The Bosnian-Herzegovinian company Alternativa performed exceptionally well last year. It worked with global corporations and invested heavily in improving production.
In 2020 it simply continued the success that has lasted since its founding in 1997. Total turnover rose by 25 percent compared with the year before, and exports grew from 16 to 25 million KM, which also meant a significant increase in profit.
Over the past year Alternativa’s thermal insulation panels were exported to 10 countries around the world. They were used on buildings of the corporations Samsung, SK Networks and Pepsi, and of other leading regional and global manufacturing and trading companies. In doing so they confirmed that they are the Balkan leader in the production and processing of coated sheet, and that they are ready to answer the most demanding regional projects.
Last year they began a new investment cycle worth 11 million KM, due to be completed by the middle of this year. That will put them in a position to make a more significant step into the most demanding European markets.
Product quality control to the highest standards
To achieve that, Alternativa invests heavily in product quality control. For this reason it works with accredited laboratories at home and in neighbouring countries, which calls for considerable resources. Products are tested to the EN 14509:2013 standard.
Structural and fire testing of the products was carried out at Slovenian and Slovak institutes, providing certificates valid in EU countries. Manuals with technical details were also distributed to buyers of thermal insulation panels, and 600,000.00 KM was set aside for this purpose. Alternativa independently tests the mechanical properties of panels, shear strength and shear modulus; it independently checks the properties of sheet metal, tests the density of the insulation material and the anti-corrosion properties of materials in long-term use. This work is done by trained engineering staff using top equipment from renowned European and global manufacturers.
They also acquired a device unique in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which measures the thermal conductivity coefficient of panels up to 200 millimetres thick. The device was acquired within the “EU4Business” project financed by the German organisation for international cooperation — GIZ. This has put them in a position to fully test and check not only their own thermal insulation panels but also those of their competitors, which will mean greater competitiveness for Alternativa and direct support for exports.
All of these investments have secured top product quality and reliable control, which were the preconditions for obtaining the CE mark — of which they are proud holders, and which has qualified them to place their products in European Union countries without obstacles.
Outstanding organisation and working conditions
Last month the company underwent its second surveillance audit of quality management to the ISO 9001:2015 standard, in cooperation with the renowned certification body TÜV SÜD Sava d.o.o.
The subjects of the audit were management and the management process, human resources, the procurement process, the process of planning product realisation, infrastructure, the working environment and measuring equipment, the production process, in-process and final control, and the management of the QMS.
On that occasion it was established that every audited unit had outstanding results, with no critical non-conformities and with a great many positive observations. Given the ambitious business plans for this year, we look forward to more good news from Alternativa.
