Rozmowa z Marcinem Luty, Prezesem Zarządu SWISS KRONO POLSKA

Yes, I started working in 2013, beginning with leading the Swisskrono Russia company in Russia, in the Urals, in Perm, where I was for the first three years. Later in 2016, I was sent to Iran for a few months, and from 2017, I worked in Hungary, leading an OSB board production plant in that country until October of last year when I returned to Poland.

Well, first of all, I already knew the SWISS KRONO Żary plant during my career in this group. I had been here many times, and SWISS KRONO Żary was always for me an example of the best factory with the best standards, best efficiency, and with a very good team. The first decision I made was to meet with the employees and introduce myself, saying that there would be no revolutions. However, changes are inherent in the company's development, so I will support all actions that increase the company's competitiveness, which increase efficiency and quality, because managing a company is like a race, and you cannot fall asleep because you will be overtaken.

Yes, this is definitely a very big challenge in my career. But at the beginning, all the projects I implemented were big challenges. I remember when I landed in Tehran in 2016 with a mission to organize Swisskrono's operations in that country without the language, for the first time in that country, without knowledge of the culture, and I couldn't even read anything because, as you know, there is a different script there that is incomprehensible to us. When I found myself in Hungary in 2017, I came to a failed plant that resembled a collapsed state farm with million-dollar losses. Nevertheless, both in one project and in the other, I managed. In Tehran and Iran, after a few months, I felt almost at home, and the plant in Hungary after a few years became not only the most beautiful plant in the Swisskrono group but also having the best economic indicators. Regarding our Żary plant, we have a wonderful team of experienced people here. It is the largest plant in the group, working very well and effectively. However, there are always new tasks and new goals. We must adapt to the current market situation, we must be flexible, and we must be the first and best in the world in this industry.

The Swisskrono group has always placed and still places emphasis on ecology. It is one of our most important topics, not only in the sphere of our production but also in the sphere of our products. We produce products from natural raw materials and we always present ourselves and believe that our products are ecological. In our group, not only in the plant here in Poland, we conduct continuous investments and improvements to our ecological parameters. I would just like to say that in the last five years, the Polish plant, Swisskrono Polska, has invested over 80 million zlotys in ecological projects. Currently, we have an approved investment plan for over 100 million zlotys, which we will invest over three years in ecological projects. Our ecological approach and parameters are confirmed by many audits, both internal within our group and external. Last week, I had a meeting with controllers from the Voivodeship Environmental Protection Inspectorate in Zielona Góra, who have just completed a comprehensive control of our company. They checked air emissions, rainwater samples, and other parameters of our plant, confirming that everything is within norms, and even most parameters are much below the norm. I would also like to say that Swisskrono Polska is an example within our group in terms of ecological approach. Colleagues from other plants in our group come to us, and we show how to be ecological and achieve the best parameters in this regard.

Yes, at the beginning, I would like to say that any company can maintain its competitiveness through continuous investments. In many areas, we must look at trends, observe what is happening in the market, and continuously invest. Without this, we would stand still. In the coming years, in the next three years, we plan to invest approximately 400 million zlotys in this plant in Żary. Among other things, we are building a high-bay warehouse for approximately 130 million zlotys. We will open a packaging department for our production for approximately 30 million zlotys. We plan to carry out a comprehensive modernization of the OSB board production line for approximately 80 million zlotys. We are thinking about purchasing the latest laminated flooring production line for approximately 50 million zlotys. And as I already mentioned, ecological projects, including a recycling line that we plan to launch here within three years for approximately 100 million zlotys. The Swisskrono company and group are constantly investing in Poland because Poland is a very important plant for us.

Yes, I read that interview and know the statement of President Kaczyński. First of all, I want to say that the mentality, values, and approach to life of Hungarians are very similar to Poles. We have a lot in common, although of course, the language is completely different. Perhaps because of this life truth that we only start to appreciate something when we lose it. Also, regarding Hungarians, the plant in Hungary was liquidated in 2011, closed after over 20 years of operation as Swisskrono Hungary, unfortunately for many reasons, including inflated costs, lack of focus on priorities, lack of investments, and so on. The plant simply failed and was closed, and the entire crew lost their jobs. The social and economic tradition for the region—the plant is located in the city of Vásárosnamény, comparable to Żary but a bit smaller—and everyone felt it. In 2017, when I came to this plant, we started hiring new people, but primarily choosing from the old crew. We started buying, producing, and paying taxes. There was a revival in the city and region. First of all, I introduced open and honest communication with employees, officials, and the local community. We had regular meetings where I personally informed about our plant's plans, development, and also problems, answering questions, mostly about why things used to be better and why they aren't so good now, because people have that approach. And everyone wished us well. So, even when there were some attacks, because that's human, they didn't find fertile ground and fizzled out. But I must say that many times, ordinary people on the street stopped me and thanked me for the Swisskrono plant functioning well in this city and region. Regarding political games, I can say with certainty that Hungarian politicians stand by industry, respect and support investors, and no political games or arrangements, as President Kaczyński said, had a chance to occur in Hungary, because everything was truly directed towards maintaining and developing investments, not bothering them.

Yes, I received such questions from many people in Żary, and I always claim that we are a free country and live in a free country in Europe. We respect the choices of every person and employee, but of course, we try to create conditions so that we are chosen. It is important that the employee doesn't come to work just for the salary but feels like in a family and feels that they are part of this plant. Of course, we offer many benefits for employees. We pay very well for overtime, more than the law requires. We have many awards and additional jubilee, shift, or other bonuses. We offer insurance for employees. We also share good results, awarding Christmas bonuses, so-called loyalty bonuses for good efficiency, or for maintaining work safety. We offer medical packages for our employees, meal cards. We also have training programs and language courses for employees. We offer integration trips and other employee meetings, for example, for employees who are already retired. Every employee of Swisskrono Polska should feel proud to co-create the best company in the world, which not only Germans but also other Europeans look at with admiration and envy, and they come here to train. This is how we stand out.

Yes, our company, Swisskrono Polska, operates within the local community. It is very important that we feel like good neighbors and help where possible. Yes, we support our community. In the last three years, we have made 340 donations to Żary sports clubs: basketball, wrestling, athletics, football, and women's volleyball. We sponsor annual mass sports events in Żary, such as the Green Forest Running Festival or the Ten for Żary, among others. So, we are very interested in ensuring that the local community feels good with us. I would also like to mention two things: during the pandemic, we also supported hospitals, and last year we donated over a million zlotys to healthcare, including for two Żary hospitals. And one more thing I would like to emphasize: we live and work here, and also pay taxes. Last year, we paid 140 million zlotys in taxes to the state treasury and the city treasury, which also counts.

Yes, that's true. I am 62 years old, happily married for over 25 years, with two daughters, 24 and 21 years old, currently students. When it comes to my sports activities, I like to ski, including water skiing, I like to sail and swim. In my free time, I read willingly and learn foreign languages. Which languages? I know English, German, Russian, Serbian-Croatian. I learned Hungarian, but it wasn't so easy, I must admit.

I would say, everything that one has no influence over, such as luck in realizing challenges in areas where one has no influence, for example, luck with the market, with trends, luck also with choosing people, which is a key matter in managing companies, but also health, because as my economics professor once said: 'A good manager is a healthy manager.'

Thank you.