Agenția pentru Dezvoltare Regională Nord-Est
Agenția pentru Dezvoltare Regională Nord-Est

Category: Regio Reporter EN

rr19
28Sep2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN SLIDER EN

From honey sachets to robots, with Regio support

28 September 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 19

From honey sachets to robots, with Regio support

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020

In a world of continuous evolution and change, where technology and innovation blend to reach unprecedented heights, individuals who not only adapt and keep up with the times but embrace them with enthusiasm stand out. Dacian Popa is an economist but an automation enthusiast at heart. He founded a company that provides automation solutions for technological processes using robots, primarily in the product packaging field. This is the story of Micropack Automatizări from Iași. With a recent project funded through the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Program, with a total value of 240k euros, of which 185k euros was non-repayable, Dacian believes that his company’s competitiveness has significantly increased. Now, he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with giants in the field of robot automation.

From packaging honey sachets to robots

In 2008, after working for other companies, Dacian felt he was ready to embark on the path of entrepreneurship. He imported a machine from China designed to perform a simple task: package honey in sachets, known as micro packaging. However, the machine didn’t work. While trying to fix it, he met his future business partner, an automation expert who helped him get the machine running. Both realized they had a knack for this and, most importantly, a passion for it. They became partners, opened a mechanical processing workshop, and began building new primary packaging machines. They realized that every product requires packaging: first comes primary packaging, followed by secondary packaging or boxing, and then tertiary packaging or palletizing. They could provide all of this to their customers with in-house machines. They successfully exploited this niche for ten years.

Ten years later, they received a larger contract for packaging that included a robot. This is when they were introduced to robotics. It was a turning point. „We believed this was the path for large-scale work. It was an important year, full of achievements. On the one hand, the numbers looked good. On the other hand, my partner didn’t want to embark on large-scale projects involving robots, as they come with risks. That’s when we decided to go our separate ways. We continue to collaborate in the same field, we remain friends, but we’re no longer business partners,” Dacian recalls.

Automating packaging processes

In 2019, Dacian returned to primary packaging for customers, but the idea of the previous year showed him the right direction. He started brainstorming and offering solutions to his customers, especially those in the food industry, to reconfigure existing technological routes through process automation. They aimed to propose automation solutions to companies and increase productivity without the need for more employees. „A robot won’t replace a dedicated machine but will enhance its capabilities. We let robots handle simple and repetitive tasks or tasks that can affect human health. Many times, automation cells protect people from tasks that could harm their health, such as repeated bending, heavy lifting, or working in uncomfortable environments like refrigerated storage or places with high temperatures. Equally important is the fact that intelligent automation solutions reduce the space used for different processes by half,” says Dacian Popa.

Significant partnership with a robot automation giant

In any industry, there are key players in the field of robots and automation. One of these names, Kuka, proposed a partnership in 2020. Kuka is an international automation conglomerate with a turnover of approximately 4 billion euros and around 15,000 employees. „One of the core verticals in robotics is packaging, and it turns out we are good at it. Our partnership with Kuka demonstrated that we excel at what we do. Among the five integrators in the country, we specialize in the automation of packaging processes,” Dacian says. So, Kuka provides the robots, while Micropack handles the automation for packaging and goods handling.

Software and hardware equipment through the 2014-2020 ROP

Because resources were limited but needs were unlimited, Dacian applied for a project to purchase innovative technology for designing and manufacturing machinery with non-repayable funding from the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Program. Among other things, he bought specialized software for designing, building, and virtually simulating manufacturing processes, integrating various equipment: an industrial robot for cutting tables, a laser beam for that robot, a CNC machine, a vision chamber with a safety laser system, and a 3D printer that he’s particularly proud of. „We have a major advantage. With the help of these funds, we’ve equipped ourselves with both software and hardware that will help us remain competitive in the future. The software for design has reduced our robot programming effort by 40%. We also have a vision chamber that provides coordinates to a robot to identify, locate, grip, and sort various products, and it can be used for eight cascading robots. The 3D printer we purchased didn’t even exist three years ago. We were visionary when we included it in the project. This printer can create airplane parts. It is used in U.S. military units. It fulfills my dream as an entrepreneur of many years: it tells me the cost and delivery time before pressing the button,” Dacian enthusiastically describes the equipment that greatly aids his business. He believes that without these funds, it would have been much more challenging, but they have opened many more doors and opportunities for him.

Waste sorting with robots and an ERP system

As for future plans, Dacian and his team dream of taking their waste sorting solution outside Romania. Even though the idea belongs to Canadians, he wants the automation solution to be his own. Sorting errors are common when collecting or storing recyclable materials, either due to user carelessness or lack of information. Robots can analyze and sort waste much faster than humans. By speeding up the sorting process of recyclable materials, the total amount of materials that can be efficiently recycled and reused is significantly increased. Additionally, as a future project, the company aims to digitize its operations with an ERP system. Of course, a solution for digitization is available through the „Digital Transformation of SMEs Focused on Increasing Digital Intensity” initiative in partnership with the World Bank.

He relies on Peter Drucker’s motto, which says, „The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Dacian works with big names in the food industry and leverages all of the company’s resources for these projects. He can transform manual packaging processes into robotic processes in any field and even offers rental solutions for robotic automation. At the moment, Micropack Automatizări has clients on a waiting list for the next 20-30 robots. He acknowledges that many entrepreneurs consider robotics more of an expense than an investment, but Dacian aims to prove that, in the long run, it’s a win, especially considering the acute labor shortage in the job market. He also notes, „Once you start working on automation, you find professional fulfillment. It’s like a bug. We’re never bored. We come to work as if it’s play.„.

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

 

 

2-1
31Aug2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN SLIDER EN

A business for our safety

31 August 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 18

A business for our safety

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020

It began as a family business in 2014, in their parent’s backyard, in a niche field: the production of chimney cap hats. Since then, they have implemented two European-funded projects from the 2014-2020 ROP (Regional Operational Program), surpassed a turnover of 3.5 million euros, and have become a significant name in the field of professional chimney systems with ceramic and stainless steel ducts, certified at the European Union level.

Răzvan Anăstăsoaie and Liviu Baltă, one from Bacău city and the other from Cluj city, met in their childhood at a camp and kept in touch over the years. Life brought them to the roles of in-laws, as their wives are sisters, and as partners in the company they founded together in Comănești city, AB Group Ceramics SRL. Under the name Kaminhorn, they set up a kind of garage in their parents’ yard and organized a small production line for concrete chimney cap hats.

From chimney accessories to ceramic chimneys

Răzvan came from the sales field in construction materials, and in his last job, he sold chimneys and ventilation components. Customers from all over the country were asking for chimney accessories, the cap hats. There was demand, but not much supply. There were only two products on the market. This is where the idea of a business came to life. They copied an existing model, developed it, and took it to another level. In a few months, they certified the product, and within a year, the chimney cap hat made in Comănești was on sale in major DIY stores nationwide. „In 2015, we realized that this part of the business is quite a small niche. We weren’t making huge figures. In the first year, we had a turnover of 50,000 euros. It was little. We thought about how to develop further. We had two options: to make only concrete elements like blocks, pavers, and curbstones, or to make the entire system of professional chimney caps. The latter idea appealed to us much more. When we researched it more, we realized that a chimney cap is the most sensitive part of a home. And by doing what we do, we secure our customers’ homes. In 2016, we started producing ceramic chimneys, and we are the only Romanian brand of ceramic chimneys. Our competition includes multinational companies from Europe,” says Răzvan Anăstăsoaie.

