The Florian Group has announced plans to reopen the former Cedar industrial complex in Vrbovsko, Croatia, as part of its continued expansion in Europe.
The initiative, undertaken through FLO VRBOVSKO and FLO ENERGO, focuses on bringing back the site that has not seen production activity for about five years.
Located in the Gorski Kotar region, the site contains significant production infrastructure, such as timber drying and processing facilities, a biomass-fired cogeneration plant, and a direct rail connection to the port of Rijeka.
The company plans to use the cogeneration facility to produce both electricity and heat, supporting current and potential future operations at the complex.
According to Florian, this approach will play a key role in revitalising the industrial area and strengthening the integration of its supply chain operations.
Florian president Elvio Florian outlined a vision to develop Vrbovsko into a strategic hub for the organisation, concentrating timber processing activities that are not carried out at other locations.
The direct rail link and port access were described as key factors in improving the group’s transport and logistics capabilities.
A phased restart of the Vrbovsko site is planned, with investment set to expand and complete the range of production activities.
The project is expected to initially create around 30 jobs, with a target of reaching 100 employees in three years.
The group said the project aims to support both its own growth and the economic recovery of the local area, which has seen a decline in manufacturing and employment in recent years.
