Tigar signs new strategic partnership agreements worth around EUR 8.5 million – Pirot-based rubber footwear factory to switch to CNG

The Pirot-based rubber footwear factory Tigar announced that it had signed new agreements on strategic partnership with Berner (Finland), Nokian, Decathlon (France), Solognac and Ilse Jackobsen (Denmark), worth around EUR 8.5 million.

As the general director of Tigar, Vladimir Ilic, says, those purchasers make up 62% of the exports, which have increased by around EUR 900,000 compared to the previous period. The basic principles of growth, according to Ilic, are quantity, quality and continuity.

– The results of the footwear factory's operations, which dictates Tigar's exports, have grown by 13.6%, which clearly points to a change in production structure, a strategic orientation to more expensive products and the company's orientation to exports – Ilic said.

With the signing of agreements with the military industry and new programs, the technical rubber plant should increase the realization by close to 40%, whereas the chemical product plant has increased the realization from EUR 220,000 to EUR 360,000, and the exports grew by EUR 135,000.

The Pirot-based company is also upgrading its production process and will use compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of mazut.

– By switching to gas, in addition to making considerable savings, we are also meeting the highest environmental standards – the press release says.

It is added that this is another in the range of positive measures that the new management of Tigar is taking in consolidating the operations this Pirot-based company began in 2017.

According to Ilic, the usage of CNG will enable considerable savings, as this is the most cost-effective way to produce steam.

– By switching from mazut to CNG as the fuel for the production of steam, used in the production process and for heating during the winter, Tigar will realize savings of around EUR 66,000 annually – Ilic said.

Furthermore, as he said, there is also the environmental benefit, as CNG is the cleanest energy source, containing no sulphur and other harmful matters, which extends the life cycle of the facility and other equipment and installations.

He pointed out that their decision to use this system is a result of the low price of CNG in the market, its high calorific value and the facility efficiency, which goes up to 95%.

Ilic said that the total realization of Tigar in the last six-month period had clearly showed a stable flow of financial revenues and a continued growth by 8.1% in the market of goods and services.

Tigar a.d. Pirot

Tigar Pirot

rubber footwear

Berner

Nokian

Decathlon

Solognac

Ilse Jackobsen

Vladimir Ilic

compressed natural gas

CNG