UNIOR d.d. is a European industrial manufacturing group with more than 100 years of forging tradition (founded in 1919) and the parent company of the UNIOR Group. The company’s strategic core is the development and industrial production of high-performance forged components for demanding applications. UNIOR combines in-house engineering, advanced process know-how, and vertically integrated manufacturing to serve global industrial and automotive customers. In parallel, the group operates a professional hand tools programme as a complementary industrial activity.
Interview with Robert Vuga, CEO of UNIOR.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Robert Vuga: UNIOR operates two main business pillars, with Forging as the primary strategic focus:
- Forgings (Forge): Development and production of forged steel and aluminium components for automotive, mobility, energy-related, and industrial applications. The programme includes advanced forging processes, tooling development, heat treatment integration, and high-volume industrial production tailored to demanding quality and reliability standards.
- Hand Tools: Production of professional hand tools and workshop equipment for industrial maintenance, manufacturing, and professional users.
What’s the news about new products/services?
R.V: Recent developments are strongly centered on strengthening technological leadership in forging:
- Expansion of lightweight and near-net shape forging solutions, supporting electrification and material efficiency targets of industrial customers.
- Implementation of process digitalization and data-driven quality control initiatives on selected forging lines.
- Continuous investments in tooling optimization, process stability, and productivity improvements, aimed at increasing repeatability and reducing scrap rates.
These initiatives are complemented by selected sustainability-driven upgrades in the hand tools programme.
What are the ranges of products/services?
R.V: Forgings portfolio includes: Forged steel and aluminium components for powertrain, drivetrain, chassis, and industrial applications, supported by integrated engineering services such as tooling development, process optimization, and industrialization support.
Hand Tools portfolio includes: Professional hand tools, workshop equipment, and modular tool organization systems.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
R.V: Market conditions in forging remain dynamic, but UNIOR currently operates with a strong order backlog, reflecting stable demand from key industrial and mobility customers. While some customers remain cautious with new investments, ongoing platform projects and long-term supply agreements provide solid production visibility. The focus across the market is shifting from short-term price-driven sourcing toward technically capable suppliers that can ensure reliability, quality stability, and industrial scalability.
What can you tell us about market trends?
R.V: Several structural trends are shaping the forging industry:
- Electrification and lightweighting, increasing demand for aluminium forgings and optimized steel components.
- Environmental responsibility with economic discipline, where customers seek lower CO₂ footprints and improved material efficiency without compromising competitiveness and total cost of ownership.
- Digital manufacturing adoption, including smart process monitoring, predictive quality systems, and data-driven production optimization.
- Supply chain regionalization and resilience, with customers increasingly valuing European manufacturing capacity and technical proximity.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
R.V: From a forging perspective, innovation is focused on advanced industrial capability:
- Near-net shape forging technologies, reducing machining requirements and material waste.
- Advanced tooling and die engineering, improving process stability and extending tool life.
- Digital process monitoring and adaptive manufacturing concepts, enabling higher repeatability and faster quality feedback loops.
- Lightweight aluminium forging solutions for next-generation mobility and industrial platforms.
What estimations do you have for the beginning of 2026?
R.V: At the beginning of 2026, UNIOR expects continued solid utilization of forging capacities, supported by the existing order backlog and customer project ramp-ups. Strategic priorities will focus on further strengthening technological competitiveness, expanding higher value-added forging applications, and accelerating smart manufacturing initiatives. Investment decisions will remain disciplined, targeting projects with clear industrial scalability and long-term return potential.
