traffic will be limited on road II-81 Sofia - Kostinbrod during the day and will be redirected along the road connections of the newly constructed section of the "Europe" Motorway The change in the traffic organization is for the laying of concrete on the upper structure of the overpass being built at the 45th km of the motorway The "Road Infrastructure" Agency appeals to drivers to drive carefully and not to undertake risky overtaking that endangers the safety of all other travelers All citizens and transport companies can receive information about the current traffic situation from the RIA website - www.api.bg as well as at any time of the day by calling 0700 130 20 at RIA More news from Bulgaria Kalin and Stefan Genchev cutting the ribbon on the project Billboard AD will build a new modern base for digital printing and production of materials for out-of-home advertising near Kostinbrod The first sod of the construction project was turned by Kalin Genchev The construction terrain in the Kostinbrod Industrial Zone was purchased back in 2007 by the founder of the company Kalin and Stefan Genchev, who now head the business launched the construction of the project Diana Dimitrova from UBB and Mayor Trayko Mladenov (from left to right) turning the first sod - Photo Krasimir Svrakov The printing base will be ready in a year and will be equipped with the most advanced technologies it will meet all modern requirements for environmental and ESG standards - a separate waste collection system and a rooftop photovoltaic plant with a power of about 300 kilowatts to cover the enterprise’s own needs The goal is to make the business completely carbon neutral and to simultaneously develop all modern requirements for industrialization and automation The first stage of the new base will spread over 6 thousand square meters on a land lot of 50 decares (12.35 acres) The expansion of the business activity will continue in the next 3-4 years in other directions The goal is to achieve the highest quality efficiency and productivity of the business The investment for the project amounts to about 2.7 million euros and part of which is financed by United Bulgarian Bank (UBB) Between 80 and 100 employees will work in the new base Thanking the municipality and all project partners for their support Kalin Genchev expressed his belief that the Billboard investment will promote the socio-economic growth and development of Kostinbrod Mayor Trayko Mladenov welcomed the latest proven name business development and pointed out that it will contribute to increasing employment and the well-being of the residents of the region He emphasized that the municipality supports all those who create jobs and help grow the local economy and affirmed his administration’s commitment to continue developing the infrastructure of Kostinbrod's industrial area manufacturer of batteries and storage system based on sodium-sulfur (NAS) chemistry has announced the commissioning of its first system deployed in Bulgaria The 500kW/2,900kWh (5.8-hour duration) NAS battery-based energy storage system (ESS) has gone into operation at the production site in Kostinbrod It marks the Japan-headquartered industrial ceramics firm’s first deployment in Eastern Europe for its proprietary ESS technology designed for medium to long-duration energy storage (LDES) applications The tech has been deployed in the field for more than 20 years logging almost 5GWh of cumulative installations across roughly 250 projects NGK claims the NAS battery uses abundant raw materials such as sulfur as well as specialty ceramic separators which the company itself makes NGK claims it can be deployed in locations with high or low ambient temperatures and comes with an intended lifetime of around 20 years Stacks of 1.2kWh battery cells that operate at temperatures of between 290°C – 360°C are combined into 20-ft containers of up to 250kW output and 1,450kWh each with two containerised units deployed at Rollplast’s factory the NAS system has been paired with onsite rooftop solar PV generation and its main applications are to help increase the site’s consumption of that locally generated energy as well as store surplus generation for sale to the grid NGK said the NAS technology was chosen after an evaluation process due to its extensive track record of reliable operation in the field as well as its technical capabilities for storing and shifting solar energy generated in the daytime for discharging at night The combination of the battery units and rooftop solar will cover around half of Rollplast’s energy use at the site customer orders and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) announcements have been made around the NAS sodium-sulfur battery with many representing entries into new territories and a variety of sites and applications Earlier this month, BASF and NGK signed agreements to tie up with a manufacturing firm in Malaysia, Leader Energy, to develop LDES projects using the sodium-sulfur technology across Southeast Asia markets In terms of the newest market the partners have just entered meanwhile, attendees at the recent Energy Storage Summit Central and Eastern Europe heard that the region holds a great deal of promise market reforms and deep understanding of grids and the commercial and regulatory landscapes Meanwhile, representatives from battery energy storage system (BESS) integrator Fluence said the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region could leapfrog into a strong position on the back of gains made in more mature markets elsewhere in an interview at the event hosted by our publisher Solar Media was between OFK Kostinbrod and Tornado Bezden and played in Kostinbrod Plasteurope.com is a business information platform for the European plastics industry It is part of KI Kunststoff Information and PIE Plastics Information Europe one of the leading content providers for the European plastics industry We offer daily updated business news and reports polymer prices and other services for the international plastics industry News | Polymer Prices | Suppliers Guide | Jobs | Register | Advertising JDE PEET’S invests €5 million in expanding roasting and packaging capacity at the Kostinbrod coffee plant together with elected leaders of JDE PEET’S and other members of the Bulgarian diplomatic and business community the coffee plant expects a remarkable 25 percent increase in production output and is deepening its sustainability program one of the world leaders in coffee and tea production proudly announced today the significant expansion of the operational capacity of the Kostinbrod coffee plant with an investment of EUR 5 