In fostering collaboration among Slovenian companies, Skaza and Elan envision the key to success for the Slovenian economy

Renowned as two distinguished Slovenian enterprises, they have established themselves as exceptional representatives of their regions, recognized for their missions and global presence. Their emphasis on innovation, quality, and the development of proprietary brands has earned them a place among the ambassadors of the Slovenian economy at the Public Agency SPIRIT.

From left to right: Niko Medved, Deputy Manager at Skaza; Leon Korošec, Director of the Winter Sports Division and Vice President of the Elan Group; Miran Pristavec, Technical Director of the Winter Sports Division; Matjaž Plesnik, Technical Director of ECD; Polona Zrimec, Director of ECD; Marko Strajnar, Plan Manager of the Winter Sports Division; Vinko Avguštin, Director of R&D of the Winter Sports Division; Dr. Urban Feguš, Head of Research, Innovation, and Development at Skaza; and Tina Grošelj, Public Relations Manager at Skaza.

This acknowledgment was bestowed upon them this year, following the receipt of the Red Dot and Big See awards, reaffirming their commitment to high standards in design. The recent Managers Congress, themed "SLOdelujemo" (SLOcollaborate), served as a catalyst for networking between Skaza and Elan. Representatives from both companies conducted a two-day visit, exploring each other's facilities and fostering inspiring days of best practice exchange. The collaboration between these companies strengthens their competitiveness and contributes to the overall development of the Slovenian economy.

Reflecting on his visit to Skaza, Leon Korošec, Director of the Winter Sports Division and Vice President of the Elan Group, shared his impressions: "I appreciate how you have intertwined the values and culture of the company throughout all production processes, influencing a sense of belonging, culture, and positive spirit. Project digitalization and automation Skaza 5.0 unite all components, as they can only function as part of a broader whole. I also like the broad range of customers, long-term partnerships, and the ability to reach for the best quality, products, and production processes. Everything we heard in the presentation was evident during the company tour. Additionally, I am enthusiastic about the development of the proprietary brand, encompassing innovation, design, and design thinking—all of which resonate with us at Elan and are crucial, ultimately connecting us." 

From left to right: Vinko Avguštin, Director of R&D of the Winter Sports Division at Elan; Dr. Urban Feguš, Head of Research, Innovation, and Development at Skaza; Tina Grošelj, Public Relations Manager at Skaza; Leon Korošec, Director of the Winter Sports Division and Vice President of the Elan Group; Niko Medved, Deputy Manager at Skaza; Boštjan Kretič, Logistics Manager at Skaza; Polona Zrimec, Director of the Composites Division at Elan.

Following the visit to Elan, Niko Medved, Deputy Manager at Skaza, expressed, "I am extremely pleased that Elan has sustainability commitments in its strategy, not only committing themselves but also taking the initiative to connect within the industry of ski equipment manufacturers, making radical shifts to transform their industry towards sustainability. I also believe that Elan has well-defined goals and plans for additional process digitalization and gradual comprehensive digital transformation at the group level, enabling them to maintain competitiveness with their products in domestic and international markets." After touring the production of skis and composites at Elan, he added, "Elan combines traditional and modern approaches, reflecting their innovativeness. The operation of other divisions, such as the composites division for wind turbines, demonstrates the breadth and strength of the Elan group."

The slogan 'SLOdelujemo' emphasizes the importance of collaboration and the exchange of experiences between companies, concurrently expressing a commitment to sustainable development and growth within the community of ambassadors for the Slovenian economy. "Therefore, the working visit was an exceptional opportunity for us to exchange best practices and learn. We deepened relationships and established contacts that will undoubtedly be valuable in our business," said Leon Korošec at the conclusion of the working visit. Niko Medved sees collaboration between Slovenian companies on international markets as crucial for the development of the Slovenian economy: "As together we can strengthen the reputation and value of our companies, which are quality, innovative, and competitive, primarily sustainable and with quality proprietary brands." Both companies will thoroughly focus on the realization of digital transformation and process optimization in the future, ensuring the engagement of their people, as they emphasize that their workforce is their greatest asset.