Llamkos Factory

By Arta Pllana

In August of this year after several years of non-work the newly privatized steel factory of Llamkos, in Vushtrri has finally opened its doors for 368 workers.

Natural sound:

Are you ready? I am speeding the temperature

In this control room, staff members constantly monitory the process for making galvanized iron.

Llamkos was bought for 4.1 million, by a private investor.

31 one year old Luan Berisha the newly appointed general director spoke to us about the new owners of Llamkos:

“New owner is Valentin Zahariev ,former director of kraimikovtz in Bulgaria .They are top producers of steel and iron in Bullgaria ,where there annual capacity goes around 1 and half million ton ,and this shows they that are very serious company and very serious investors for Llamkos”.

For the moment the raw material is provided from Bullgaria, with a future plan that the material to be produced here.Once the coil (bobbin) is in the machine, it takes a few hours for the final product of galvanized iron to be produced.

Llamkos had a long tradition in producing top quality galvanized iron and the new company has already made some plans to start wining the reputation back. Luan Berisha again:

07:59-08:29

“Annual capacity of Llamkos is 120 tonnes, in another words with the current prices in the world market around 84 milion to 90 milion .Most of produced iron in Llamkos -90% to be exported mostly in the region ,and further,,as matter of fact we have just signed a contract with Serbia for 20.000 ton per year”.

Besides making a good strategic plan for export, including the development of a market with Croatia, according to Luan, Llamkos within two years must employ another 132 staff. 500 in total.

For most of the old employees it was a relief that under the new management they will keep their jobs. Miran Halili explains:

“We think the process has been very good, because the factory now it’s privatized, workers started to work, and we are going to get extra staff in the future and also the new owner is interested to do that”.

Beside the 4.1 million when Llamkos was bought, the new owners have promised to invest a further 15 million euros within the next two years.

This new investment will be spent on more modern technology with hope for an increase of capacity and more chances to be successful. Llamkos staff is very much convinced on the success. Nysret Gerxhaliu , controller for the quality of steel explains:

“Our technology and professionalism that exist in the factory, I can clearly say we are the best in the region, our intentions are to compete internationally, since we already have the experience on that and we will achieve it, I believe.”

With a developing local and international market, foreign investors are being attracted to Kosovo.

At about same time as the workers were finishing another batch of high quality iron at the factory in Pristine, the opening ceremony for “Investing in Kosovo”, was being held.

Natural sound: some voices and clapping hands

The aim was to emphasize one more time that: This is the right to invest in Kosovo.