Wienerberger, an Austrian company, is set to revolutionize the construction materials industry by constructing one of the most advanced concrete roof tile factories in Europe, located in Hejőpapi, northeastern Hungary. This ambitious project involves an investment of HUF 12 billion (approximately EUR 30 million) to establish a carbon-neutral facility that integrates fully automated production lines and leverages Industry 4.0 technologies.

Spanning 7,300 square meters, the new factory will include cutting-edge concrete mixing equipment and employ a comprehensive digital tracking system to monitor production metrics such as speed, energy consumption, and operational errors in real-time. The majority of the production process will be automated—from the initial mixing of concrete to the molding, drying, and packaging of the tiles. Robots will handle the transportation and packing of finished products, although some manual processes will remain for components that cannot be fully automated.

This facility marks Wienerberger’s first foray into concrete roof tile manufacturing in Hungary, producing large tiles and related products. The factory will also feature a digital outdoor warehouse system, enhancing the traceability and efficiency of warehouse management—a system already proven successful at the company's Békéscsaba plant.

Environmental sustainability is a cornerstone of this project, with features like a self-cleaning concrete mixer whose wastewater is filtered and reused, contributing to the plant's zero CO2 emissions. Additionally, the building will utilize a heat pump for heating instead of traditional natural gas sources.

Wienerberger's Hungarian operations don't just serve the local market but act as a regional production hub, with 70% of the ceramic roofing tiles produced in Békéscsaba and over three-quarters of the beams from Kőszeg being exported to various European countries. This new factory underscores Wienerberger’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and leadership in the global construction materials industry.