Wywiad został opublikowany w “Magazynie Klastra SA&AM” nr 2/2024 s. 31-34.

“Electricity flows the same everywhere, and we are specialists in electricity” – this short sentence sums up the specific nature of the activities of the Chorzów-based company Elgór + Hansen S.A., which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. On this occasion, the company’s management talks about its history, tradition, but also its new strategy and directions for development.

Over the course of 30 years of operation, Elgór + Hansen S.A. has developed a business concept that has allowed it to become a leader in the production of equipment for the transformation and distribution of electrical energy for the mining industry, as well as in supporting technologies, i.e., digital security techniques, IT systems, monitoring and remote control, automation components, and electronic device manufacturing.

30 years is an impressive achievement. Please tell us how the company’s history began?

Elgór + Hansen S.A. was established as a result of changes and challenges faced by the Polish mining sector in the 1990s. The privatization of the mining environment, its restructuring, and changes in regulations that explosion-proof equipment had to meet, which were difficult for Polish manufacturers to comply with, led three former mine employees to establish PPHU Elgór Sp. z o.o. In its initial stage, the company was involved in the modernization of electrical equipment. However, building a business from scratch proved to be quite a challenge, so its owners quickly decided to seek the support of a larger company, wanting to establish cooperation with one of the giants in the field of electrical engineering. Talks were initiated with the German company Hansen Reinders, which resulted in the signing of a mutual cooperation agreement in 1994, establishing Elgór + Hansen Sp. z o.o. with its registered office in Chorzów. This cooperation opened up new technical possibilities for the company and marked the beginning of its dynamic development, says Dariusz Macierzyński, Vice President of the Management Board for Commercial Affairs.

This allowed the previously small service company to spread its wings. Over the years, we have undergone many changes. In 2008, we became part of the Kopex S.A. capital group. In 2012, Elgór + Hansen Sp. z o.o. merged with the Tychy-based company ZEG S.A. to form Elgór + Hansen S.A. In 2018, Kopex was incorporated into the Famur group. This move gave us a sense of security and stability, while providing Famur with an expert in electrical equipment, thanks to which we can now offer our business partners comprehensive solutions, adds Dariusz Macierzyński

What direction is Elgór + Hansen S.A. currently heading in?

Creating a new strategy and searching for new areas of activity was a rather long and complicated process. Of course, we still see value in working for the mining industry, where our equipment is still needed. It is thanks to this activity that we have been able to build our current position, and we will continue to do so for as long as necessary. Nevertheless, we recognize that thermal coal mining in Poland, in particular, is systematically reducing its production capacity. For this reason, we began to consider how to utilize the expertise we have developed over the years, as our staff has an extremely wide range of skills. Thirty years of work in particularly hazardous areas have allowed us to accumulate vast knowledge and experience in the production of electrical equipment. Starting with basic electrical engineering skills, i.e., knowledge of electricity transformation and distribution, but also knowledge of digital security techniques, IT systems, management, monitoring and remote control, as well as the production of automation components and the design and manufacture of electronic devices.

Check out E+H’s product range for the mining sector!

All these experiences in the fields of electrical engineering, power electronics, electronics, IT, and automation have allowed us to build up expertise that is now extremely useful in the design of transformer stations. While a few years ago we thought of ourselves as a company supplying electrical equipment for mining, today we think of ourselves as a group of engineers, designers, and manufacturers of products and services for various industries. We want to provide solutions that are as effective and safe as possible in terms of operation and that guarantee the business continuity of our customers.

Today, we no longer focus on the fact that it must be a customer from a specific industry. We provide and sell our expertise, and we are able to deliver the best solutions with the highest technical standards, both in mining and other industries.

We began searching for a new path of development several years ago, pursuing several directions. One idea was to enter the industrial automation industry. We successfully completed a project to fully automate a production line for a fruit juice manufacturer. Another inspiring project was the modernization of a longitudinal rolling mill for Kuźnia Jawor S.A. We also considered entering the market for electronics manufacturing and electronic component assembly services, as we have considerable experience and capabilities in this area.

Ultimately, we followed a path consistent with the direction set by our company, namely the path of new energy and renewable energy sources. At the beginning of this new path, we opted for lightweight, containerized transformer stations in steel enclosures. We designed the first station in 2022, and the following year we already produced several dozen stations for various partners in the renewable energy sector, explains the company’s president, Henryk Jurczyk.

Check out E+H’s product range for the renewable energy

These are just the first steps. What are the next ones?

A development project concerning concrete-encased transformer stations dedicated mainly to distribution networks is at an advanced stage. We would like as many components used in transformer stations as possible to be our own proprietary solutions. We hope that within a few years we will establish ourselves as an important partner supplying this type of equipment to renewable energy farms, wind farms, subscribers, and ultimately to distribution networks, emphasizes Henryk Jurczyk.

Elgór + Hansen S.A. is one of four segments in the Grenevia group, with which we want to contribute to the modernization of the Polish power system. We are facing a huge challenge related to, among other things, the transition from coal-based energy to renewable energy sources, adds Dariusz Macierzyński.

We want to develop our future in an area we know well, namely the power industry, in a sector related to energy transition: the production of transformer stations for photovoltaic farms or wind farms, as well as developing our products in other sectors related to energy distribution. Electricity flows the same everywhere, so it doesn’t matter to us, and our high quality, skills, and know-how, which we have developed over years of work in the mining industry, allow us to easily move into these new areas, emphasizes Tomasz Grzyśka, Vice President of Operations.

What has been the key to success in the company’s 30-year history?

Machines and technology are not everything; people are the most important thing for us, and we have employees who have been with us since the company was founded. Quality is our priority, and our employees care about it. Our equipment operates in very demanding conditions and ensures the safety of people working underground, which is why quality is our priority, which we also strive to translate into the new industry related to energy transformation. We are an engineering and manufacturing company, which is why our highly qualified engineering staff forms the basis of all our activities.

Our business is based on values such as passion, faith, responsibility, and fair play, but the main and fundamental value at Elgór + Hansen is people. Without their commitment, sense of loyalty, and awareness of the impact they have on the direction of our company, we would not have come this far. There is a perception among employees that we are a family business, and indeed, there is an atmosphere of openness, mutual understanding, and trust that has been built up over the years, emphasizes Henryk Jurczyk

Finally, please tell us what challenges the Polish energy market is facing?

The Polish power grid needs major changes and must be modernized because energy production sources are changing. As we have already mentioned, we are moving away from mining in favor of new energy sources, whether they be photovoltaic farms, wind farms in the Baltic Sea, or a nuclear power plant—it does not matter. The energy production system is changing, with many prosumer micro-installations being built to produce energy for their own needs, but also to feed energy into the grid. Industrial plants (including ours) are investing in their own energy production. All this means that the power grid needs to be changed. It must be modernized and automated, also due to the requirements for continuity of supply and reliability of energy supply to consumers.

Thank you for the interview and we wish Elgór + Hansen S.A. another 30 years of success and inspiring challenges.