The first European project

The need for development, production capacity expansion, and product diversification led to the first European-funded project in 2017. They obtained 160,000 euros in non-refundable funds, which were invested in state-of-the-art equipment that helped them grow, Răzvan says. „It was our first experience with European funds, and it helped us increase our production capacity. In the beginning, everyone told us we wouldn’t get any funds. But we had a goal, and we pursued it. We didn’t let others influence us. One of the keys to success is not giving up. We made a plan, we knew what we wanted, and we felt that this was what we wanted to do. Beyond all the financial benefits that a business brings, there is also the fulfillment of the purpose you have in life, professionally speaking. Entrepreneurship involves an aspect of intuition, and we felt that this was right,” says Răzvan. In 2019, they also started producing stainless steel chimney caps.

The second project

At the beginning of 2020, the second project followed through the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Program, with a total value of 4.4 million Romanian Lei, including 2.6 million Lei in non-refundable financial assistance. This project started more slowly due to the pandemic and its implications: long response or equipment production times. For example, equipment initially designed for an 8-10-week production timeframe took 200 working days. However, the project was successfully completed this year in June and focused on diversifying production and products. They turned to a future trend they noticed at international fairs they attended: building ventilation. Malls, restaurants, and large buildings require ventilation systems to remove stale air and introduce fresh air. „In Romania, there is a more developed market for restaurants, but it is developed with galvanized steel ducts, while we work with stainless steel. Abroad, only stainless steel is used. Here, we saw an opportunity to diversify the product range through a large-value project. We thought it would be better to dream and think big, with high values,” says Răzvan.

 

The only Romanian producer exhibiting at the Verona Fair

Last year, through the project, Kaminhorn participated in the largest industry fair in Verona, Progetto Fuoco, which brings together the most important heating system manufacturers. Out of 800 participants, Kaminhorn was the only Romanian producer to exhibit. They received many inquiries at the fair, including from Uruguay, and realized that participating in such large-scale fairs gives them confidence that they are doing the right thing. Even though not all equipment had reached the ventilation production line, they stayed in touch with customers and resumed discussions recently when the line was complete. Răzvan and Liviu pledged to participate in such fairs at every opportunity because they provide valuable information and high visibility.

Shared values have formed a team

The two brothers-in-law say they rely heavily on the team they have built. They have 40 employees in all departments, and in recent years, they have managed to attract high-quality individuals from various cities across the country with experience, who inspire and encourage others to flourish. They are motivated, bring forth ideas that develop the company, and energize those around them. These people share the same vision and believe in growth and evolution. At the same time, their partnership, built on shared values, bears fruit and brings them fulfillment and growth. „If you start a journey with the sole idea of making money, you start alone. If you start with the idea of developing something, you can’t help but attract others. In our case, we are two partners, but we have also selected 3-4 people from the company into a top management group that we involve in decision-making and from whom we listen to ideas. A well-done business with integrity and trust offers the opportunity to build a relationship with someone. We have traveled across Europe together, attended fairs, taken our families with us wherever we went, and spent time together. Our business has enabled us to create memories together that have developed our relationship,” says Răzvan Anăstăsoaie.

Kaminhorn currently holds around 10% of the market share in Romania’s chimney cap market. The turnover has visibly increased each year, from 50,000 euros to 3.5 million euros, an evolution that would not have been possible without the two European-funded projects through ROP, says Răzvan. They opened a showroom in Cluj at the end of last year, and this year, one in Bucharest. Their goal is to start selling in Western Europe and expand to another continent within three years. They already have a direction for the future: automated lines with robots. „Since we submitted this project, we started thinking about the next one. The project that was just completed was designed for this location, but we realized that we needed more space. Regarding equipment, we already know what we need to move to the next level. What is the next level? A project of 2-3 million euros. We know the manufacturers; we’ve been to see them, and we know what robots and automated lines entail. Our competition from Poland, France, and Ukraine is already operating at this level. If we want to reach that level and cover a market share in Europe or other regions, this is the level of investment required. Probably the next project will be at a minimum of 2 million euros. We are always looking for projects because, in production, you need continuous improvement to maintain high expectations,” says Răzvan.

 

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

 

modelele-proprii_
31Jul2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN

Evolution in the footwear industry with REGIO support

31 July 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 17

Evolution in the footwear industry with REGIO support

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

In Vicovu de Sus, a town renowned nationally for its tradition of producing high-quality leather footwear, it is said that „if there’s a house where nobody makes shoes, you can be sure that in the second house, at least two people are skilled shoemakers„. This craft has been passed from generation to generation, and the techniques have been perfected with the help of technology over time.

Ady Star Shoes SRL is a footwear manufacturer and was among the first companies in Vicovu de Sus City to receive funding through the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Program (ROP) for the purchase of machinery. Today, the company enjoys success with two projects, one completed and one in progress. But it doesn’t stop here. There are two more projects planned: one on circular economy and another for the digitalization of the company. Thanks to European funding, Ady Star Shoes SRL invested in innovation, technology, and product development, managing to expand its production capacity and improve product quality. They have shifted from custom-based production to serial production, signifying a tremendous evolution for a small company. The two REGIO projects have a total value of 1,8 million euros, with non-reimbursable financial assistance of 1,1 million euros.

The craft has been passed down from one apprentice to another

The art of shoemaking in Vicovu de Sus started, it is said, with one person who knew this craft in the 1980s. This master became a true mentor to his apprentices, who learned alongside him for a year, gaining the knowledge and skills needed to become shoemakers themselves. After completing their apprenticeships, they would open their workshops and, in turn, become mentors to other apprentices, thus passing down the tradition from generation to generation. The production of leather footwear became an important phenomenon in Vicov at that time, flourishing and gaining respect in the community. Before the 2008 economic crisis, there were around 200 specialized firms in this industry registered with the municipality. After the crisis, the industry suffered a decline, and only about 50 firms managed to survive. Even so, at present, this cozy town in the Bucovina region produces around 8 thousand pairs of footwear per day.

Production, sales, and production again

Gheorghe, or George, as his friends call him, Ciubotar, was an apprentice in the 1990s. He learned the craft and then opened his workshop at home, like everyone else. He handmade shoes and sold them in markets and fairs. Despite his name, Ciubotar (shoemaker) laughs and says that nobody in his family was a shoemaker, and he did not inherit the trade. He was the first to practice this craft. After completing his military service, he took a break from production and shifted toward distribution. „I sold footwear in our bazaar in Suceava. I enjoyed it and liked it. At that time, many of those who produced didn’t know how to sell, and those who sold didn’t know how to produce. I had this advantage. A distributor would collect from 4-5 local producers and sell further. It was a profitable business. Now, I have my distribution network”, George says. He became an associate and administrator of Ady Star Shoes last year, transitioning from a distributor’s position. He had been closely associated with the company and was actively involved in the production process since its establishment in 2015.

The first REGIO project

In 2018, the first project for advanced technology equipment for Ady Star Shoes was approved, with non-reimbursable funding of 178k thousand euros. „The company was quite small at that time. After the project was implemented, a significant difference was seen in both quality and quantity. Two machines were the main components: one for toe lasting and one for heel lasting, that’s what they’re called. After the machines arrived and the Italian manufacturer set them up, production increased from 20-30 pairs per day to 40-50 pairs per day. But, more importantly, we started to have serial production. Previously, production was based on orders received from distributors. After acquiring these machines, production became linear, with a constant flow and quality. The difference between custom-based production and serial production is a colossal step for any small company. We also saved a lot of time. What used to take half an hour, we can now do with the machines in 3-4 minutes. We needed these machines, and they helped us a lot”, says George Ciubotar.

Courage for the second project

Because the first project was completed in six months and went smoothly, George Ciubotar gained the courage to apply for a second project to expand production capacity. With the help of the consultant with whom he collaborated successfully for the first project, he planned a new hall with a 100% technologized production flow with the funding of the second project. A new space was needed due to increased capacity, along with the acquisition of new and efficient machinery. This second project has a total value of 1.5 million euros and is set to be completed by the end of the year. While the first investment ensured 75% technologized flow, with the remaining 25% still done manually, the second REGIO investment will achieve 100% technologized flow.

