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POLAND
In just a few decades, Polish company Merkson has grown from a small locksmith workshop into a global supplier for the automotive industry. When the time came to streamline operations and upskill staff, the Enterprise Europe Network stepped in to help them take the next big step.
Merkson, a Polish producer of metal sheet components, is one of the success stories of Poland’s economic transformation. Founded in the 1980s, then still under communism, it started out as a simple locksmith workshop run out of the Gorzelak family garage. Today, the company supplies metal parts to automotive industry giants such as MAN, Scania, John Deere and CLAAS.
"The turning point came in 2010 when we signed a contract with MAN," said Marek Gorzelak, CEO and son of the company’s founder. "It was our first collaboration on such a large scale, with a demanding, global partner. That contract marked the beginning of our growth and opened the door to international cooperation."
Human capital
In recent years, Merkson has experienced rapid growth. The company now employs more than 160 people and generates over EUR 10 million in revenue.
Along the way, it improved its certification standards to meet the requirements of international clients, underwent rigorous audits and invested in cutting-edge production upgrades like computer-operated machine tools. A new production facility is also planned in Starachowice, Poland.
To continue expansion, Merkson decided that it needed to modernise its internal business and financial operations and build up its human capital. Help came from the Enterprise Europe Network and their partner in Poland, the Staropolska Chamber of Industry and Commerce. A comprehensive support programme overhauled several areas of Merkson’s operations, including the optimisation of production processes and control and performance monitoring tools.
Help was also provided to access external funding and identify training needs. Co-financing was obtained for employee training focused on project management, the application of new software and digital tools, as well as technical and technology-related upskilling.
"With Network support, Merkson successfully secured funding for the optimisation of internal processes and the introduction of a management control system," said Dorota Tekieli-Bisińska, Regional Manager, at the Staropolska Chamber of Industry and Commerce. "We also placed strong emphasis on human capital development, resulting in 30 specialised training modules for a total of 120 employees."
Promotions
According to Tekieli-Bisińska, the Network support has helped to strengthen Merkson’s position on the market and enhanced its credibility with its demanding business partners.
The results were tangible. "We improved our financial organisation, implemented controlling and budgeting mechanisms and developed an annual consolidated budget covering sales, costs and profits," said Gorzelak. "This allowed us to monitor performance in real time, make fast decisions and plan ahead."
The improvements didn’t stop there. Merkson also saw a noticeable improvement in customer service, internal communication and team efficiency. Several staff members were even promoted to managerial positions thanks to their newly acquired skills.
With the help of the Enterprise Europe Network, Merkson continues to evolve—proving that even the most humble beginnings can lead to global success when combined with vision, support, and smart investment in people.