“In industrial construction, the building is not the goal – production is!”
INTERVIEW WITH Csaba Szilágyi, Deputy General Manager
Volatile markets, disrupted supply chains and increasingly complex industrial projects are redefining what clients expect from construction partners. In this environment, reliability, transparency and the ability to mobilize internationally have become decisive competitive factors. Synergy Construction Hungary Kft., headquartered in Budapest, has established itself as a partner for large scale industrial developments across Europe and proudly marks its 25th anniversary this year. Csaba Szilágyi, Deputy General Manager, explains how the company supports global manufacturers while steadily expanding its role as an EPC partner for complex industrial and energy projects.
European Business: Mr. Szilágyi, despite the challenging environment currently shaping the construction industry, Synergy Construction Hungary has delivered major industrial projects for global manufacturers. Which milestones have been particularly important for the company’s development?
Csaba Szilágyi: The past period has been marked by the successful delivery of several major projects. We completed the Nestlé Purina factory in Bük,now Nestlé’s largest production facility in Europe, while simultaneously building the BMW plant in Debrecen. At the same time, key sections of the CATL battery factory in Debrecen were also handed over, underscoring our ability to manage and deliver multiple large-scale projects concurrently. These projects have further strengthened our position as a trusted partner for interna tional manufacturers. In our sector, the key is understanding what the client really needs. When we build a factory, the building itself is not the final goal – the priority is that production can start on the agreed date. Once clients see that you deliver reliably and on time, they tend to invite you again. Several international projects have come from existing customers who asked us to follow them into new markets as well.
European Business: How important are long-term client relationships for your international growth?
Csaba Szilágyi: Our focus has always been on industrial projects for manufacturing companies. These clients have very clear expectations: they need production facilities that are functional, reliable and ready on schedule. Industrial manufacturing requires a deep understanding of production processes, and over time we have built strong expertise in this field. At the same time, we realized that the Hungarian construction market would eventually slow after a period of strong growth driven by large industrial investments. Instead of waiting, we began looking outward. In many cases we were invited by existing clients – for example CATL in Spain, Air Liquide in the Netherlands or Mercedes in Poland. Such relationships make international ex pansion much easier because the client already knows how we work and trusts our capabilities.
European Business: Your organization appears highly mobile, allowing you to launch projects quickly in different countries. At the same time, Synergy Construction Hungary is expand ing its capabilities as an EPC partner. How are these developments shaping the company’s role in large industrial projects?
Csaba Szilágyi: Mobility is an important part of our structure. Our teams are highly international and English is our common working language. Many of our engineers and specialists are accustomed to working abroad, allowing us to mobilize strong project teams quickly when a new project begins. This flexibility is valuable for clients who need to start construction rapidly. At the same time, our role is evolving. Traditionally we were mainly responsible for the construction phase of industrial projects. Today we increasingly participate in the full EPC process – engineering, procurement and construction – enabling us to manage projects from the early planning stage through to completion. This model is becoming particularly relevant in sectors such as energy and advanced industry.
European Business: Looking ahead, which sectors offer the greatest growth potential for your company – and how important is corporate culture in managing such complex projects?
Csaba Szilágyi: We see two main growth areas. One is the construction of large manufacturing facilities in sectors such as auto motive, batteries, food production and pharmaceuticals. The other is heavy industrial and energy related projects, where demand is increasing for infrastructure such as combined-cycle power plants, hydrogen facilities and carbon-capture technologies. At the same time, corporate culture is essential. Construction projects rarely develop exactly according to plan, so challenges must be addressed openly and solutions communicated quickly. Transparency builds trust and helps keep projects on track.
European Business: Where do you see the company in the next few years?
Csaba Szilágyi: Our goal is to maintain a strong position in Hungary while building sustainable operations in the markets we have entered. We do not want to complete a project and then leave the country. Instead, we aim to establish long-term structures and strong local management teams, ensuring a lasting presence while continuing to follow our clients wherever new industrial investments emerge across Europe.