Case Studies

Honeywell Czech Republic

Honeywell chose the Czech Republic for its first R&D facility outside the United States in 1993 when it founded its Prague laboratory. The laboratory closely cooperates with its partners in the US and the Czech Technical University in Prague. In 2003 the company established Honeywell Technology Solutions, Czech Republic, an integral corporate arm of Honeywell International Inc., providing research, development and engineering support to Honeywell’s businesses. With its world-class engineering talent (over 700 engineers) and stateof-the-art infrastructure, the centre offers product development and support, and research and IT support to cross-company operations in the areas of aerospace, automation and transportation. Close cooperation with the University of Technology and Masaryk University in Brno is an essential aspect of the centre’s work. Honeywell’s Turbo Technologies Engineering Centre has been operating in Brno since 2008. It is focused on integrated engineering and research services for development and validation of the next generation of turbochargers.

"We found here the brains we need."
Kevin Giligan, Honeywell

Edwards, UK

In 2011 Edwards, a world leader in vacuum technology,has officially opened its first volume vacuum

pump manufacturing facility in mainland Europe. The company has invested approximately £47 million in the state-of-the-art manufacturing site at Lutín, Czech Republic.

The 20,000 m2 site is the new global centre for manufacturing the company’s range of vacuum pumps that are used across a variety of applications, from steel manufacturing to centrifuges in a laboratory. Through investing in the site, Edwards has created 600 jobs in the region and there are many opportunities for local graduates to become part of the global vacuum technology company.

“We are delighted to open our new world class facility in Lutín, which will help sustain our leadership of the global vacuum market.”

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive Offi cer at Edwards

Ingersoll-Rand, USA

Ingersoll-Rand (IR) is a signifi cant mechanical engineering fi rm and global provider of the most various innovations and solutions in its field. In the Czech Republic there are 2 plants and R&D centre since 2011. The Kolín plant (mobile refrigeration, air-conditioning for buses and rail vehicles), 550 employees. The Uničov plant (stationary screw compressors, piston compressors for mobile refrigeration), 200 employees. The Hostivice R&D centre (R&D centre, testing facility, IR university), 90 employees.

Key milestones of IR in the Czech Republic

1992 Thermo King takes over the Research Institute of Refrigeration Technology in Prague and builds a production plant in Kolín
1997 Ingersoll Rand Company acquires Thermo King and starts its activities in the Czech Republic
2001 Acquisition of the Superstav factory in Dobříš – production of loaders and excavators
2002 IR builds compressor factory in Uničov (supported by investment incentives from CzechInvest)
2007 Construction of modern R&D and administration complex including training centre for employees from the whole world (supported by Technology centres funding programme from CzechInvest)
2012 Significant extension of R&D facility in Hostivice