Simple responses to real market needs make the best business ideas. This was also our case. Kolejowe Zakłady Nawierzchniowe “Bieżanów” has been manufacturing railway turnouts for more than 70 years. During this period, it became one of the undisputed leaders of this sector of the industry in Poland. During the privatization process and the resulting measures to stabilize the financial situation (2004–2006), our shareholders and employees recognized many shortcomings in the functioning of the entire market sector. These included competence gaps at various stages of investment and maintenance tasks related to permanent ways.
To address these problems, we brought forward the idea of creating a business structure that would carry out these tasks in a comprehensive manner. The customer who manages track infrastructure or pursues related investment tasks, should receive a fully professional and comprehensive service from a single vendor, which would encompass design, consulting, production of elements, logistic service and, finally, construction and subsequent maintenance of rail roads. The first step in this direction was a distinct expansion in the tramway infrastructure segment and the creation of a new function dedicated to permanent way installation (External Works Division).
At the same time, internal design and development research departments were extended, which allowed to implement innovative solutions related to the manufacturing, installation and servicing of key permanent way elements such as turnouts. Although these measures brought us closer to the goal, they turned out to be insufficient. Therefore, the next step was the owners’ decision to embark on a journey of market expansion by creating and developing a capital group – shortly KZN “Bieżanów” acquired shares in companies, as well as created completely new business entities from scratch (2010–2015).