"More than enormous growth in production and sales, we are interested in increasing sales of products with higher added value. We even started abandoning some of the less demanding products," Merkan has told the STA.

Last year, SwatyComet came up with a number of solutions in the abrasion industry, he said, noting that the biggest challenge in 2017 was the growing prices of raw material from the Far East.

The company presented last autumn its new brand Metalynx, under which it markets its products on the global market, except in the US, where Weiler has its own Tiger brand.

"Our new brand supports our strategic decisions to increase the share of own-brand sales. It is used for the most demanding cutting and abrasion work in metal processing industry," Merkan added.

Last year SwatyComet was selling its products in 80 countries, with Western Europe accounting for around 55% of total sales. The second most important region was the Middle East with a 25% share.

The company will continue its production at the existing three locations in Maribor, Zreče and Loče in eastern Slovenia. It currently employs 840 people and is looking for additional machine operators, engineers, electricians and development technologists.

SwatyComet wants to continue to grow at a moderate pace of 3% this year. One of the biggest investments will be a state-of-the-art automatic robotised cell, worth EUR 1.5m, which will be launched in March.