Care for employees and the environment: working with water-based latex

The second project includes a high-performance machine for applying heels, allowing the company to expand into the field of elegant footwear. A digital cutting table will eliminate the need for stamps and knives used currently, minimizing losses. Additionally, machines that work with water-based latex will be acquired. This is crucial for the environment, as the adhesives used in this industry are very toxic and harmful to the environment. „Using water-based latex has allowed us to be more mindful of the health and safety of our employees, as it poses fewer health risks compared to toxic adhesives. The value of the latex application machine is not very high, but the impact on the environment and health is colossal. At the same time, latex protects the interior of the leather from water. There are several benefits. Transitioning to working with water-based latex allowed us to adapt and stay in line with new industry trends, demonstrating that we can evolve and grow responsibly without compromising the quality of our products” says George. With the new project, Ady Star Shoes aims to reach a target production of over 100 pairs per day, and the new building has been designed accordingly.

       

Two more projects on the horizon

„If we complete this second project, we won’t stop there. I have great courage”, says George Ciubotar. His next goal is towards circular economy practices. Leather waste is challenging to recycle; it usually needs to be incinerated. With the help of high-performance machinery, losses from leather pieces are reduced, but they still exist. George and his consultant have ingeniously planned a recycling project. They believe it’s a waste that these leather pieces cannot be repurposed for other uses.

Furthermore, since there are funds available for digitalization, George wants to acquire some expensive footwear design applications. Currently, the design is done by an engineer. He creates the patterns, and the salesperson presents them to customers who then place orders according to their preferences. For inspiration, they also look at designs online. However, having some applications would be extremely helpful. Additionally, he aims to acquire a 3D scanner for shoe lasts, management, HR, accounting, and distribution applications. All of these would lead to the growth and expansion of the company—with the help of European funds and a touch of courage.

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

20230622_144330
29Jun2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN SLIDER EN

Wood essence extracted with REGIO funding

29 June 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 16

Wood essence extracted with REGIO funding

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

What do modeling, wine, and wood have in common? Apparently, nothing. However, these three elements tell the story of a business that has overcome the challenges of time and production with the help of substantial European financial support. The Olariu spouses, Gabriel and Laura, founded Dias Wood SRL in Botoșani City nearly 14 years ago, focusing on wood processing. With one million euros in funding from the North-East Regional Operational Program 2014-2020, Dias Wood’s operations were fully technologized through the acquired machinery. Now, the Olariu couple eagerly awaits new calls dedicated to SMEs because, as they say, „European funds are addictive.„

Modeling and Wine

After finishing high school, Laura went to Greece to work and save money for her studies. She wanted to attend college in London, but her calculations didn’t align with reality. Initially, she did modeling in Greece, then got a job at a luxury restaurant, and later enrolled at the Faculty of Economics in Athens. Juggling modeling, studies, and waitressing became exhausting, so she left the restaurant and joined a small consulting firm specialized in European funds. She worked on projects for startups, and one of her clients became interested in Romania and the business opportunities there. Although Laura showed him several places during a visit to Romania, he didn’t invest. However, the idea of starting a business got into Laura’s mind. „During that time, I visited many vineyards. I knew a bit about the industry because, at the restaurant, I held the position of sommelier. I thought we could try it out. Initially, we wanted to import bottled wine, but we learned from industry insiders that we had no chance. Instead, there was an uncovered market segment: bulk red wine imports. Soon after, we started our own business, with storage space and tanks. We packaged the wine in boxes and sold it to taverns and local wine producers. It was a beautiful business, dealing with wonderful people, family-run businesses. It was different. Until… it ended! By law, bulk wine imports from non-EU countries were prohibited„, Laura recalls.

Wood

The moment they had to close the wine business coincided with a customer’s request for oak barrels from Romania to age wine. Barrique as French barrels for this purpose are called, were very expensive. „Back then, we imported oak barrels from Romania, and the customer loved them. He said we had great wood. After the barrels, he asked for lumber. That’s how we shifted towards a wood-related business„, Laura explains. They tried to trade wood in Greece, but it didn’t go as planned. Gabriel would come to Romania for acquisitions, and Laura handled sales in Greece. While there was demand, they struggled with the acquisitions – delays, insufficient quality, and other issues. So, they decided to come together to Romania and attempt to open a factory. Initially, they processed wood at another company’s facility, learning the industry and saving some money. Eventually, they rented a space and acquired a few second-hand machines. They stayed there, paying rent, for 15 years. „That’s how we started, in 2005, with primary wood processing. We didn’t know what we were getting into, we had no idea what production meant in Romania. The first company we had went bankrupt in three years, in 2008. We opened another one in 2009, which is the current one. This field is very challenging. Wood is difficult. If you don’t have technology, you need people, and back then, we lacked technology. We depended on people. We adapted, but it was very hard. We got into the rhythm, we had loans, we played the game. Gradually, we gained important knowledge„, Laura shares. Today, Dias Wood SRL supplies engineered flooring and solid wood flooring to the domestic market and veneer for the international market.

European funding

The first project, submitted in 2010, was a small one, Laura says, with funding of around 300k euros. Everything went well, and the project implementation was successful. They then prepared for other funding opportunities through the new North-East Regional Operational Program 2014-2020. To avoid paying rent, they wanted to change the location and bought land in a neighboring commune of Botoșani. „When the guide was published, we saw that the location had to be in an urban area. We struggled a lot to find the place where we are now, and it came with many hardships. It was the edge of town, nothing was there, no utilities, nothing. We bought the land, then got a loan through the IMM Invest program for the factory’s construction, and after obtaining the building permit, we finished the factory in three months. We started construction in September, and it was completed in December. It was a titanic effort, but we managed to change our location”, Laura recalls.

Since they started wood processing, the Olariu couple had been eager to work with a specific client from Switzerland. However, they never met the required technical standards. After installing the first three machines out of the 15 acquired through the North-East Regional Operational Program 2014-2020, they began working with that Swiss client in 2019. „In our field, we deal with millimeters. We produce veneer for multilayer wood flooring, which is a bit niche. With the newly acquired machines, our cutting became more precise. We needed to achieve a maximum deviation of 0.05 millimeters”, Laura explains.

The lottery win

In 2021, they started production at the new location after the year of 2020 with no activity due to the relocation. It was financially challenging, with the move and the pandemic. Laura remembers they didn’t even have money for fuel. Unexpected help came on a Sunday when they won like 15k euros in the lottery. However, they couldn’t even rejoice over it because the money vanished so quickly. In the meantime, the Swiss client they maintained close ties with and who showed them trust provided an advance payment to start the operations. „When we were learning to use the machines, we wasted a lot of wood. We learned bit by bit. When there was no technology, it was physically hard. Now it’s different; it’s a challenge, and you don’t have time to get bored. The nice part is that technology saves a lot of effort. Furthermore, all the new machines are connected to the internet, and technicians anywhere in Europe can guide us on problem-solving” Laura says.

The Olariu couple believes that Dias Wood SRL has evolved significantly with the technological upgrades made through European funds and eagerly awaits the next funding opportunity. Besides the technological upgrades, the company also purchased a thermal plant that uses wood chips from production as fuel, providing the necessary thermal agent for operating the wood dryers and heating the production hall. „We didn’t inherit anything from our parents; we didn’t steal anything. European funds are our only chance to thrive. Each machine costs at least as much as an apartment. Where would we get the money? With this funding, we hit the jackpot. Once you receive funds, it becomes part of you, addictive, and I’m already thinking about all the things we could buy with the next funding. Now, with all this experience behind us, it’s an opportunity we can’t miss”.

