Debrecen4U April 8, 2026

Financial Times Awards Silver to Harro Höfliger, Operating in Debrecen

Debrecen is an attractive city, drawing skilled professionals and fostering close cooperation between industry, the university and vocational training institutions.

The Financial Times’ specialist publication, fDi Intelligence, has ranked the city among the world’s best investment locations, and one Debrecen‑based project has earned a silver award in the international competition.

Speaking to local media, Csaba Juhász, Managing Director of Harro Höfliger Kft., and Zoltán Pécskay, Managing Director of EDC Debrecen Nonprofit Kft., highlighted that 106 international projects made it to the top tier, with Harro Höfliger receiving the silver medal in the “announced investment” category.

According to Csaba Juhász, the award confirms that the company has a tangible impact on the region and that the results of their development plans are already visible.

He recalled that in 2024 the company decided to expand the group’s operations in Debrecen, relying on the Hungarian management team — a level of trust that is valuable in itself. They also decided not only to increase capacity in Debrecen but to integrate the company into a significant value‑creation chain. As the sector grows, the entire Debrecen ecosystem strengthens, with university and vocational training partnerships playing a key role. The managing director also spoke about the manufacturing processes. As he noted, it is unique that production in Debrecen takes place on two levels, which significantly increases efficiency and reduces the building’s operational costs.

According to Zoltán Pécskay, Debrecen has been ranked in the TOP 10 since 2018, demonstrating not only the city’s successful economic development but also the international significance of the projects implemented here. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a diversified economic structure.

“On one hand, it makes the city more resilient to crises; on the other, it offers a much wider range of career opportunities, which in turn enables local institutions to provide higher‑quality education. While major automotive investments have arrived in recent years, it is important to recognize that many other sectors have also strengthened in Debrecen. Maintaining the balance between large companies and SMEs is essential, as 60 percent of employees work in small and medium‑sized enterprises. Harro Höfliger also contributes greatly to being a key player in Debrecen’s economic life,” he said, adding that the award highlights the many success stories in Debrecen beyond the automotive industry — something EDC’s communication also aims to showcase.

It was also noted that the company does not engage in mass production; instead, it manufactures machinery for products produced in small series or for cases requiring solutions that standard machines cannot provide. They offer tailor‑made solutions, each requiring individual assessment — a process that demands significant engineering capacity and creativity.

“Debrecen is an attractive city, which is why professionals are happy to come here. There is a sufficient pool of skilled workers, which is excellent news, but this is also why our cooperation with the university and vocational training institutions is so strong — to ensure this remains the case in the future,”Csaba Juhász concluded.

Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Facebook (Papp László)