million aimed at increasing baking and packaging capacity This strategic move underscores the company’s commitment to meeting growing consumer demand by introducing efficiency With a focus on increasing production capacity while minimizing environmental impact the company’s latest initiatives prove its unwavering commitment to excellence and sustainability the coffee plant expects a remarkable increase in production output of 25% It offers a wide range of 85 end products from 20 coffee varieties It currently has a team of almost 100 employees and 10 new jobs were created as part of the expansion efforts further increasing employment opportunities and economic growth in the region The coffee plant in Kostinbrod successfully reduced the carbon emissions of its bakery by 16% as well as significantly reduced nitrous oxide emissions by more than 60% the achieved reduction in carbon emissions amounts to 350-430 tons per year which contributes to global efforts to combat climate change One of the key technological achievements and sustainable practices introduced includes the installation of 820 solar panels on the roof of the plant solar energy is efficiently used to meet 12% of its total energy needs and reduces dependence on non-renewable energy sources The plant also uses energy from 100% renewable sources further reducing its environmental footprint and promoting a greener future Underscoring its dedication to caring for the environment the company marks a significant milestone by generating zero waste for landfill the plant introduced a new type of thermal after-combustion with built-in high-efficiency heat recovery This innovation not only ensures reliable odour destruction but also maximizes energy efficiency by recovering waste heat for industrial use With a focus on reducing energy consumption the company minimizes energy losses through advanced insulation built into the baking system As a strategic step towards increasing environmental sustainability the company relies on a high-quality gas purification system for its new furnace which is superior to traditional catalytic afterburning methods This decision underscores the plant’s commitment to minimising its carbon footprint “These achievements represent a remarkable leap for the coffee plant in Kostinbrod sustainability and excellence in all aspects of our operations remaining a priority for us,” commented Ivan Ivanov “Through state-of-the-art technology and sustainable practices but also ensure that we can continue to deliver high-quality products to the market This investment is a testament to JDE PEET’S’s dedication to growth and high progress in coffee production.” Developed by HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? Executive Director of Kraft Foods Bulgaria for the "Investors of the Decade" Business Survey of Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) and Novinite.bg Antoine Collette took up his appointment as Executive Director of Kraft Foods Bulgaria His professional experience began in Peugeot Austria after that he worked for the marketing departments of Henkel France and Danone France He continued his career in Danone Hungary & Czech Republic as a Marketing Director Antoine Collette worked for Kraft's head office for CEEMA region Where does Bulgaria's greatest potential lie for a company such as Kraft Foods Kraft Foods attaches great significance to the factor 'location' when selecting the countries to invest in which is why we decided to invest and continue investing here following our acquisition of the two plants in the towns of Svoge and Kostinbrod reliability and predictability are the other key requirements for us we need to know the laws are not changing from one day to another Since it first entered the Bulgarian market in 1994 Kraft Foods has made substantial investments in its existing plants in the towns of Svoge and Kostinbrod but attractive for investors municipalities Let me point out that we acquired those two factories municipalities - small or big - should meet the same requirements that a country should – be reliable and solid The second key factor is the extent to which the municipality is willing to be a business partner We are competing against all other factories in the network – the Kraft Foods factories in the Czech Republic The key question for us is how much the local municipality will help us be competitive I seize every opportunity to make people understand this is a win-win relationship we bring direct and indirect business to the place but we are also dependent on the rules and  regulations of a municipality and how well its work is organized We are mutually dependent and should help each other How did the investments impact the company's production process The investment in the factory in Svoge 2 years ago was very important since we managed to double its capacity We are now able to export more than 50% of our production in both Svoge and Kostinbrod to Romania The investment also impacted the modernity of the equipment We have now the most efficient line and are therefore able to compete with the other factories from the network Two years ago your predecessor Mr Franco Del Fabbro said that the Bulgarian subsidiary of the US Kraft Foods has set itself the ambitious goal to become a manufacturing hub of the company for the Balkans Is this plan already turning into a reality this is happening and this is very positive I firmly believe that the more production we roll out at the plants in Svoge and Kostinbrod In this way we bring money back to Bulgaria's economy helping it cope with the crisis it is going through Most foreign investors acquire a certain market share by buying plants in Bulgaria But if it is more profitable for the product to be manufactured outside the country Which factors do you take into account when choosing where to produce a Kraft Foods product Our consumers will soon notice the fact that we introduced a stamp "Made in Bulgaria" on the pack of our local brands to reinforce this idea a number of factors come into the picture and determine our decision Can we produce this product in this factory or not does it make sense to make a very substantial investment in a new line If the answer to the first group of questions is positive the right cost for energy and the other elements of the cost It is always a trade-off between the landed cost and the cost of producing the product at the existing factory But our decision does not boil down only to the cost It is also important for us how much the municipality is willing to help us invest Help does not mean necessarily financial aid construction permits and approval of the official documents