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

kaboom-42
29May2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN SLIDER EN

Playground in Suceava City: a project with big ambitions for the joy of the little ones

29 May 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 15

Playground in Suceava City: a project with big ambitions for the joy of the little ones

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

A family business from Suceava, with a tradition in the Horeca field, has expanded through the North-East Regional Operational Program 2014-2020, with a project worth 1,6 million euros, of which 870k euros is non-repayable. Together with his sister, Alexandru Filipciuc continues this family business, nurtured over time by their father, and together they manage a complex consisting of restaurant areas, accommodation, and event spaces in Suceava. The idea of a unique and comprehensive playground, dedicated to families who come to spend quality time together, emerged a few years ago, and they decided to materialize it with the help of European funds.

The need for a children's playground

As the father of two boys aged 4 and 8, Alexandru felt the need for a dedicated space for children to play. Since the complex already had an available sports field with an area of 1400 square meters, Alexandru and his sister thought of utilizing it to build a children’s playground. But not just any playground, they envisioned an attractive, versatile, and age-appropriate play area. „The need for a children’s playground is constant and evident. We already had a space for children in the summer garden, but it was somehow seasonal and opened only during the summer. Parents would stay on the terrace while the children played. We decided to create a permanent open space, a generous playground with various attractions for all age groups. Having this available space, we believed there was enough room for kids to feel comfortable. We planned the project around 2019 and realized that we wanted something extraordinary and ambitious, so we turned to European funds. We submitted the project, and we were extremely happy when we won. It was our first experience of this kind, and from our point of view, things have gone very well so far„, recalls Alexandru Filipciuc. Thus, Kaboom Kids World opened its doors in Suceava in January of this year.

Interior Design by Internationally Renowned Company

Although the interior design was not budgeted for in the project funded through the North-East Regional Operational Program 2014-2020, Alexandru and his sister hired an internationally renowned playground design company from Bulgaria. They chose to work with experts in the field because they wanted the result to be spectacular. „In Suceava, there was no space of this size, with this much surface area, attractions, and complexity. We wanted it to be different, and so our proposals aligned with the ideas of the designers, resulting in climbing walls, trampolines, a three-level modular slide with an area of 300 square meters, games that stimulate competitiveness, games with rewards, Lego zones, creative and drawing areas. There is also mini-bowling, virtual reality machines, and a special area for children under 3 years old. We wanted to create attractions for a wider range of ages. Some machines can also be used by adults since they technically support up to 140 kg,” smiles Alexandru.

A technologically advanced and inclusive Playground

Within the project funded through the North-East Regional Operational Program, 35 recreational and fun equipment pieces for children were acquired. The funding also covered the heating and air conditioning system, sound system, furniture, IT equipment, and licenses, as well as video surveillance, detection, and alarm equipment. „We tried to automate everything related to our activities. We have counting software for all the attractions; each machine has a reader, and the child comes with either a card or a bracelet, scans it, and enters the respective attraction. The cards have a certain number of points, depending on their value. We tried to create packages for everyone. Moreover, this entire space is adapted for children with disabilities„, adds Alexandru.

   

Kaboom Kids World has a capacity of 200 people, and the attractions are dedicated to children aged up to 15 years old. The concept is carefully thought out, from the recreational area to the zones for private parties and dining areas. Children can stay active and develop their skills and talents as they please, through games and new experiences. „It is a beautiful business, filled with children, parents, and joy. We know that Suceava is not as big as Bucharest, Timișoara, or Iași, but the children here also deserve a beautiful place to have fun. My kids would sleep here if they could, especially the older one. We all wish for our children to have a better childhood than we had„, says Alexandru Filipciuc.

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

 

1
04May2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN SLIDER EN

A two-wheeled-business accelerated at REGIO speed

4 May 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 14

A two-wheeled-business accelerated at REGIO speed

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

The business idea came through college, somewhere in 2007, when entrepreneurship seemed attractive from a student position, and the need for money was very much alive. Passionate about everything that means two wheels, Ovidiu Teofănescu sought to combine passion with entrepreneurship and do something different and new on the market. He is from Piatra Neamț City, graduated from the Faculty of Tourism in Bucharest, and sells, through BizzOnWheels.com, mobility solutions on two wheels: commercial bikes and advertising trailers, all over the world. The production is made in Neamț County, with Romanian materials, and the financing obtained through the 2014-2020 ROP helped the business to increase its production capacity by 500% thanks to the purchased equipment.

An untapped niche in Romania

Searching for business ideas, he found some advertising four-wheeled bicycles on the Internet somewhere in Belgium. That’s when he realized that a bicycle can also perform commercial tasks, not just recreational ones. He created a prototype bicycle with an attached billboard and set up an advertising agency to sell the idea of ​​mobile advertising. „The agency was not successful because I did not insist on it too much, it was difficult to divide school and fun and business at that age. But the idea stayed in my mind and worked continuously as a challenge. Because I’ve always loved bikes, motorcycles and I’m passionate about everything that means two wheels, at the end of college I decided to go ahead and put the idea into practice. At that time, I couldn’t find a correspondent in the market, someone who could do that„, Ovidiu recounts.

Street Food & Food Carts

In 2011, he materialized the idea into a product through the „bici” advertising trailer or AdBicy. It was mobile advertising with some utility bike trailers. He promoted it and slowly the money started to come in as well. From that moment, he reinvested all the money and with the profit from the sales, he started to develop the concept. „Our mission is to help companies and small entrepreneurs. Initially, we thought the target audience was young entrepreneurs starting small businesses, but now we sell to large companies and resorts. In general, we help companies get where their customers need them and can’t get there otherwise. You can exploit any small space, for example in a park, where there are people and they would need ice cream, a coffee, the activity can be carried out in just two square meters. Commercial carts are used in spaces where you can’t make a fixed point of sale, and you can’t enter with a car either. The bicycle creates a new opportunity. That’s how the idea of ​​the mobile store on a bicycle was born, some mobile carts towed by bicycle that can be used in two ways, you push them or pull them„. Bizz on Wheels essentially makes utility bike carts. With these, commercial activities of street sales of ice cream, coffee, barbecue, hot dogs, and street food can be carried out. These carts, depending on the equipment, can be powered by gas or electricity, and some of them are completely energy independent. Sustainability is enhanced by the solar panels and electrical system kits that come with them. „This is how we understand to contribute to the preservation of our planet,” says Ovidiu.

       

 

Street commerce, a super business in other countries

99% of sales are exported, mainly to the USA, but also to 80 other countries around the world. Abroad, this type of street trade is very well developed, with allocated spaces, with annual authorizations. In Romania, Bizz On Wheels sells very few bikes, and not because there is no demand, but because authorizations are very difficult to obtain. Legislation is not very well established in this segment, yet, but authorizations for this type of trade can be obtained during events, festivals, or fairs that have gained success in recent years. „Since we started and until now, things have changed, we also started selling in Romania, but a little, let’s say 1%. Abroad, things are different. In New York it’s a super business, they haven’t eliminated the small street vendors. An authorization in Central Park can reach 400 thousand dollars a year, which means that there is profit. Here, there is only the events market where this kind of business can be done, a market that has developed a lot in recent years„.

Laser technology by REGIO

Ovidiu tells that this business developed very hard. It took a long time, from the first product to the designed Bizz on Wheels, which includes a complex range. „It is very difficult to do both production and sale. They are two completely different activities. Production consumes a lot of resources. We do something for a very small niche, we haven’t reached volumes. An ad trailer cart isn’t for everyone. The market is small, growing but slowly. We promote ourselves at international fairs, but mostly online. We are a business that could not exist without the Internet. I tried to make it grow, but I realize that if that had happened, I wouldn’t have had the ability to produce them.”

