FDI Award Slovenia was given out in three categories. Iskraemeco was named the best among big companies, Sytemair won the award in the long-term presence category, and Swarco Lea got the smart products and services development award.

Established in 1954, Iskraemeco was taken over by Egyptian group Elsewedy Electric in 2007. The company was in the red at the time of the takeover, while last year it generated EUR 126 million net sales and EUR 8.8 million in net profit.

The Kranj-based firm employs more than 700 people, generating value added of EUR 48,000 per employee, SPIRIT said in its reasoning.

Sytemair, based in Maribor, is a subsidiary of Swedish Systemair AB group, a global leader in ventilation with 50 subsidiaries around the world.

The company in Slovenia employs more than 100 people, making smoke extract fans and explosion proof fans, as well as AC modules. Its net profit reached nearly EUR 1.4 million, while its value added per employee is at EUR 54,000.

The Lesce-based Swarco Lea, is one of the fastest growing subsidiaries of Austrian group Swarco. It specialises in LED traffic panels and generated EUR 7.7 million in revenue last year and EUR 1.1 million in net profit.

It employs 31 people, reaching a value added of EUR 75,000 per employee.