Technological Initiative Pilsen

EvoBus opened a new production facility on Mar. 26, 2012 in Holýšov. The cost of construction was more than 5.4 million euros, and the construction itself took 12 months. Its area is 5,600 square meters. Representatives of TIP used this opportunity to present the association.

During the ceremony, Andreas Peter, director of the manufacturing and engineering associations EvoBus GmbH and Axel Stokinger, CEO of EvoBus Bohemia, handed over a symbolic key to the hall to the director of the factory in Holýšov, Reiner Springmeier. The ceremony was also attended by a representative of the city, the Mayor of Holýšov, Antonín Pazour.

At the same time, there was a presentation of examples of new technologies from Daimler AG, including the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro C2 city bus, electric drive transporter Mercedes-Benz eVito, new Actros tractor, Zetros off-road truck and personal vehicle S-Class with hybrid drive.

The fourth meeting took place at 11:30am on Mar. 8, 2012 in the Hotel Purkmistr, Pilsen. The meeting was organized by Mr. Karel Luňáček (CEO of MECAS ESI) and Mr. Pavel Majer (Managing Partner of GOLDRATT CZ).

The TIP meeting started with a presentation of both companies. MECAS ESI provides technical support and consultations for crash simulation tests, the field of passive safety, production processes of forming, casting, welding and heat treatment, as well as vibroacoustics example, flow and electromagnetic compatibility. GOLDRATT CZ delivers integrated projects aimed at increasing the profitability of the enterprise. For this purpose, the firm primarily uses Theory of Constraints methods (Theory of Constraints, TOC) and others. GOLDRATT CZ is part of a global collaboration of firms covered by Goldratt Consulting in Israel.

The presentation of MECAS ESI was also focused on R&D topics. The name of the presentation by GOLDRATT CZ was „Insights into Resource Management and Sharing“. The result of this presentation was a discussion about sharing resources between future members of TIP.

The third meeting of companies which are potential members of TIP took place at11:30am on Jan. 10, 2012 in Pilsen, and was organised by Mr. Jean Michel Condamin (CEO of Driessen Aerospace CZ).

Driessen is part of Zodiac Aerospace, a publicly traded company in the aviation industry with 80 production sites and more than 20,000 dedicated employees around the globe. Driessen specializes in designing, manufacturing, and marketing high quality galleys, galley equipment and cargo equipment.

The program for the meeting included a traditional factory tour. A presentation about Driessen Aerospace followed the tour. The next item on the agenda was a presentation about subsidy programs, the tendering process and the legal form of TIP.

The second meeting of TIP took place at 11:00am on Nov. 2, 2011 in Holýšov, and was organised by Mr. Johannes Heidecker (CFO of EvoBus Bohemia). Mr. Heidecker and Mr. Reiner Springmeier (CEO of EvoBus Bohemia) presented the EvoBus Group at the beginning of the meeting.

EvoBus Group is one of the world’s leading producers of Mercedes-Benz, Setra and Orion buses. EvoBus Bohemia(part of the EvoBus and Daimler Groups) is responsible for selling and servicing Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses in the Czech Republic. In addition, this business unit manufactures the chassis and basic structures for almost all Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses at its Holýšov factory in Pilsen region. EvoBus Bohemia CR employs more than 400 employees.

Participants in the meeting completed a factory tour. During the second part of the meeting, participants discussed common interests and areas of cooperation.

The first meeting of the top management of firms which play a leading role in the technology sector in the Pilsen region took place at 12:00pm on Sept. 30, 2011 in the Pilsen restaurant Golden Fisch, and was organised by Pavel Duchek. The CEO or CFO of Driessen Aerospace CZ s.r.o., MBtech Bohemia s.r.o., EvoBus Bohemia, s.r.o., ZF Engineering Plzeň s.r.o., SWA s.r.o., MECAS ESI s.r.o., GOLDRATT CZ, s.r.o., and Blue Projects Agency, s.r.o. all participated in this meeting.

The concept of a Business Cluster, a geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers, and associated institutions in a particular field was presented at the meeting. Clusters are thought to increase the productivity with which companies can compete, nationally and globally. Clusters are also very important aspects of strategic management.

All participants discussed the idea of cooperating in R&D, as well as resource and capacity sharing. The idea of gradually and mutually presenting factories and offices to other participants was also discussed. The working name of the group was approved:  TIP – Technological Initiative Pilsen.