The facility will enable the Romanian subsidiary to diversify its activities beyond construction and renovation, entering the market for metal structures and heating, ventilation and air conditioning components. The expansion underscores Kész Group’s ambition to become a significant player across Central and Eastern Europe.
The plant, which cost HUF 1.8 bln, received HUF 761 million in support from Hepa’s Foreign Market Growth Support Program. The facility will initially employ 13 people, with plans for future expansion.
The new facility marks a strategic shift for Kész in Hungary’s eastern neighbor. The firm has been active in the Romanian construction sector for more than 20 years. Current projects include the construction of the Corallis Apartments, a EUR 51 mln residential development in Bucharest financed by the group, and the development of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. Further key projects include a wellness and spa center in Covasna and the construction of a new Stihl factory.
Alongside industrial, logistics, and retail complexes, it has also been involved in some notable heritage restoration projects. These include the Kálnoky Castle in Micloșoara (known to Hungarians as Sepsikőröspatak) and the renovation of the historic St. Michael’s Church in Cluj-Napoca, which earned the prestigious Europa Nostra award, recognizing excellence in heritage conservation across Europe. It is also renovating the Mathias Corvinus Collegium building in Oradea.
Tamás Vida, CEO of Kész Group, emphasizes the importance of the new facility within the broader corporate strategy, highlighting how it contributes significantly to the group’s international expansion goals.
“Kész Romania plays a crucial role in achieving our ambitious objectives. Over the years, we’ve been involved in several landmark projects abroad, and this latest manufacturing plant, developed in cooperation with Hepa, represents another critical milestone in strengthening our presence and capabilities in the region,” he says.
The new plant has been designed with future expansion in mind, allowing flexibility to adapt swiftly to changing market demands. István Albu, head of the Romanian subsidiary, noted that the facility will enable the company to participate in new types of projects, including those where it previously might not have been competitive as a general contractor.
“Our goal is to leverage this new manufacturing capability to access projects requiring specialized components, expanding our customer base and enhancing our market competitiveness,” Albu explains.
Kész Group now has established operations in five countries, with Germany, Serbia, and Ukraine alongside Hungary and Romania. Vida highlighted the importance of adaptability in international expansion.
“We are continually investing in our capabilities to better meet regional market demands. Our strategic goal is clear: to become a dominant regional player known for delivering comprehensive solutions with the highest standards of quality and innovation,” Vida says.
By integrating manufacturing capacities into its already robust construction services, Kész Group claims to be positioning itself uniquely within the region’s competitive landscape, enabling the firm to offer vertically integrated solutions that streamline project timelines and improve cost efficiency.
Kész Romania’s leadership team anticipates robust growth in demand for locally produced construction and engineering components, driven by increasing industrialization and infrastructure development throughout Romania and neighboring countries. The Moldovenești facility will serve as a key pillar in supporting the company’s vision for sustained growth, providing a scalable foundation for future expansions and further investments.
The strategic investment into manufacturing also aligns with broader regional economic trends, which emphasize increasing localization of production to mitigate supply chain risks, enhance responsiveness to customer needs, and contribute positively to local economies through job creation and technology transfer.
As Central and Eastern Europe continues to attract foreign direct investment and undertake substantial infrastructure improvements, Kész Group’s capacity expansion positions it advantageously for sustained market leadership.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of March 21, 2025.
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