Advanced Metal Processing for European Industries
Interview with Miklós Bognár, Managing Director of Bognár és Társa Kft.
Metal processing companies today must combine technological expertise with flexibility and long-term partnerships in order to remain competitive in international markets. Bognár és Társa Kft., a Hungarian family-owned company based in Szolnok, has developed into a versatile manufacturing partner for European industries over more than four decades. In this interview, Managing Director Miklós Bognár talks about the company’s development, its broad technological capabilities – from sheet metal and tube processing to welding and assembly – and how diversification and continuous investment help the company navigate uncertain markets.
European Business: Mr. Bognár, your company has a long history. How did it all begin?
Miklós Bognár: The company was founded by my father in 1981 and initially operated in the garage of our family home, mainly doing metalworking and locksmith jobs. In 1993 we bought our first industrial site in Szolnok and started exporting. A major milestone came in 2003 when we moved to our current location, a former kitchen furniture factory that we gradually expanded. Today our site covers about 6.5 ha with roughly 15,000 m2 of production halls, and we are currently adding another building.
European Business: How has the company developed in recent years?
Miklós Bognár: Growth has been steady. By 2016 our facilities were already fully utilized, so we built a new hall and continued expanding. In 2021 we opened a 2,200 m2 tube-processing facility and in 2023 a 1,200 m2 welding hall. At the moment we are constructing another 1,200 m2 warehouse for raw materials.
European Business: How is the company structured today?
Miklós Bognár: With all production located in Szolnok, the company employs around 135 people and generated about EUR 15 million in revenue in 2025. Even during difficult periods such as the pandemic or the current economic uncertainty, keeping our workforce stable has been very important to us.
European Business: What challenges are currently shaping your market?
Miklós Bognár: The biggest challenge is the lack of predictability. In the past we often had forecasts for one or two years; today visibility is often limited to around six months. That is why we plan more cautiously while continuing to invest in efficiency and technology.
European Business: How important is digitalization for your company?
Miklós Bognár: It plays an increasingly important role. We already use an ERP system and are currently introducing additional production-support software to improve workflow transparency and production planning.
European Business: Export has long been a key pillar of your business. How has this developed?
Miklós Bognár: Our export activities began in 1993 with a German partner near Stuttgart, a partnership that still exists today. Since then we have expanded across Europe. Around 80% of our production is exported, mainly to Western Europe, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the UK and Scandinavia. About 20% is supplied to multinational companies operating in Hungary.
European Business: Your technological capabilities are quite broad. What are your core strengths in production?
Miklós Bognár: Our aim is to manufacture complete components in-house and produce simple, medium and complex parts. In sheet metal processing we operate five flatbed laser cutters, ten press brakes and two robotic bending cells, as well as stamping technology. Tube and hollow-section processing has become an increasingly important pillar of our business, with three tube lasers and six CNC tube-bending machines. In addition, we offer machining for turned and milled parts and larger machining centers for finishing welded products. Welding itself is another key area with nine robots and around 30 skilled welders, including a laser-arc hybrid welding robot. We also provide powder coating and final assembly – in some cases even complete products such as assembled forestry cranes. In addition, we support customers early in the product development phase to optimize designs for efficient manufacturing.
European Business: Which industries do you mainly work for?
Miklós Bognár: We deliberately serve several sectors in order to balance market fluctuations. Our components are used in agricultural and forestry machinery, car-transport trailers, automated warehouse systems and workshop equipment such as tool trolleys. We also manufacture parts for special machines like snow groomers and small-series machinery for niche markets, and are increasingly entering fields such as energy and medical technology.
European Business: What motivates you personally in leading the company forward?
Miklós Bognár: My motivation is to secure the future of the company for the next generations and for the families who depend on it. At the same time, I want to continue the values my father established: long-term partnerships, continuous technological investment and respectful cooperation with employees and customers.