In 2019, while he was at a bicycle fair, he came into contact with a consulting firm from Bucharest that told him about the advantage of European funds and how they could help him in production. It seemed like a game to him, he didn’t think for a second that he would have any chance of getting European money, but the project was accepted for financing, and from that moment the game turned into something serious. “The laser cutting machine helped us move from artisanal production to mass production. It allows us to scale and produce a larger number, faster and at a much better quality. It’s micron precision. For mass and series products, it is mandatory to use high-performance machines. This is where the funds helped us enormously. This machine helped us to standardize. We were blocked for a very long time. Even if we had larger orders, we wouldn’t have been able to honor them because we were mostly making them custom. The client told us what he wanted, we made it by hand, it was possible. But the capacity for growth was also very limited. Working manually, the production time was long. At one point, we had about 25 people employed with a fairly small turnover. It was not good„. The machine changed the future outlook for production, standardized the products, and now they are becoming multifunctional, and adaptable. Now, the customer can equip his cart himself, according to his needs, depending on the type of trade he carries out. In this way, the production time decreased a lot and the capacity increased 5 times per shift, with the same people.

``Now we can easily double our turnover with this machine``

The Bizz on Wheels business has had a turnover growth of 30% naturally, every year, since the establishment of the company, but now, with this technology, Ovidiu estimates that it will be much higher. „Production capacity has increased by 500%. The focus will shift to sales now. With this equipment, we solved our biggest problem: production. To scale, we would have needed more people. Now, people only do the assembly, handling, or packaging part, not production”, says Ovidiu Teofănescu. He also tells us that the objective of the business was not the financial part. He considers himself attached to the products and the creative side. “Bizz on Wheels is a living thing. I still see it as a manifestation of me. I fed on the creative side and got emotionally attached to the products because production gives you the advantage of being unique. It’s just that when we talk about business, the magic of entrepreneurship must also materialize in money. All the money that came into the business, I reinvested it in the business as well. And now we can easily double our turnover with this machine. We started the year really well on the sales side. It feels good. The European funds helped me advance at least 5 years in the evolution of the company„.

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

 

1
31Mar2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN

A business back on its feet with the help of REGIO

31 March 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 13

A business back on its feet with the help of REGIO

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

„We move on!” These words have become a motto over time for the main character of this episode’s success story. At 65 years old, he has a lot of energy, he is a recent graduate of the theology faculty and believes that you have to train your brain continues to not lose it. Cornel Iftime founded Dimold Impex SRL, with his wife, 25 years ago, in Bacău City and wanted to do manufacturing. He chose the manufacturing of shoe accessories because it was closer to their first job and soul. With the help of a non-refundable financing of 200k euros from the 2014-2020 ROP, he managed the personnel crisis he was facing and managed to respond favorably to the orders received, acquiring 4 state-of-the-art pieces of equipment in the field of footwear components.

Lack of labor and the need for technology

Engineers by profession – his wife in the tannery at the former Partizanul shoe factory in Bacău, and he, a mechanical engineer in the field of machinery – decided in `98 to start a shoe accessory production workshop on their own: insoles, cleats, and more. Today, they collaborate with shoe factories from all over the region of Moldova, but their biggest customers come from Italy. „We started working with an Italian for a large company about 10 years ago. For two years they only sent us trial orders, until we gained their trust. They work with a big name in this industry in Germany, a company that makes over a million pairs of shoes per season. A season, in the footwear industry, means about 5 months of work in a year, for the next season. We, for example, work with them for the winter season, the summer season being partially covered internally„, explains Cornel Iftime. This customer from Italy prefers accessories to be made by hand, with people. Satisfied with the quality he received, after a while he began to increase the number of orders. This was a problem for the Iftime`s because the labor market in Moldova was quite unstable and no people were willing to work. They had jobs listed at the County Employment Agency in Bacău for many years, but those who came did so only to obtain a denial of work. None came to work. „Many of my friends, who have shoe factories, asked me why I don`t get European funding. They were taking funds and I was actually helping them choose their machines. At the time, I didn’t want to because the Italian company I had been working with for so long insisted we do the work manually. They thought that with the automatic machines was a higher risk of mistakes. Mistakes that can`t be seen, a whole batch of shoes can be compromised, and the damage are enormous. But as they asked me to increase production, to offer them more, I told them that without automatic machines I cannot respond to their orders because there are no more people to work with. 6, 7 women worked for two thousand pairs a day, and the orders were for 3-4 thousand pairs a day. That was the moment when I asked him if I can work with machines„, Cornel Iftime recounts.

``If a house has a foundation, a shoe has an insole``

So, two years ago, they decided it was time to go to the next level with the help of European funds. They submitted a project and purchased 4 high-performance machines and heat pumps. If they used iron knives to cut the insoles, now they use the automatic machine and they have almost doubled the production in a working day with fewer people. „For a shoe model, with the whole range of numbers, you need 16 knives of special steel, knives that cost money. Last year we scrapped 10 tons of knives because every year we used over a thousand knives to cut. Now we only work like this if we have a small order. We now have a machine that cuts automatically. We needed 10-12 people to place the blade very precisely. Now the machine does it. The third machine is for mounting the insoles. The automatic stamping machine is also very useful. 15 people work for us now, in manufacturing. Before, more than 20 people were needed. It helps us a lot.„

Automation of production flow

The operations performed by the purchased equipment are highly precise, and with its help, any human error is eliminated. If, for example, the metal glen is not placed in a technically well-defined position, then in a high-heeled shoe the heel will step in a different direction. Or, if other parts do not overlap perfectly, the leather will suffer internal stresses in the structure and the shoe will come out crooked. Even if the Italians demanded for a long time that the accessories should be made by hand, now they are convinced that the technology is also good, and they can make a big order with no risk that the order cannot be honored.

And the heat pumps purchased through the project brought a real benefit to the accessories workshop. „I recommend them to anyone. Now, with heat pumps, we pay about 60% of the amount of wood we would have paid in a month. Someone came to make the fire early in the morning and it took a long time to heat up before, and now it heats up in 15 minutes after I press the button. These types of equipment and heat pumps are the best things„, says Cornel Iftime, smiling.

``Funding helps us survive``

They already have a lot of work for the upcoming season and, for the first time, the Iftime`s are not afraid that they will not be able to honor the incoming orders. „You won’t see a sudden increase in turnover now, with this financing. These machines help us survive. Maybe we will rise a little, having continuity in the work. This year we will see what happens. This is how we have oscillated so far, between minus and plus. We have some very cheap semi-finished products, 0.4 euro. If I propose a price increase of 0.42 euros, the customer will find another supplier. And there’s something else, if we have less than a thousand pairs a day, we’re at a loss, at all costs, we end up below zero. If it’s over a thousand, we also start to earn a little, because that’s how you earn in the shoe accessories industry. And with all that, I say it will be fine. By the end of this year, maybe the gain will explode. Now we have something to produce, we have these machines that we are very proud of„.

``Thanks to this funding, we are moving forward``

For 20 years, Cornel Iftime has been going to international trade fairs and keeping up to date with all the news in the field. He’s already made a name in this business, but he hopes others will get to know him, especially now that he can handle bigger orders. „Until now, I was afraid to tell them how much I can produce per day. I told them that I can’t do more than that. But now I’m not afraid anymore. It is very important to respect the delivery times when you pick up an order. If you are not looking to modernize production, raise the level of the product, and be able to answer a customer’s question about whether or not you can increase the number of products delivered, you will not survive. Thanks to this funding, we are moving forward. Otherwise, we were limiting ourselves or maybe, slowly, going down. If we don’t modernize, we stop. If you limit yourself to what you know and learned a long time ago, you have no chance. You have to come up with the latest technique„.