In fact the competition is not between different countries In what direction does the company plan to develop it production process Kraft Foods invests every year a couple of million of dollars in both factories – to improve the quality make sure that we always give the best product to the consumer A lot is invested in production sustainability and environmental protection At the end our goal is to give the best product to the consumer at the best price with less impact on the environment of the municipality and the country We are living in times of crisis and it is important that the value of the product comes to the consumer and is not lost along the production chain due to inefficiency We try to offset the higher prices of the raw materials by being more efficient and cheaper to produce but always keeping the high quality standards that Kraft Foods has How do you assess the actions that the government is taking to sustain the economy and provide new stimulus to foreign investors The direction in which Bulgaria is moving in terms of reliability predictability and sound finances is correct all the more so when compared to the situation in neighboring countries Bulgaria should develop faster its infrastructure What will it take for Bulgaria to start boasting greater advantages over other countries in the race for foreign investments in the region the key principle is how much welcomed you are in the country We made our choice and picked Bulgaria based on those criteria How do you find doing business in Bulgaria different from your experience so far My previous jobs took me to different countries But key business principles are true everywhere – transparent rules How has the presence of a multinational company like Kraft Foods impacted consumers in Bulgaria and changed their tastes We are not here to change Bulgarians' tastes but offer people new possibilities and new tastes Our company continues to produce the traditional Bulgarian products with the same care and selection of ingredients The most interesting thing I have witnessed in my experience is that what works in most places The milk- and chocolate-filled Barni bear biscuits are present on the markets of nineteen countries and Kraft Foods is launching them this year on the African continent It is exactly the same product – the same recipe The same holds true for BelVita breakfast biscuits and we are about to announce the launch of new products on the Bulgarian market very soon people appreciate it and it turns into a big success It is very important to stress that Kraft Foods does not use cheaper recipes for the Eastern European markets In April last year the Slovak Association of Consumers alleged that major food and drink multinationals are packing variable quality products to be shipped to different European countries under the same name I can definitely say that for each product Kraft Foods – and this is something that this same study proved - has the same recipe The Milka chocolate bar in Bulgaria and Austria are exactly the same I promised myself to get prepared for the marathon in May and make it this year too What are your business expectations for 2012 I am an optimist and I want to stay optimist I believe that there are always ways to look at the positive side and I hope that 2012 will be a good year As a manager of Kraft Foods Bulgaria it is my obligation to create space and opportunities to make it possible for the company to get the best red smile exploding into an array of seven "flavor bursts" Which are the seven things you like best in Bulgaria I have just started to collect stamps of Bulgaria's one hundred national tourist sites Let's make it five - a beautiful country with nice people We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria Ivaylo Naydenov has been appointed at the beginning of March as the new executive director of Kraft Foods Bulgaria Interview with the chief executive officer of Solvay Sodi Spiros Nomikos Bulgaria must boost the administrative capacities of its local authorities in order to attract more FDI in the new global economic environment Kraft Food Bulgaria CEO Antoine Collette recommended at the Bulgaria: Business UP invest As part of its "Investors of the Decade" Business Survey Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) and Novinite.bg have asked representatives of leading human resource consultancies in Bulgaria how the Bulgarian labor market influences the country's attractivenes Executive Director of the InvestBulgaria Agency An exclusive interview with Bulgaria's Minister of Economy and Tourism Traicho Traikov for the "Investors of the Decade" Business Survey of Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) and Novinite.bg for the Investors of the Decade Business Survey of Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) and Novinite.bg Exclusive interiview with Solvay Sodi CEO Eric Vander Vorst for the "Investors of the Decade" Business Survey of Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) and Novinite.bg Commercial Vice President - East Europe Region at Ideal Standard International; Executive Director and Chairman of Board of Directors of Ideal Standard-Vidima AD for the "Investors of the Decade" Business Survey Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase The first successful realization was carried out at 9.30 am yesterday After analyzing the acquired operational information officers of the “Criminal Police“ group in the Kostinbrod Regional Office proceeded to search an inherited property in the village of Petarch they found a room designated as a greenhouse for growing cannabis – equipped with reflector lamps an electrical panel with current transformers and electrical installation The occupant of the property was detained for a period of up to 24 hours a drug greenhouse was also discovered on the territory of the Kostenets Municipality The police operation was carried out by officers of the "Counter-Criminal Crime" sector at the Sofia Regional Directorate of Internal Affairs together with their colleagues from the Kostenets Kostinbrod and Samokov Regional Directorates During the urgent procedural and investigative actions the forensic experts came across a separate room for growing cannabis precisely equipped with a ventilation and lighting system 53 pots with green cannabis plants with a height of about 1.20 meters were seized as well as a plastic bag with green foliage No individuals were identified at the address Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated in both cases the investigation of which continues under the supervision of the competent prosecutor's office More news from Crimes