Description of activity

Wytwórnia Filtrów „PZL-Sędziszów” S. A. is specialised in the production of hydraulic filters, fuel filters, air filters as well as oil filters. These components are used essentially in the construction and maintenance of engines and other types of machinery – e.g. in process media and cooling media filtration systems, and atmospheric air cleaning systems used to supply air into automotive cabs. In addition to complete filters the Plant also supplies filter parts and cartridges. The Company was established in 1939. Its manufacturing plant is located near Rzeszów. Its 70-years’ experience enabled WF „PZL Sędziszów” to reach the status of Poland’s second largest, in terms of production volume, manufacturer of filer cartridges. The Company sells almost 70% of its output in the domestic market. Untill July 2009, in Poland, sales was made through its main distributor - WF PZL TRADING Sp. z o.o. After the termination of an agreement, Wytwórnia Filtrów has been carrying out the sale on the domestic market independently. Customers of components manufactured by WF „PZL Sędziszów” include the following major companies: KATPOL Sp. j. Lubin, SF-FILTER Sp. z o.o. Hurtownia Motoryzacyjna Lubin, MOTO-HURT S.A. Ropczyce, AGROMA S.A. in Poznań, GRENE Sp. z o.o. Stare Miasto, Fiat Auto Poland Bielsko-Biała, as well as PZL-Świdnik S.A. in Świdnik. Export sales which accounts for 30% of output is carried out directly by the Company. Filters and filter components manufactured by WF „PZL Sędziszów” are sold in markets of: Italy – UFI, France – Renault, Germany – Kaercher, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Greece, Latvia, Moldavia, Romania, Brazil and Hungary. The company’s development plans provide for further improvement of technical sophistication to deliver higher quality components. The Company is also working on developing new types of filters and filter cartridges. Experts employed by WF „PZL Sędziszów” constantly monitor the worldwide and Polish automotive markets. One tendency seen by the Company and expected to be considered in its development strategy is the growing popularity of Diesel engine automobiles (35% share in the domestic market). Also, analyses suggest that the most prospective product groups are cartridges used in air conditioning systems. Until recently this type of equipment has only been used in higher-class automobiles, but today are commonly used as standard equipment in the majority of passenger cars. Such products has already been launched by the Company. The pace of upgrading depends largely on the availability of investment funds. The key issue for the Company is upgrading its manufacturing processes with the ultimate aim to decrease cycle times as well as improve manufacturing capacities. Also, the strategy of WF „PZL Sędziszów” assumes restructuring of the Company's key business areas.