The Zreče-based company has been found to successfully implement the EFQM European model of excellence last year and received the EFQM certificate at tonight's ceremony.

GKN Driveline started out as Unior-Atras in 1986. In 1996 it was acquired by the German firm GKN Automotive, which in turn passed into British ownership in December 2009.

GKN Driveline Slovenija was the only company to apply to the public call for applications, falling into the category of private companies with more than 250 employees. The company employed 448 people at the end of last year.

Both private and state-owned companies with at least 15 full-time employees can apply for the certificate.

In the 20 years of the project, 16 companies received the excellency title so far. Last year it went to the UKC Ljubljana hospital and a year earlier to the caravan maker Adria Mobil.