Manufacturing-Journal | 7 |suppliers and global technology part-ners, applying dual-sourcing strategies where components are critical. The aim is to balance lead times, cost, and avail-ability while meeting customer and regulatory expectations around qual-ity, traceability, and compliance. This approach not only stabilizes output in tight markets but also strengthens the business case for Made-in-EU products at a time when localization and risk mitigation are increasingly valued by energy-tech customers.Sustainability and the GoZero frameworkREFU Hungary’s sustainability work is aligned with GoZero, the corporate ini-tiative of the PRETTL Group. The plant’s approach blends process efficiency, dig-italization, and local collaboration. Digi-tal tools—ELAM, SAP, and MES—help reduce rework, scrap, and excess mate-rial use; modular lines lower idle energy consumption and improve load balanc-ing; and the site is steadily increasing the share of renewable energy in its sourc-ing mix. On the waste-management side, material separation, recycling, and packaging reduction are priorities. As a result, the site achieved a 40% reduction in total waste generation in 2025 so far, driven primarily by improved packaging reuse and recycling strategies. Logistics benefit from on-campus integration with sister companies, shortening trans-port distances and enabling just-in-time material flows that help curb CO₂ emis-sions across the value chain.“We aim to be more than a factory — a long-term manufacturing and innovation partner.” — Gyula Virág, REFU HungaryThe philosophy is clear: responsibility covers not only what is manufactured, but how it is manufactured.Markets, customers, and collaboration modelsAs a manufacturing partner, REFU Hun-gary primarily serves international OEM customers—many of whom want to ex-pand or localize their presence in the Eu-ropean Union. Typical partners operate in energy storage, e-mobility infrastruc-ture, and industrial power electronics, seeking flexible, high-quality, Made-in-EU manufacturing capacity.The plant’s location near major Central and Western European transport cor-ridors is a practical advantage—reduc-ing logistics complexity and delivery times. Combined with short lead times, scalable production lines, and full digi-tal traceability, this allows customers to adapt their product portfolios with confidence, without compromising op-erational stability. Alongside established OEMs, REFU Hungary is also open to ear-ly-stage innovators and startups; where vision and values align, the company is prepared to explore joint-development or joint-venture models to bring break-through technologies to market.Recent investments and the 2026 roadmapBetween 2024 and 2025, REFU Hungary is investing to meet rising demand from existing and new OEM partners. The ex-pansion includes new production and test lines, additional floor space and lo-gistics capacity, and workforce growth and training, with headcount expected to increase by the end of 2025.Beyond capacity, the company is plan-ning a dedicated on-site energy-storage and solar-park investment. The project supports the GoZero sustainability goals of the PRETTL Group and will function as a testing and validation site for future product developments in collaboration with REFU Elektronik. It is also intended to serve as a training and education hub, strengthening Érd’s role as a long-term strategic base within the group.Looking ahead to 2026, the focus is clear: scale production capabilities and deepen partnerships with OEMs driving innovation in energy, e-mobil-ity, and sustainable infrastructure. The company’s efforts will center on Euro-pean programs requiring Made-in-EU compliance, fast time-to-market, and full life-cycle traceability. The ambition is to be more than a factory—to act as a manufacturing and innovation part-ner for companies shaping the future of electrification.Insights provided by Gyula Virág, Sales Manager, REFU Hungary.FACT BOXFULL NAME: GENERAL DIRECTOR: INDUSTRY: ESTABLISHED: TURNOVER:REFU Hungary Kft.Gábor Bartus Renewable Energy Electronics Manufacturing, Power Electronics202111,6M Eurowww.refu.hu
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