Le-Tehnika d.o.o.

From telephony to cryogenics

Le-Tehnika produces several hundred telephony products in 3000 variations, with small batches originating here in Slovenia and larger quantities produced in China. It also manufactures a wide range of components used in the hydraulics industry, including cylinders, valves, gears, pistons, pumps and motors. Under the LUXTELLA brand name, LED street lights are supplied for roads, parking areas and many other public spaces. Following the move of other major European manufacturers

such as Siemens to China, Le-Tehnika d.o.o. also based its telephony production in China. In recent years, a highly-specialised range of bespoke cryogenics products has been added to the company’s range.

“Nearly 30 years of experience has enabled us to specialise in cryogenics, including development of technology used in miniature cryogenic coolers, their production, component assembly and their integration into complex systems,” Drago and Jadranka explain. The main cryogenics products include specialised miniature coolers, made according to the Joule- Thompson principle (self-controlled, continuous, fast reacting and non- standard), as well as refrigeration units made under the Stirling principle (rotary drive). These products are intended for the cooling of IR detectors used in a variety of industry sectors. The cryogenics system has been presented at international conferences and trade fairs in the USA, the UK, France, Turkey and elsewhere in the global market.

The company has obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 1Q001 certificates, which assure the high quality of management. In 1998 the ‘Podjetnik’ magazine voted Drago and Jadranka entrepreneurs of the year, and in that same year the company was awarded the Excellence in Business Management Award by the International Institute Deloitte Tohmatsu in Vienna. In 1999, Le-Tehnika d.o.o. was awarded the Special Achievements Award of Enduring Importance in Entrepreneurial Development by the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce.

“These awards are the result of our tenacity and hard work, reflected in the balance between the quality and price of our products. Altogether these factors are mirrored in the increases in sales and the implementation of new developing production programmes, which are achieved in qlobal markets," confidently explains Draqo. In his opinion, Le-Tehnika d.o.o. differs from other companies by being an innovative  and market-penetrating enterprise, focused internationally. Above all, it is distinguished by a broad spread of activities, which is crucial, particularly in times of crisis.

Across the world

As much as 80% of total sales are from foreign markets, in 32 countries of Europe, South America, Asia and the Far East. “Direct sales are made to major customers such as Siemens, and Samsung, whereas smaller customers are reached with the help of our network of distributors in countries such as Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. With their initial installation in telephone handsets and laptops, our products are present all over the world,” Drago and Jadranka proudly explain. Today Le-Tehnika d.o.o. employs 76 staff and in 2013, it generated around six million euros of revenue. Several globally- renowned companies rank among their major clients.

The future

The company’s values include a rigorous approach to work, good relations among employees and a focus on international markets. “Success, tradition and high quality are maintained with a system of continuous improvements. As a family business, our standing is closely tied to our stability and long- term growth,” says Drago, who heads the company as owner, while both his children, daughter Anja and son Anzej are already involved in the business. “All through the years, they have both been involved in the company to a certain degree and they show a keen interest,” he continues. “It is always extremely difficult to draw a line between private and business life. You can imagine how it works – we spend most of our time at work and real vacations are short and broken up by numerous communications by phone or e-mail,” honestly admits Drago.

The company’s future rests, above all, on the continued development of existinq ranqes of products, particularly in the fields of cryoqenics and LED liqhtinq. In recent years, it has souqht out and hired younq, qualified talent. “We aim to reach all key customers in the cryogenics industry and penetrate the global market with our range of LED lighting. Thus we devote much attention to our R&D, which has continually assured our development of new products and technologies.”