Panattoni ventures south of the Carpathians

“Panattoni Europe is continuing to expand across Europe. This time we are entering Romania, where the economic situation as well as the political and legal transparency has been improving significantly. We can sense a very strong interest in this market among our current and potential clients as well as the property investment sector. This is why we have decided to launch a local Panattoni branch in Bucharest. It will be managed by Muler Onofrei, who has over thirteen years of experience in this industry,” Robert Dobrzycki, the CEO Europe of Panattoni Europe, told ‘Eurobuild CEE’. “Initially we will focus on developing BTS projects as well as our own parks designated for various tenants,” he added. Muler Onofrei, who will be responsible for running the company’s new branch, graduated from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iaşi with a degree from the faculty of economics and management. An RICS member, Muler also holds a Kellogg School of Management degree.

Powering GE Energy

At the same time, the company is not scaling back its expansion efforts in Poland. Panattoni Europe has recently completed the development of a 45,000 sqm factory on a 12 ha site in Bielsko-Biała for GE Energy Management. The facility, which has taken nine months to build, will manufacture electrical distribution and critical power equipment, such as low- and medium-voltage switchgear and control cabinets. The project includes a 37,839 sqm manufacturing and warehousing section divided into functional blocks: manufacturing, assembly together with testing and laboratory sections, and a logistics section. Offices and collaborative meeting space take up 7,872 sqm of the complex. The project came about following the decision to consolidate the space leased by the tenant to unite and streamline the manufacturing operations in four Bielsko-Biala facilities (16 buildings) and optimise the logistics. The facility will have a workforce of 1,200 employees. GE Energy Management is planning to complete the move into the building in 2016.

… and Transgourmet

Panattoni Europe has recently also completed the construction of a logistics centre for Transgourmet, the owner of the Selgros Cash&Carry chain, among others. The 10,200 sqm project, which is located in Ożarów Mazowiecki, is the company’s first distribution centre in Poland and will be used to supply the HoReCa (hotel, restaurant and café) sector in the Masovian and Łódź voivodeships, such as hotel chains, through direct deliveries. It is situated on national road 92, close to European route E30. Panattoni has also signed an agreement with DSV Solutions for the construction and lease of a new warehouse which will be the company’s fourth recently opened location in Poland this year after the completion of facilities in Gdańsk, Sosnowiec and Teresin. The new 4,500 sqm premises of the logistics operator will be located in Panattoni Park Grodzisk, on the A2 motorway close to Grodzisk Mazowiecki’s planned ring road. Operations are scheduled to start in the new facility at the end of Q1 2016. Panattoni Europe's first Central European offices opened in 2005, simultaneously in Warsaw and Prague. Initially, Poland was the main market in the region, but Panattoni Europe has been increasing its involvement in the Czech Republic and Germany for several years. Altogether the developer has now delivered more than 3.2 mln sqm of modern industrial space in Poland and the Czech Republic – 2.53 mln sqm of this in Poland alone.