Raal looks to domestic market

Raal Bistrita, a company that makes radiators for vehicles and various equipment, estimates turnover to grow to 23 million euros this year, from the 15 million euros in 2004. The Bistrita-based company has witnessed constant growth over the last few years, mainly due to the diversification of its markets, with clients now ranging from major Western, Japanese or US companies to smaller companies in the New Zeeland or Australia. “No client accounts for more than 15% of our turnover, so that we don’t risk having market policies imposed on us, especially when it comes to price,” Paul Ilies, Raal’s general manager told ZF Transilvania. A new section will be opened this year, which entailed an approximately 3 million euro investment and will drive the number of workers up from 780 to 900. Starting 2004, Raal SA has been opening branches in the countries where it already has a significant market share. It has completed the branch in Italy thus far, with the United States and Turkey coming next. The company intends to increase the share of its sales on the domestic market from 6% last year to 15% in 2005. “The decline of the euro and especially the dollar exchange rate is making us turn to the Romanian market. We are expecting orders from the country, chiefly for tractors and road construction equipment; we are already exporting radiators for such equipment,” marketing manager Clement Ivanescu stated. ZF