Points In Serbia, CESO client shines in The Canmaker magazine

Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO) is proud of its role in assisting a Serbian, metal-packaging company, Galeb–Metaloplasticka. The company stands out as a major employer in Serbia, where the unemployment rate is over 18 percent – more than double the rate in Canada. Also, with sales of 12-million Euros (approximately $20 million) last year, Galeb became the regional supplier for global companies Coca Cola, Carlsberg and Heineken. And it posted an increase of 80 percent in sales and production over the previous year.

When the state-owned company privatized in 2003, CESO helped to modernize production and set new standards. Volunteer adviser (VA) Charles Henry carried out two assignments with the company. He assisted with long-term plans to consolidate four plants into one business, suggested techniques to improve quality and productivity, and helped put in place a fully automated computerized system to measure and control production.

“With his great experience, the VA helped us make decisions about movements of equipment and what we need in order to centralize the production, increase the quality and significantly reduce the costs,” said Goran Popovic, Galeb’s metal packaging director.

This July, UK-based magazine The Canmaker highlighted Galeb’s successes. The article is titled “Balkan expansion—Serbia’s leading canmaker Galeb has been weathering the financial storms with expansion plans.” It looks at the company’s new markets and its investments in modern technology.

The magazine, which is read by an estimated 14,000 industry members in 100 countries, explains that Serbia has been hit harder than most by the world economic downturn, but that Galeb has the advantage of being located near a US steel company’s tinplate mill.

“Now we are the leader in this region,” reads a quote by Galeb director Goran Popovic.

CESO wants to congratulate Galeb for its achievements and we’re proud the company is recognized as a leader in the field.