Furniture for Europe as well - Ivanjica-based Matis to open EUR 3.5 million distribution center in Belgrade until year's end

Ivanjica-based Matis, which produces all kinds of panel furniture, plans to open a contemporary distribution center in Belgrade, worth EUR 3.5 million, in 2012.

- We plan to expand our production capacity and build distribution centers in several cities in Serbia in the following period. A distribution center in Belgrade should be opened in December 2012. We will be very satisfied if we achieve the same results this year as we did in 2011, when we sold all our products worth EUR 12 million - Dragomir Lazovic, owner of Matis, told eKapija.

At its factory in Ivanjica, Matis put the third panel furniture production line in operation in late October 2011. This EUR 2.5 million investment enabled the employment of 30 new workers, and the Ivanjica-based company now employs a total of 168 people.

- We are satisfied with our results on the territory of Serbia, and we also take pride in the fact that we employ many young and professional people, which is why the average age of our employees is 32. In the period between 2008 and 2011 we invested EUR 6 million in production processes. Matis is an export-oriented company, and our products are exported to 10 countries of the EU and former Yugoslav republics - Mr. Lazovic pointed out.

Matis, which was formed in 2003 as affiliate of the parent company TIS from Ivanjica, produces all sorts of panel furniture - a total of 150 articles in four colors. Its product portfolio includes kitchens, dressers, shoe cabinets, furniture for living room, bedroom, children's room, kitchen tables and chairs, wardrobes...

- The organizational structure and technical and technological operations of Matis are fully in compliance with European standards. All our machines are computer-controlled and made by world-renowned producers. This subsystem is completely integrated with transport systems, which minimizes the time of processing to ensure the highest productivity in the furniture industry. Our people are highly-trained professionals, and they develop as the company develops - said Rasko Kodzopeljic, production director at Matis.

Wishing to present its complete product portfolio to interested consumers, the company Matis opened its first retail store in Belgrade in April 2011, at 86 Omladinskih Brigada Street.

All pieces of furniture bought at this retail store are assembled at the buyer's home for free. People at Matis say that their furniture delivery time is the shortest in Serbia, amounting to only five days. Furniture is also made to order, with free advice from the company's designers.

Matis holds a certificate issued by the Ministry of Environment, and most of its production waste can be used to make briquettes for heating.

- We use sawdust and plywood splinters to heat our facilities, using a special boiler, and in summer we give our by-products to a company that makes briquettes - said Kodzopeljic.

This year Matis won the ProBusiness Leader Award in the category of medium-sized enterprises, which is presented by ProCredit Bank.

S.O.