VÚTS has commenced the construction of a research center in Liberec for 775 million CZK

Liberec - The Liberec VÚTS (formerly the Research Institute of Textile Machines) today commenced construction of a new research and development center in the Sever industrial zone in Liberec. The project, costing 775 million Czech crowns, is largely financed through support from European funds, with grants received from the operational programs of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry. The company director Miroslav Václavík informed journalists about this today. Liberec is gradually transforming into a center for research and development; the VÚTS project is already the third similar center under Ještěd.
    The new engineering research center will create conditions for cutting-edge research, development, and the advancement of new progressive technologies in the field of medium and precision engineering. The center will focus primarily on reducing the energy consumption of machines, lowering noise and vibrations, the application of new materials, and the integration of mechanics with electronics. The complex will also include a center for laser machining equipment. "It is necessary to increase the power of machines, but on the other hand, hygiene standards related to noise are becoming stricter. This creates a contradiction that we want to help resolve," said Václavík.
    The company is expected to move into the modern complex in the northern industrial zone next year from inadequate premises in the city center. The company has also committed to increasing its number of employees from the current 150 by an additional 40. "Meeting this condition will not be entirely easy, as several older employees will retire by then and there are not many capable young technicians. We are also relying on graduates from the University of Liberec," noted Václavík. VÚTS collaborates with the university not only on research and testing of new machines but also in education. Among other things, Václavík is the head of the Department of Mechanics, Elasticity, and Strength.
    VÚTS is focused on the research and development of machines and equipment for the processing industry. The company is located in the city center, close to the regional office, but the current site does not allow for further expansion. Therefore, VÚTS acquired land for the new complex in the industrial zone nearly a year ago, covering an area of almost 2.5 hectares. Nearby, the company Elmarco, which produces machines for the production of nanofiber textiles, recently completed its research and development center. Another research center is being built on the premises by the technical university. The modern complex of laboratories is intended for technical fields and research in the area of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. These projects have also been supported by the European Union.
    VÚTS originally focused on textile machines, but in recent years has been increasingly expanding its scope. It engages in research, development, and the design of machines and equipment for other sectors of the processing industry in the areas of packaging, reprography, printing, food processing, and glass technology. The majority owner of the company is the Liberec company Vutex, holding 87.68 percent of the shares. The company with a registered capital of 58.06 million crowns last year carried out orders worth approximately 73 million crowns. The operations are profitable, but profits are redirected back into research and development.