SC Allianso Business Park SRL, the Romanian subsidiary of Alinso Group, signed a sales contract with Lufkin Industries, Inc., a Texas based company active in oil and energy industry equipment and services. Lufkin Industries purchased a plot of 33 hectares in Ploiesti West Park on which it intends to construct a manufacturing facility which will employ 300 persons by 2012 at an estimated total cost of $126 million (97.6 mln.).
This is not only the company's largest investment in Europe, but also one of the major transactions in Central European industrial equipments sector.
"The fact that we found within one year after the start of the development of our park, two strong tenants such as Unilever and Lufkin, proves that people trust in our ability to deliver and that our choice for Ploiesti as location for our business park was the right one. The Ploiesti West Park team and Alinso Group are confident that very soon we will complete our park with new tenants and end users. The good location in the logistics and industrial gravity center of the country is well appreciated by our prospects," says Ivan Lokere, CEO of Alinso Group.
This major investment will give new economic dynamics to Prahova County and to the Ploiesti industrial area, establishing Ploiesti West Park as a favorite base for companies operating in the industrial sector. Allianso Business Park SRL has already delivered 30,000 m² warehouse to Unilever in April, 2010. A new 20,000-m² logistics building will be available by the end of September this year. The next major development for Ploiesti West Park shall be the construction of the first SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) building complex. Ploiesti West Park is becoming fast a major logistics and industrial park, at both Romanian and European level.
Jay Glick, CEO and President of Lufkin Industries, stated: "The new operation in Romania is a critical step in our strategy to expand our geographic reach to better serve our global customers. This will enhance our competitive position in the growing markets of the Eastern Hemisphere. Using Lufkin's proven regional manufacturing strategy, the Romanian operation will serve as a strategic hub to serve the European market as well as acting as the focus for exports to Russia, Central Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and markets in East Asia.
"Locating this operation in Romania provides us with many advantages. Romania is becoming a regional energy hub due to the political stability provided by EU membership and the strategic benefit of its significant oilfield heritage, market and infrastructure. In addition, Romania provides Lufkin access to local sources of raw material and castings, a strategic location for favorable shipping routes and a technically-capable and highly-educated local workforce."
Source: Alinso
