TGW Northern Europe, a division of the Austrian based TGW Logistics Group, is establishing an Engineering Service Centre in Kaunas. The centre will be responsible for supporting the company’s projects in Northern Europe, creating positions up to 100 experienced information technology and system automation engineers over the next few years.
“We had been considering setting up an Engineering Service Centre for some time. After evaluating all of the options TGW chose Lithuania because of its wealth of highly-qualified engineers, who possess excellent English proficiency and are willing to travel. Lithuania is also in a very good strategic location for servicing projects across our Northern European region, particularly Scandinavia.” Andy Smith, CEO of TGW Northern Europe says.
TGW Logistics Group develops and implements individual automated logistics warehouse solutions including providing the necessary equipment. The Kaunas team will be responsible for cornerstone functions, from system design during the sales process through to detailed design. PLC Software development and commissioning, system simulation and other engineering and administrative functions are planned for the Kaunas centre in the future.
The company currently runs a training programme in the United Kingdom where it prepares specialists for individual projects, and a similar programme is planned for Lithuania.
The arrival of TGW Logistics Group further strengthens Kaunas’ growing international reputation as a location for foreign investment in both manufacturing and business services, as Lithuania’s Economy Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius points out. “Kaunas has recently been very successful in attracting foreign direct investment projects,” says the Minister. “And it is great that this is happening in a well-balanced way. Two major manufacturers have just announced their decision to set up operations in Kaunas; Hella, a German supplier of electronics for the automotive industry, and Hollister, a US manufacturer of medical devices. Meanwhile, the expanding business services sector, including TGW’s new centre, is becoming very attractive for IT and automation management specialists, and administrative staff,” concludes Minister Sinkevičius.
“An interesting cluster of companies providing logistics solutions, ranging from the simplest vehicle tracking systems through to complex automated solutions, is developing in Lithuania,” comments Mantas Katinas, Director General of the foreign investment development agency Invest Lithuania. “TGW will be joining the automation solution developers including Festo, who are already operating in Kaunas, and this will significantly strengthen the cluster with new competences,” Mr Katinas states.
Established in 1969, TGW Logistics Group currently employs a staff of more than 2,800. And due to increasing demand for the automation of logistics warehouses, this number is increasing significantly.
