10m-euro business for Grundfos

The Danish Grundfos Group, one of the largest manufacturers of pumps in the world, has opened a sales office in Romania, which it hopes will help it make some 80 million Danish kroner (10.7 million euros) in turnover, the company representatives say.

The Danes have also decided on the management structure for Romania, which will be headed by general manager Catalin Soldan.

“Within five years, Eastern Europe will become one of the most important (markets) for Grundfos, both in terms of turnover and in terms of profit,” stated Soren Sorensen, the group”s executive vice-president in charge of Grundfos operations in Eastern Europe.

The Danish group estimates its business in Romania will double in the next four or five years.

“One of the most important development areas for Grundfos over the last few years has been Eastern Europe. With a growth rate of approximately 20% and of 40-50% in Russia, contributing a total turnover of 2 billion Danish kroner (268 million euros), Grundfos keeps investing in this region, and is now opening a sales office in Romania,” a release from the company states.

Grundfos representatives explain that Romania has improved its economic and political climate lately and therefore achieved an increase in purchasing power.

This translates into higher living standards and implicitly into an increase in the needs of the population, Grundfos officials say, adding that the expected accession to the European Union will be a positive factor in this.

“The intensification of relations with the EU, along with the need to modernise the distribution sector in Romania means a huge potential for the sale of heating pumps, of pumps supplying hot water, and for the waste water segment.

“Romania is therefore a very interesting market for pumps, especially on the heating segment, and Grundfos expects to take a sizable market share through the opening of its sales office,” the company representatives say.

catalin.lupoaie@zf.ro