Szczecin’s municipal neighbourhood, Skolwin, hosted the symbolic inauguration of the Teleyard investment in the newly-created subzone of the Kostrzyn-Słubice Special Economic Zone.

The guests, who came in great numbers, were warmly greeted by the President of the Board of Teleskop Sp. z o. o., Reiner Maas in Polish, which met with great applause. Thank you for your understanding, loyalty, and help, owing to which we can meet in this place today. I am very thankful to Marshal Olgierd Geblewicz for this cooperation. – he said.

Christopher Maas, Member of the Board of Teleyard Sp. z o. o., presented the twelve-year record of the company’s operation in Poland. Teleyard belongs to the Belgian Telemond Holding, located in Antwerp. It operates three plants in Kostrzyn nad Odrą where it produces, among other things, telescopic cranes, container stackers, railway crane jibs, and bodies for truck-mounted cranes.
 
During the ceremony the board of the company received from Artur Malec, Chairman of the Kostrzyn-Słubice Special Economic Zone, a permit to conduct economic activities in this zone.

Marshal Olgierd Geblewicz recalled a difficult history concerning the Szczecin investment.

- The primary plans assumed that the operations would commence in the industrial shipyard area. Eventually, the company decided to invest in a new area in Szczecin, which was the beginning of unexpected obstacles. In July 2011, we signed a letter of intent which divided the duties between the city, the region, and the economic zone. All seemed to be simple; however, had it not been for the help of members of parliament Renata Zaremba, Magda Kochan, and Arkadiusz Litwiński we would have not overcome the subsequent problems. First of all, I would like to extend our thanks to the board of the Teleskop company for believing in this place and for your great support in promoting Szczecin and West Pomerania in gaining new investors.- said Geblewicz.

Teleyard plans to start the production of high-strength and highly-wear-resistant welded steel structures for the maritime sector and container transport in Szczecin. At present, the Company operates in leased shipbuilding halls and employs about 90 people, mainly welders, fitters and engineers, and produces components for lifting equipment for Cargotec and Sarens, and sea dredger heads for Deme.

As part of the new investment, welding halls, a paint shop, a social area, and car parks with an area of 12,000 sqm. will be built in Stołczyńska Street. About 300 people will have been employed there by the end of 2014. Ultimately, the investor intends to build other halls and docks worth EUR 20 million and employ a thousand people by 2022.
 
- This is the first venture in this part of Szczecin within the economic zone. The area, industrialised in the past, is facing challenges, and currently needs help.- said President of Szczecin Piotr Krzystek.

The project in Szczecin involves also building a training center for welders and cooperation with the Szczecin universities – the Westpomeranian University of Technology and the Maritime University.

To facilitate the implementation of such ambitious plans, the project Building the necessary technical infrastructure in the investment areas in Stołczyńska Street is being carried out as part of the Regional Operational Programme of the Westpomeranian Region for the period 2007-2013. The total cost of investment is PLN 9.5 million, PLN 4.7 million of which constitutes EU funding.