Business in Hungary

Hungary is one of the European Union’s largest producers of honey. Beekeeping has a long tradition in the country. The first bees were kept by the churches and farmers mostly for the beeswax the hives might provide – honey was a delightful by-product. Today, its acacia honey is famous all around the world and Hungary has become a major honey exporting country. Nyirség Méz Kft. largely contributes to this leading position.

Its customers include the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Lufthansa Systems, Budapest International Airport, Accor Hotels, T-Mobile, the US Department of Energy and many other high-profile organizations and businesses. H1 Systems Kft. is one of the most dynamically evolving enterprises in Hungary and Central and Eastern Europe. European Business talked to CEO Mihály Németh about the company’s ambitious growth plans and exceptional commitment to happy, flourishing employees.

Clay tiles have been used to protect buildings from the elements for millennia. Even today, tiles are what define the roofscapes of towns and villages across Europe. While clay has traditionally been the material of choice and is still one of the most popular building materials, it has since been joined by more modern materials such as concrete. Tile specialist CREATON South-East Europe Kft. in Hungary produces and distributes tens of millions of roof tiles each year along with a complete range of finishing and decorative elements. Its wide range of materials and finishes mean that customers are guaranteed to find a solution to their specific needs.

When the electro giant Electrolux invited some of its major suppliers back in 2013, one name that appeared on the guest list caught the market’s attention. Plastelektro from Budapest was among the invitees to the Swedish company’s dinner, as one of only two European companies to be bestowed the honour of attending. Plastelektro – the name is a combination of plastic and electro, indicating its close link to the electronics industry – has recently changed its name to Saluxto Kft; Electrolux remains its major and most prominent customer.

Whenever you think about brewing, you might imagine large mashing tanks, filtration systems and storage facilities within a major industrial compound. Hungarian company Brewie offers a completely different angle by making automated brewing accessible to your home: Brewie+ looks like a stereo, but is really an advanced brewing device. European Business talked to Marcell Pal, Co-Founder and CEO, about the company’s mission, the definition of full automation and the rediscovery of quality.

Today, the main objective is to become a large European player in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The prospects looked good when MEDITOP Pharmaceutical Ltd., one of the fastest-growing SMEs in Hungary’s pharmaceutical sector, first came into operation after the end of communism in 1991, but nobody could foresee the steep rise the company would experience in the years to come. However, MEDITOP is now a well-established partner to large pharmaceutical companies, taking on contract development, manufacturing and packaging, in addition to developing and producing its own medicines for the international market.

It is small, angular and can become a virtually Herculean task. We are talking about the Rubik’s Cube by the Hungarian inventor Erno Rubik. The world-renowned combination puzzle with its 26 blocks has been available since 1974 and has wound its way through countless hands. European Business spoke with Erno Rubik about the special magic of the Cube, what makes it of interest to managers and the overall future of play.

With the complexity and value of manufactured products increasing, and the new opportunities offered by technology and digitalization, industrial security is today incomparable to the days when someone sat in a guard house in front of a factory, checking visitors in and out and maybe undertaking a tour of inspection at regular intervals. Security is a sophisticated business and demands extensive knowledge and experience, and well-trained staff. Hungarian specialist S-Group Mid-European Plc. offers extensive and innovative security and facility management services to a broad range of business segments.

The size and versatility of an arena makes it an ideal venue for large-scale events such as sports competitions, concerts, exhibitions, and conferences. From an organizational and financial perspective, managing such a facility is complex. The Papp László Budapest Sportaréna, known as the BudapestAréna, is no exception. European Business spoke with Manager and Finance Manager Tibor Lak about the strategy and success of the arena management team.

Revolution and transformation are an integral part of today’s industrial world. Digitalization has ensured that the speed of change has never been faster; technologies and trends come and go at a pace which has never been experienced before. This is as true of the engineering sector as for any other industry. Some companies, which depend on old, tried-and-tested solutions or rely on a traditional customer base, are or will soon find themselves struggling to keep up with the competition. Others, such as Hungarian engineering firm Lakics Gepgyarto Kft, take the idea of constant change as the recipe for success very seriously.