Rolls-Royce innovation award winner expands in Panevėžys creating 100 jobs

RIFAS, a designer and producer of electrotechnical systems, is expanding its production in Panevėžys. The company, which belongs to the Estonian capital group Harju Elekter, aims to expand its production premises threefold, creating 100 new jobs over the next three years.

“Industrious and creative people live in Panevėžys and the quality of life in this city is excellent, so we are sure that with the development of RIFAS and other companies, Panevėžys has great prospects to grow and develop its export-orientated production. Historically, Panevėžys has always been famous for its well-developed electronics and electrotechnics industry,” said Andres Allikmae, Chairman of the Board at Harju Elekter.

Currently, RIFAS is operating in production premises totalling 2,500 square metres, which by the end of 2018 it will expand to 7,500 square metres. The company plans to employ 100 electrotechnical equipment installers and electrical and 3D mechanical engineers, who will be trained at the company. They will design and produce electrotechnical systems to order that will be used inindustrial enterprises and on new-generation shipping vessels.

To prepare the kind of talent that RIFAS requires, the company intends to cooperate with higher and vocational education and training institutions in Panevėžys, the Klaipėda Higher Maritime School and the Visaginas Technology and Business Vocational Education and Training Centre. Training will be provided to both new and existing employees. This emphasis on on-the-job training has already delivered great results, and in some cases young specialists without an engineering education who began their careers as installers have gone on to become highly qualified engineers.