Student at 60 years old

Although he finished college in the 80s, Cornel Iftime felt the need for a new challenge at 60 years old. He wanted to study for a doctorate in his field, but somehow life directed him to theology. He had some questions, he was looking for answers and wanted to study further. „Study keeps you going, keeps you alive. You don’t know how good studying is at 60. From a certain age, you start to forget, and the untrained brain dies. In the first session, I cried. I wanted to quit about 20 times during the 4 years of college, but my family always encouraged me to keep going. And I studied like never. I was a grandfather to my college mates. I started the Faculty of Theology in Iași, I did it day by day, I also stayed in the student dorm 3 nights a week, last year I got my license and took the oath at the Cathedral. I didn’t go to college for a degree, and although I’m proud of it, I want to understand some things. After I finished college, I found the answer to my questions, but a thousand more questions arose. So… we move on, both with school and with production, we don’t stop„. Or, as we would say, the journey continues!

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

1-2
27Feb2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN

Entrepreneurial spirit packaged in a business for the future

27 February 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 13

Entrepreneurial spirit packaged in a business for the future

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

He saw Iasi city as an exotic adventure, from the desire to try something new as a young high school graduate from Craiova city. He preferred to go to college away from home and try his luck in entrepreneurship since he was a student. Now, Tiberiu Stoian runs Exonia Holding, a company that he founded in 2003, which produces biodegradable paper packaging, a company that benefited from a non-refundable 2014-2020 ROP financing of almost one million euros. He sees entrepreneurship as an electrocardiogram, with ups and downs, and the funding obtained through Regio has given him an increase in productivity and turnover that he only hoped for a few years ago.

A business started in the student dormitory

An Oltenian in the capital of Moldova, as he likes to say, Tiberiu Stoian wanted to be a mini-explorer after finishing high school and chose Iași city also out of a desire to prove that he can manage far from home. Because he didn’t want to accept money from his parents during college, he decided to get a job. He tried several jobs, not necessarily spectacular, then started working with one of the greatest food and alcohol distribution companies in the area, where he had a lot to learn. At the moment when the shareholders of that company decided to exit the Romanian market due to legislative instability, Tiberiu had to make his first important decision: to accept a position within some companies that had been his clients or to start a self-employed activity. „Back then it wasn’t really easy to start a business, especially since it overlapped with my financial situation, which wasn’t great. However, I decided to give it a try. I was in my second year of college and wanted to try something in the IT distribution area. With the money I saved, I managed to buy a good computer, and a printer”. Because he wanted to recover at least part of the costs of this first investment, Tiberiu started to do technical editing and listing services of the diploma theses of his older colleagues. This business was doing great and he recruited a few more dorm mates to whom he outsourced some of the work he couldn’t seem to finish. After 3 weeks, the idea of ​​bankruptcy sprouted for the first time: a new cartridge costs as much as a printer. „I learned my first lesson then, as a beginner entrepreneur: that you always have to analyze all your costs very carefully”, recalls Tiberiu. But he discovered, in a short time, at a profile fair in Bucharest, a manufacturer from South Korea who had invented some kits for refilling printer cartridges. That was a business saver. He refilled them, then invested in a banner that he hung on the window of the dorm room for the visibility of the services he offered, and 3 years later, Tiberiu ended up owning a network of 17 office supplies stores in as many counties. He was now a national distributor of computers, printers, and copying systems.

A good marketing idea: personalized bags

Tiberiu Stoian wanted to offer personalized bags to all the clients that bought from his stores, 50 thousand bags, that’s about how many he used then. If they had been personalized and used in 17 counties, they would have represented an impactful and fairly cheap way of advertising. He started looking for suppliers to put his ads on the bags. He found a local supplier, but the quality was low. Then he found a supplier in Italy, but because Romania was not a member of the European Union back then, a shipment could take up to a month. So he turned to another supplier, this time from Turkey, a country with better transport relations. The effect of the personalized bags was quickly seen so that some of the customers wanted to have such bags as well. And they asked Tiberiu for more bags. This time, for them. “After seeing this kind of request, I thought it was a good opportunity, especially since I knew how complicated it is to find a good supplier. Therefore, in 2003, we founded Exonia, the current Exonia packaging factory, which at the time was called Reklama Shop. Later, I decided that this area of ​​personalized packaging is a big area, which is why I no longer need to diversify and sell all kinds of other promotional materials„, says the entrepreneur.

From plastic to paper was just a project through ROP

In 2010, he bought a company from Iași that produced packaging and all the machinery he owned. It wasn’t a big company, but there were very experienced people, people who are still working at Exonia Holding nowadays. He set up a plastic packaging factory, and a year later he purchased the entire equipment park of the plastics plant, Moldoplast from Iași. These actions increased the production capacity. During all this time, Tiberiu was also interested in the decisions of the European Union, the measures being implemented within the Member States, and priority areas. „One of these priority areas, I noticed would be the one related to the production of sustainable packaging. Ever since then, there have been discussions of green energy and I considered it to be the future. This is the reason why I started to pay close attention to the technologies required for the production of biodegradable packaging, especially from paper. I read almost everything that could be read about this field of activity, I visited many factories and profile exhibitions where I had the opportunity to consult with specialists in the field. I like that when I start to do something, to be well informed about what I am going to do, to increase my chances of successfully implementing a project„, says Tiberiu Stoian.

The production of biodegradable paper products with high-performance machines required very large investments. In 2016, Exonia had low profitability, and some investments of several million euros were difficult to cover. The entrepreneur found a financing solution in the banking system, but it was not enough and he started looking for other sources of co-financing. „We already knew what it means to produce low-performance equipment, so we targeted top equipment manufacturers. With the resources I had, plus a bank credit, I would have been able to buy equipment made in China or worse or cheaper. But in 2018, a call was launched on ROP 2014-2020, for SMEs, on 2.2, a call that also had a component on printing areas, and that is exactly what I was doing. It fit perfectly, I was eligible for the purchase of a high-performance and complex flexographic printing technology line„.

The pandemic and funds, launching ramp

He wrote the project with the help of a consultant, it was approved and signed in 2019, and in 2020, just as the machines left the manufacturer’s factory, the lockdown was decreed and the borders were blocked. „As much as we were excited that the machines were coming, we panicked that they couldn’t enter the country. We even asked for the help of the authorities to try to offer us a solution. The people were quite understanding and we were able to bring into the country both the machines and the foreign specialists we needed to put them into operation. Like an electrocardiogram, it was. We got excited when we put them into operation and then we cried because another decision of the Government blocked the activity of shopping centers and we found that we no longer had anyone to produce customized bags for. It seemed like an insurmountable problem because we didn’t even have an estimate of how long it would take to resolve the situation. In the meantime, we also hired about 15 people to work with the new line. It was a very difficult period„, remembers Tiberiu. But the pulse of entrepreneurship would rise again. The reduced mobility imposed by the authorities has led to a significant increase in home delivery orders, especially for food products. And the food products required some bags in which to be delivered. Personalized. The pandemic and the implementation of the project through the 2014-2020 ROP were for Exonia the second launch ramp, as the demand for customized bags increased overnight. The factory’s maximum production capacity was reached in a very short time. Although they initially predicted a catastrophic situation for 2020, Exonia ended the year with a 40% increase in turnover, and 2021 will end on the plus side with 130%. „In all this time, we have accumulated a lot of experience in using this high-performance technological line, and it mattered enormously that we chose a more expensive and good quality one. During this period, we also started to develop some innovations that helped us to work with this technological line at a higher speed than the speed provided in their technical book, we increased the productivity a lot„. Also through the Regio grant project, they purchased a server and implemented an ERP application within the company, which helps them enormously and which they continuously improve with other modules.

