THE BUILDING OF SENSIRION’S FACTORY REACHED ITS HIGHEST POINT

The construction of the Swiss company Sensirion is progressing well in the Regional and Innovation Science and Technology Park of Debrecen. The two-storey, 5000-square-metre building, which is being constructed in the joint investment of Xanga Ventures Private Equity Fund Manager Ltd. and Szinorg Universal Asset Management Ltd., has reached its highest point. A topping off ceremony was held at the construction site, which members of the press were able follow online.

The manufacturing facility was completed by local companies

At the event, Lajos Barcsa, vice mayor of Debrecen, said that the arrival of Sensirion, a producer of digital microsensors and systems, signals that the development of Debrecen’s economy could not be stopped by the pandemic either. “Sensirion further strengthens the resilience of the economy of Debrecen, as their sensors are used in many areas from the health industry to the automotive industry,”  Mr. Barcsa said. He recalled that the city’s leadership decided more than 20 years ago that the foundations of Debrecen’s economy should be high value-added industries. “It was a good decision, because building on the knowledge base of the University of Debrecen, we provide jobs to students graduating here, while the companies in various industries can find a continuous supply of talents for their workforce. As a result, the university can further develop its infrastructure, and the government is supporting the continuous development of the Vocational Training Centre of Debrecen.”

At the event, Lajos Barcsa, vice mayor of Debrecen, said that the arrival of Sensirion, a producer of digital microsensors and systems, signals that the development of Debrecen’s economy could not be stopped by the pandemic either. “Sensirion further strengthens the resilience of the economy of Debrecen, as their sensors are used in many areas from the health industry to the automotive industry,”  Mr. Barcsa said. He recalled that the city’s leadership decided more than 20 years ago that the foundations of Debrecen’s economy should be high value-added industries. “It was a good decision, because building on the knowledge base of the University of Debrecen, we provide jobs to students graduating here, while the companies in various industries can find a continuous supply of talents for their workforce. As a result, the university can further develop its infrastructure, and the government is supporting the continuous development of the Vocational Training Centre of Debrecen.”

Significant interest in Debrecen and the region

As István Herdon, CEO of Xanga Group said, negotiations with Sensirion began more than a year ago, which has remained memorable because of the spring wave of the epidemic. He thanked the company for choosing Hungary, Debrecen, as well as the Science and Technology Park of Xanga.

Patrick Good, director of Sensirion Holding AG, welcomed the participants of the event in Hungarian. As he said, 203 days after the ground-breaking, we are celebrating the topping off of the building, which is an event of long tradition both in Switzerland and in Hungary. Its purpose is twofold: celebrating that the building shell has been finished, and the roof has been closed, and it is also an occasion to say thanks, specifically to the local government headed by Mayor Dr. Laszlo Papp, for the efficient processing of the building permitting process, to EDC for their long-lasting support, to Xanga, to the Board Architecture Studio, to the local consultant team, and also to HUNÉP.

A good example for creating new value

Szinorg Universal Zrt. is one of the co-investors of the project. One of the main activities of the company is asset management, and their motto is the creation of new value.

“We could not think of a better example for creating new value than this factory. Szinorg’s cooperation with Xanga Ventures Zrt. is not new, Gyula Szűcs, president and CEO of the company pointed out. He added: the Debrecen 2030 programme is a well-conceived plan for urban development and economic recovery, and it provides particularly good opportunities for Szinorg and Xanga. “We are happy to invest in industrial and logistics projects that provide an infrastructural background for companies that establish themselves in the region or in Debrecen,” Mr. Szűcs said. Szinorg is also active in other areas in Debrecen: they have ongoing developments in the hotel industry, as well as have projects for residential and office buildings.

50 employees expected by the end of the year

László Ábrahám, thanked all participants for their rapid work. According to the managing director of Sensirion Hungary Kft., the factory in Debrecen will greatly help the parent company. He added that by February the company will have hire two more new employees, but that they actually calculate with at least 50 employees by the end of the year. He emphasised that he is very pleased that Sensirion chose Debrecen, as graduates leaving vocational and higher education can find great jobs at the company.

After the speeches, the participants pressed a button simultaneously, which lifted the ceremonious bouquet to the highest point of the building.