPANSION The tunnelling and road division is one of the core pillars of Kolektor Construction and has been a key driver of its impressive growth over the past years.

As such, the company has built strong capabilities in delivering complex infrastructure projects, particularly in the fields of road construction, tunnelling, and railway modernisation.

CONNECTS FOR GENERATIONS Alpacem is the leading manufacturer of building materials in Slovenia.

Through the production of high-quality cement, stone aggregates, and concrete ̶ essential building materials for residential and infrastructure projects ̶ Alpacem contributes to the stability of the Slovenian construction sector while fostering economic growth.

By reducing the carbon footprint of its cements, and consequently of concrete, the company increasingly contributes to sustainable solutions in the built environment.

www.alpacem.si

KOLEKTOR CONSTRUCTION EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

Construction of Fluidmaster’s office and production facilities

Construction of the ELES Beričevo Technology Centre - Phase 3

Third Development Axis – Section E (Velunja)

Construction of the new Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Port of Koper

12 | Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12

Construction of the new sports hall in the Postojna School Centre

Port of Koper

KOLEKTOR CONSTRUCTION EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

CARRYING LIFE THROUGH STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE Operating in more than 90 countries, Erciyas Holding combines industrial manufacturing expertise with operations spanning energy infrastructure, rail transportation, and advanced mobility technologies.

Erciyas Steel Pipe, the flagship industrial company of Erciyas Holding, manufactures large-diameter steel pipes for hydrogen, gas and oil transmission systems, water networks, and port infrastructure projects since 1990. With internationally certified production capabilities and decades of project execution experience, Erciyas delivers high-performance pipe solutions across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

Since 2020, Erciyas Steel Pipe has continuously supplied steel pipes for the Port of Koper expansion developments. For the ongoing phase of the project, the company is manufacturing more than 1,500 steel pipe piles, each reaching lengths of up to 70 metres, for the works executed by the Kolektor-CGP Consortium.

T+ 90 216 663 62 00 | erciyas@erciyas.com | www.erciyaspipe.com

These are segments where technical complexity, risk management, and execution discipline are critical – and experience makes a significant difference.

“Increasingly, the projects we are involved in are not defined only by scale, but by engineering complexity.

In the rail sector, we have delivered more than €400 million worth of upgrade and modernisation projects in Slovenia, which has positioned us as a credible and experienced partner in this space,” Mezgec prides.

A key example of Kolektor Construction’s tunnelling portfolio is its involvement in developing the second track of the Divača-Koper railway, where it contributed to the excavation of multiple tunnels with a total length of 37.4 kilometres.

Projects of this scale require highly specialised teams, advanced equipment, and precise execution within challenging geological conditions.

“The Pier I extension in the Port of Koper is another strong example of this, combining large-scale offshore piling, marine engineering, and prefabricated structural systems within one of the most technically demanding port infrastructure projects currently underway in the region,” he notes.

Mezgec believes that the company’s road division is equally important, particularly through large-scale national projects such as the Third Development Axis expressway, where it’s been involved in delivering demanding sections that combine bridges, tunnels, and complex terrain.

Elsewhere, Croatia represents a natural extension of Kolektor Construction’s home market and an important part of its regional strategy.

The company has been present there for several years, particularly

in the Port of Rijeka, where it has successfully delivered multiple projects, including the recently completed Maersk terminal.

“What is important for us is not just expanding geographically but doing so in a controlled and sustainable way – building on references, deploying experienced teams, and maintaining the same standards of execution that define our work in Slovenia,” he states.

ELITE DEVELOPMENT AND AUTONOMY At the end of the day, it is always people who make the difference on a project, which is reflected in how Kolektor Construction strives to manage and lead.

“We place strong emphasis on responsibility and trust. Our teams operate with clearly defined objectives, but also with enough autonomy to make decisions at the operational level,” Mezgec expands.

Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12 | 13

Construction of the Novi Vinodolski bypass

In a project-driven business-like construction, speed of decisionmaking is often critical.

“The second most important element is development. We invest systematically in technical expertise, knowledge transfer between generations, and the development of leadership capabilities. This is not a one-off initiative, but a continuous process,” he tells us.

14 | Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12

For Kolektor Construction, recognition goes beyond formal reward systems. What truly matters is that people see the outcome of their work – a completed project, tangible result, and the team behind it, creating a sense of purpose that extends beyond financial incentives.

“As one of the leading construction groups in Slovenia, we are very aware of our broader responsibility.”

On one level, this is a responsibility towards the environment. The projects the company delivers have a long-term impact on space and society, which is why sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of how it makes decisions.

On another level, Mezgec believes it is a responsibility towards the communities in which Kolektor Construction operates.

KOLEKTOR CONSTRUCTION EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

“The projects we deliver are not just structures – they are infrastructures that enable economic development, connects regions, and improves quality of life” – ANDRAŽ MEZGEC, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, KOLEKTOR CONSTRUCTION

“We are involved in a range of local initiatives, supporting sports clubs and fire brigades, as well as contributing to organisations active in fields ranging from healthcare to assistance for vulnerable groups, thereby contributing to the development of local environments,” he adds.

Equally important is a responsibility towards employees – ensuring safety at work, providing a stable working environment, and creating long-term development opportunities.

STRATEGIC CONSOLIDATION Looking ahead, Kolektor Construction’s strategic priority is to consolidate and strengthen its position in the region.

Over the past decade, the group has built a portfolio of significant references that, when combined with its vertically integrated production platform, represent a genuine and durable competitive advantage.

“That period of growth has also come with investment and the costs

that ambitious expansion inevitably brings – and we are now focused on extracting the full value of what we have built,” Mezgec acclaims.

“An area where we see particular opportunity is prefabrication. We believe it is one of the segments with the greatest potential to drive meaningful productivity gains in construction – and it is an area where we intend to invest, subject to market demand and conditions developing in the right direction,” he furthers.

More broadly, Kolektor Construction’s approach to growth is increasingly focused on repeatability.

Where it has achieved a real breakthrough in a specific sector or project type, the company wants to build on that.

“Deploying the same experienced teams, applying proven methodologies, and leveraging accumulated knowledge is how we drive efficiency and deliver consistently strong results.

“That focus – doing more of what we do best, rather than chasing every opportunity – is, I believe, the foundation for sustainable long-term growth,” Mezgec enthuses.

FUTURE GROWTH AND STABILITY In conclusion, Kolektor Construction’s priorities for the coming period are clearly focused on efficient utilisation of its existing platform.

Following an era of intensive growth, the focus is now on optimisation – improving productivity,

increasing process efficiency, and strengthening project risk management.

“Selective growth remains important. We are not aiming to grow at any cost, but rather in areas where we can create real added value and leverage our existing capabilities.

“At the same time, we see opportunities in segments such as prefabrication and energy projects, where we can build further on our references,” Mezgec outlines.

Ultimately, the key to continued prosperity remains the same – maintaining stability, financial discipline, and long-term perspective.

For many, construction is often seen purely as an execution industry, whereas the reality is that it plays a much broader and more vital role in society.

“The projects we deliver are not just structures – they are infrastructures that enable economic development, connect regions, and improve quality of life.”

“For us, construction is ultimately about creating long-term value – for infrastructure systems, communities, and the wider development of the region,” he concludes.

www.kolektorcivilworks.com Manufacturing Outlook Issue 12 | 15

www.kolektorcivilworks.com

PRODUCED BY MANUFACTURING OUTLOOK MAGAZINE