In continuous growth since the implementation of the project

2022 ended on a positive note, with a 30% increase in turnover, also as a result of increased productivity thanks to the line purchased through European funds. As planned, Tiberiu Stoian wants to multiply this business recipe, increase the production and processing capacity, and expand the premises for production. „Now we are analyzing a mix of financing solutions that will be based on bank loans, we are waiting to see financing lines with a grant component that could be addressed to producers. We also intend to access the capital market, towards the end of the year there are very good premises to be the first company producing biodegradable paper bags listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange„.

Tiberiu Stoian still owns the company established in the dormitory, 24 years ago. He chose to focus on the production of biodegradable bags because it is an area that he likes, he is passionate about, it is a profitable field and, he says, this is how he manages to get closer to the mission he set out for himself even before implementing the project through the ROP, that of making a change in people’s mentality regarding the environment and the idea of ​​being more responsible. „More than 50% of the paper we use in the production of the bags is 100% recycled. I became more responsible as I became a father of 3, and I think about their future and what the environment will look like in some time. Through the products we manufacture now, we contribute to the protection of the environment and we are constantly working to educate the public about sustainable consumption.”

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

4_1
30Jan2023
Fără categorie NEWS Regio Reporter EN

The Curse of Gold and the Taming of the White Wolf

30 January 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 11

The Curse of Gold and the Taming of the White Wolf

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

We found Mircea Căldăraru working along with some workers. They were building an extension to the workshop together, increasing the space on the ground floor, and the first thing he told us, proudly, was that he was expanding the workshop thanks to the equipment bought with European funds.

Mircea Căldăraru has been a jeweler for over 30 years, and the equipment acquired through REGIO helped him modernize jewelry production, but also to diversify the models. Now he works with last-generation software equipment that helps him save a lot of time. He introduces us to each piece of equipment, what it does, and how each has its well-thought-out role in production. Like any person passionate about his job, Mircea documented a lot and went to numerous exhibitions abroad. At one of them, in Italy, about 6 years ago, he saw a group of Koreans staring in fascination at a 3D printer as it printed a human head from resin. Then he saw the same printer in Istanbul. It cost around 40k euros and he realized that he really wanted one too. He imagined how much such a printer would cut down on work time. This is how the idea of ​​a project with European funding started.

From a project of 40k to one of 180k euros

He got home and looked for a consultant in European funds. He had heard that a lot of people were taking funds and said he should try it too. “I went to a consultant and told him I also wanted funds for a 3D printer. The consultant started laughing. He replied that no one moves a mountain of papers for 40k euros. I asked him how much was he moving for. At least a hundred thousand was the answer. I said that I have nothing to do with such money. I don’t need that much„, Mircea recalls, laughing. He was told he was eligible, met the conditions, and could look for other equipment he dreamed of, but he didn’t dare get his hopes up. He went to exhibitions, he also went to factories to see how the machines he was interested in working. „For the laser, I went to a factory in Germany, for the oven, for each piece of equipment I went to the manufacturer to see how it is made, how it is produced. I buy them to work with it and I need to know how each one works. I traveled a lot in Germany and Italy during that time. The exhibitions lasted 3 days. For two days I sat with them to show me how each one works„, says Mircea. And from exhibition to exhibition, from equipment to equipment, he reached an approved project of almost 180 thousand euros, with 165 thousand euros non-refundable value.

The job of mold technician

Mircea Căldăraru was born in Panciu and grew up in Galati city. He went to vocational school in Brașov city because he was good at math, and his mother heard about a highly sought-after profile at the time, where you entered with a high grade. The profile was for a mold technician at the Hydromechanics Professional School. He didn’t know what it meant at that time, but he was going to find out and make a passion out of it. „Nothing on earth cannot be made in a mold. The mold technician is the one who, based on a project, makes a mold. It is a job above that of a jeweler. As a molder, you have to know how to work on absolutely anything. It was easy for me to go from molder to jeweler. Back then, during high school, I worked a lot in copper, and plexiglass. I was making rings, and necklaces and gave them to the girls. I had even managed to earn a penny. I was making rings of 3,4,5 colors. From the file and the saw. A little bit rudimentary we can say„, says Mircea Căldăraru.

After the Revolution, he tried to learn the trade wherever he could. No one was willing to share the secrets of the jewels. He was giving beer in exchange for information to some boys from Galati who had a workshop, and that’s how he managed to learn a few more things.

The Story of the White Wolf

In ’92 he moved to Gura Humorului, and two years later he opened his company whose name he had known for a long time: The White Wolf. A fan of a nonconformist writer who wrote after the Revolution, some SF books, Pavel Coruț chose a Dacian symbol from his writings, the white wolf. When he founded the company, he wanted to do something special: provide jewelry that no one had. So he bought magazines from abroad, in English, and had them translated. Then he got two CDs with pictures and information from a seller in Istanbul who didn’t know how to get rid of him because he was asking so many questions. He gathered information wherever he could and slowly began to work on his own, making jewelry castings at a foundry he received from an older man from Galați who was making jewelry. This man gave him the foundry but did not teach him how to actually use it. „I had a few grams of gold and I poured like about 16 times. It didn’t work out. Every time I wrote in my diary: it didn’t work out because… and I wrote down the reason to figure it out. I still have that notebook. But at some point, 2 rings came out. When I saw them, I said God blessed me. Did I make two rings? I jumped for joy. Then I realized why the other time didn’t come out. That’s how I learned, through trials, and now I don’t miss a single casting anymore„, says Mircea.

Certified by gemologist

Like any self-respecting jeweler, he also wanted to be qualified for gemstones. He commuted by plane to Timișoara city for almost 2 months to Dan Giurgiu’s gemology school, where he obtained his certificate. „I knew how to do anything, I worked on anything, but I knew nothing about stones. At that time nothing was known about stones. Now I know what a diamond is, I know how to tell a synthetic ruby ​​from a natural one. It is your prestige as a jeweler to know all this. Besides, I wanted to know what we were selling. No one will come to me and tell me that I sell glass instead of diamonds. Now I can give a gemological certificate to anyone if they want to check a stone„. This school of gemology brought him not only the certificate but also a group of very good friends who are passionate about working with gold. And because in his time no one shared the secrets of this job with him, he had to steal, Mircea shared now his knowledge with these friends. „I, for example, have helped four people open jewelry businesses. They came to me, sat with me, and actually learned how to make jewelry. It’s a market where there are people who have the information, but they don’t pass it on, they’re afraid of competition. Someone came from Bacău to teach him, from Sibiu, Cluj, I have a girl who even now writes me greeting letters from Greece. Many are also interested in how we obtained the European funds. I tell them everything because no one taught me and I wasted a lot of time and energy to learn by myself„.

Mircea Căldăraru now has two jewelry stores, one in Gura Humorului and one in Fălticeni, and he would need about 3 more people to learn the trade and stay with him. He advertised for an apprentice, but no one came. “I’m not only paying him, I’m also teaching him a trade. Nobody was interested. Now I want to go to the high school, talk to the principal about the possibility of teaching there. To arouse students’ interest in a job. I could take them with me, to learn. I could even do a jewelry school, also with European funding, why not? It’s very easy to go abroad, but if you learn a trade you can stay in your country. Not everyone has to go to college. And like me, there are people in the city who could teach a job, let’s keep the young people in the city, so they don’t leave. If someone comes to me to work, in 6 months he knows his job. I have tools for 4 more of these workshops. Some people collect dresses or shoes, I collect tools.„

``You have to be honest with gold``

Asked if jewelry production is a profitable business, Mircea Căldăraru says that those who work with gold cannot die poor. At the same time, there is a law of compensation, you have to be very honest when working with gold. Don’t cheat, don’t steal, and don’t make fun of your job. „If you come to work for me for a day, and at the end of the day you wash your hands, I don’t throw that water away. Because gold comes out of that water. Just from the trash in the workshop, I annually extract one hundred, and two hundred grams of gold, depending on the volume I work at. But you have to be very fair with it because gold is cursed. Everything bad that happened on this earth was because of gold. He who has gold has power, although it is now said that he who has information has power. But this information also leads you to gold. The wealth of a country is about how much gold it has. Gold is cursed anyway, and if you’re not honest with it, want to cheat someone, or steal, you don’t end up well. This is a jeweler’s law. Whoever works with gold is not allowed to steal or cheat„.

He wants a factory as he saw abroad

Mircea says that his dream is to build a factory as he saw abroad, a compartmented hall, with temperature and conditions for each piece of equipment. „They are machines that are not allowed to sit in the dust or need a certain temperature to work. The 3D printer does not work, for example, below 22 degrees. All must be in a controlled environment. It needs an air purification plant to be dust free. I want to make a hall for the production of jewelry, with European funds, as Romania does not have. And I’m not saying it out of grandiosity. I want to compete with Tiffany, Cartier, with the big brands. Because what they do, I can also do, and the equipment bought through the funds brought me closer to my dream„.

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

 

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13Jan2023
NEWS Regio Reporter EN

Perfect smiles with REGIO

13 January 2023

Reporter REGIO: episode 10

Perfect smiles with REGIO

Success stories, possible with the support of Regio Nord-Est 2014-2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

They have been together since the 5th grade, they grew up in Vaslui and graduated from the University of Dental Medicine in Iași City, in the 2000s. Acatrinei spouses raised 5 children together: their daughter and 4 dental practices where they invested a lot of time and passion throughout the years. The last „child” is raised and developed with the support of European funds through the Regional Operational Program 2014-2020: Dr. Acatrinei Clinic. The project implemented in Iași, in the heart of Copou Park, meant ” Consolidation, modernization of the building „, a project with a non-reimbursable financial assistance in the amount of 742k euros.

From Iași City to Moldovița Village and back

After finishing their residency in Iași, Dragoș and Laura Acatrinei decided to move to the countryside, with their parents, to Moldovița Village in Suceava county, to start something of their own, on their own. They opened a dental office at the dispensary in the village and worked there for 3 years. However, Dragoș felt the need for a bigger city to do his job, and the closest one was Câmpulung Moldovenesc, 30 km away. In a space that was not necessarily intended for a dental practice, it was more of a hallway, they set up a suitable place for dental work, in medical centre of the city, and practiced there until 2012. For a while, Laura went to Moldovița, and Dragoș at Câmpulung, but when she returned from maternity leave, she also gave up the dental office in the countryside and chose the city. When their daughter started school, they decided to move back to Iași, considering that a big city has more opportunities for children. With savings and the help of their parents, they built a house and in the basement they set up, again, another dental office. The third one. „We thought it was the last one. I didn’t give up the dental office in Câmpulung. I went there 3 days a week until I handed everything over to another doctor. And I worked at the home dental office until March 2022, when I opened the clinic„, says Laura.

The pandemic and its benefits

Laura Acatrinei believes that she has always met the right people, at the right time, throughout her professional career so far. That’s how she found out about the opportunity for European funds. Through people. The fact that her husband, being a surgeon, performs a complicated dental operation, brought them patients, through recommendations, from all over the region of Moldova. At one point he also had a patient who was a consultant on European funds. He whetted their appetite for funds by telling them about projects and opened calls at that time. „I admit, I had colleagues who accessed funds and I kept telling my husband to submit a project too. Even though most of them told us that „it’s very difficult, you don’t need something like that, better not”. You need a little bit of madness to get into something like this, and we have that dose of madness, honestly. Everyone said it’s easier to get equipment on funds, but things get complicated if you also do construction. However, we were not discouraged. We had already a building, it was the old TeleM television headquarters in Copou Park, which we bought at a certain point, with the idea that we would capitalize on it someday. And we submitted the project„. It was an old building that had to be demolished. In the summer of 2019, the work began. Everything was going well except that, in March 2020, the pandemic came. „Initially we panicked, like everyone else, our offices were closed, and going to the dentist was the last priority then. But I can say that it was for our good because my husband stayed with the builders all that time and saw every screw put in place. He is a perfectionist, and I don’t think it was a pleasure for the builders. In the end, I said that this pandemic was fine for us. In other conditions, my husband would not have been able to supervise the work, and you really have to stay with the builders if you want it to turn out as it should. During the pandemic we had continuous occupation„, says Laura.

A dental clinic with top-of-the-line equipment

With a project of 1,1 million euros and a non-refundable financial assistance of 742k euros, Acatrinei spouses built a new clinic with top-of-the-line equipment, from dental chairs to the operating room. Also, they really wanted to provide services for children with disabilities, but they still haven’t found that colleague, an anesthesiologist, willing to work with these children. „Now we are in discussions with someone and we are waiting to see if he agrees. We will do it, it is our dream to help children with disabilities, but we are waiting to find the right person„, says Laura Acatrinei.

The right person at the right place

Valentina joined the team at Acatrinei’s dental clinic in 2016 as an office manager. She is the one who took care of all the administrative parts of the submission and then the implementation of the project. She worked closely with the consultants and obtained all the necessary documents from the authorities. She remembers, smiling, that… „everything was on the last mile. Now, looking back, it’s funny, but at that time, all phones were on fire. Each time, I submitted documents on the last day that they could be submitted. That’s how it is when you work with institutions. You submit a request and unfortunately, sometimes you have to wait more than 30 days. It was always stressful. It takes a long time to get all the approvals. I remember that the construction authorisation also came out with difficulty. I took it, scanned it, and sent it to North-East RDA. That’s how all went. You go through a lot, but when you get to the point where you realize it’s over, it doesn’t even matter how hard it was. I always said that this project was my first child, then the second followed, my own child„, says Valentina, with emotion. Then Laura said „that’s why it’s important to meet the right people in life. I was also very lucky with Valentina, if it wasn’t for her to take care of all the paperwork, I don’t know how we would have done it„.

Patients, invited to the inauguration of the clinic

The inauguration of the clinic took place in March 2022, and as a sign of gratitude, Acatrinei spouses invited to the launching event all those who have contributed, in one way or another, to the success of the project: builders, architects, designer, consultants, those who helped with the purchase of equipment and, of course, patients. „Because we build friendships, not partnerships. We have patients who come to visit on Holidays, I have maintained close relations with many of them. I like to bond with people. And when we hire, we choose people based on the chemistry between us and the desire to work with each other as a family. I feel that this is the only way we can move forward. We like to build and grow together,” says Laura.

As for future plans, Acatrinei spouses want to enjoy what they have built. They hope their daughter will follow their footsteps and, who knows, maybe she will submit the next project with European Funds. Shortly, they would like to find two or three colleagues to work within the clinic, but they are in no rush because they are convinced that when the time is right, it will happen. „It’s good to be lucky in everything in this life, but most of all in people said Ileana Vulpescu. It is a confirmation of what I think and I want whoever will work with us to be worth it. We are in no rush to hire. Valentina’s sister, for example, worked as a nurse with us for a year, she liked it, she studied dental medicine, now she is in her 6th year and we can’t wait for her to come work with us„, says Laura Acatrinei. She also strongly affirms that nothing they managed to build in the heart of Copou Park would have been possible without the help of European Funds.

Reporter REGIO is a new North-East RDA initiative, which focuses on promoting the successful projects of our beneficiaries, projects that have managed to stand out by bringing added value and impact to the community. At a time when negative news predominates, we offer you beautiful but true stories for reading, meant to strengthen the belief that „it is possible”! Be part of the story!

Are you a Regio beneficiary? Let us tell you the story.

Contact us for details at info@adrnordest.ro

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