Zetor to End Tractor Production in Brno After 80 Years

Czech tractor manufacturer Zetor Tractors is ending production in Brno after 80 years and transferring manufacturing to India, citing the high cost of producing tractors in Europe.

The company’s headquarters, research and development centre, spare-parts warehouse and distribution centre will remain in Brno. The closure of local production will affect 33 employees, Zetor said in a press release.

Since ending its own production of engines and gearboxes in 2024, Zetor has continued to assemble tractors in Brno using components held in stock. The company employed approximately 150 people in the city last year.

“Producing small and medium-sized tractors in Europe no longer makes economic sense under current conditions,” Zetor Tractors CEO Róbert Harman said.

He said the company had been one of the last manufacturers attempting to retain such production in Europe but could no longer remain sufficiently competitive because of high energy, labour and material costs.

“This does not mean that we are abandoning this category of tractors. Like all our competitors, we will simply no longer manufacture them in Europe,” Harman added.

Zetor said the main reason for the decision was the long-term increase in the prices of materials, particularly steel, plastics and aluminium, as well as rising energy costs.

According to the company, materials are approximately 30% to 35% cheaper in India and China. This can reduce the final cost of a tractor by at least 25% to 30%, creating a cost difference that European production cannot overcome.

Zetor has manufactured most of its tractors in India in partnership with VST since 2020 and is now seeking a similar partner in China. It is also preparing to open its own production facility in Asia.

The company aims to export approximately 5,000 tractors from India within five years and has set a similar target for China.

“Zetor is moving closer to suppliers of key components to improve efficiency and accelerate the expansion of its product range,” Harman said. “Brno will remain our centre because of its historical facilities, universities and young talent, which we expect will help us grow.”

The long-established manufacturer has faced financial difficulties over the past decade. Since 2018, it has reported a profit only once, in 2021. Its loss in 2024 reportedly ran into hundreds of millions of Czech crowns, although the company did not publish an exact figure. Its annual reports for 2024 and 2025 are not available in the Czech public register.

The Zetor brand originated as a division of the Zbrojovka engineering company in Brno. Its first three tractors were delivered to customers in March 1946.

The trademark was registered the same year, combining “Zet,” the name formerly used for Zbrojovka products, with the final letters of the word “tractor.” The company moved to its current Brno premises in the mid-1950s.

Following the collapse of communism and the loss of its traditional export markets, Zetor came close to bankruptcy. The company recovered after 2002, when it was acquired by its current owner, Bratislava-based HTC Investments.

Source: CTK

HSF System Completes 3D-Printed Concrete Car Wash in Slovakia

Construction group HSF System has completed a car wash made from 3D-printed concrete near the Klokan shopping centre in Žilina, Slovakia. The companies involved describe it as the first facility of its kind in Slovakia or the Czech Republic and one of the first commercial buildings in Europe to use this construction method.

The structure consists of 40 concrete components printed in 36 hours. HSF System served as the general contractor, while MC Štadión, part of the KLM real estate development group, was the investor.

The car wash forms part of the Klokan retail development, which HSF System completed as general contractor in 2025. The use of 3D-printed concrete was considered during the design of the wider site. The new facility adds another service near central Žilina and the MŠK Žilina football stadium.

“The project was developed locally, from the initial design and planning through to construction,” said Tomáš Kosa, CEO of HSF System. “It shows that 3D printing can now be used as an alternative to conventional construction methods in operational buildings.”

The concrete components were produced in the Czech Republic by Coral Construction Technologies using its 3D Concrete Printing process. They were then transported to Žilina and assembled on site. Off-site production reduced exposure to weather conditions and allowed closer control over manufacturing tolerances and the sequencing of subsequent work.

According to Kosa, the completed building meets the thermal-insulation and fire-resistance requirements set by the relevant authorities. The car wash is now in operation.

Coral Construction Technologies says the process can shorten production times, improve precision and reduce material waste. The company has been developing the technology for almost five years.

“This project demonstrates the use of 3D-printed concrete in a functioning commercial building rather than a prototype,” said Tomáš Vránek, CEO of Coral Construction Technologies. “The structure is relatively small, but it provides a practical application of the technology using standard concrete.”

HSF System and Coral Construction Technologies have previously worked on other 3D-printed buildings, including a restaurant at the Kopřivná ski resort in the Czech Republic. Coral Construction Technologies is 50% owned by investment holding company PURPOSIA Group through HSF System.

“Our cooperation with HSF System helps us move concrete 3D printing from development into completed construction projects,” Vránek said. “We see automation and robotics as tools that can also be applied more widely in the construction sector.”

Czech Corporate Criminal Liability Rules Give Greater Weight to Compliance Measures

Amendments to the Czech Act on Criminal Liability of Legal Persons have expanded the factors courts must consider when sentencing companies and other legal entities.

The changes, introduced by Act No. 270/2025 Coll., took effect on 1 January 2026. Courts must still consider the nature and seriousness of an offence, but the amended legislation adds several factors relating to the organisation itself.

These include its number of employees, business activities and whether it performs a strategic or difficult-to-replace role in the national economy, defence or security. Courts must also consider whether the organisation had effective compliance measures in place and what action it took after the offence to reduce the risk of further misconduct.

Financial penalties

The amendment also changes the assessment of financial penalties. The daily rate remains between CZK 1,000 and CZK 2 million.

When setting the rate, courts must now consider not only the organisation’s financial circumstances but also its net turnover for the most recently completed accounting period, where that information can be established. The change is intended to make penalties more closely reflect an offender’s financial position.

Compliance and remedial action

The revised sentencing rules give courts an explicit basis for considering the quality and effectiveness of a company’s compliance arrangements. A documented programme that operates in practice may therefore affect the assessment of a sentence, although its impact will depend on the circumstances of each case.

Measures taken after misconduct is discovered may also be relevant. These can include investigating the conduct, addressing control failures and introducing changes intended to prevent a recurrence.

More than six months after the amendment entered into force, companies may need to assess whether their compliance policies, internal controls and records would provide sufficient evidence of how their systems operate. The reform makes both preventive measures and the response to identified misconduct relevant considerations in corporate criminal sentencing.

Source: CMS

Hungary Restores Public Access to Construction Authority Records

Hungary has amended the rules governing construction authority procedures and inspections, restoring public access to selected records held in the country’s electronic construction documentation system.

The amendment to Government Decree No. 281/2024 (IX. 30.) took effect on 30 June 2026. It reinstates the public interface of the electronic documentation system used in construction and heritage protection proceedings, known as ÉTDR. Public access to the system had been discontinued in 2024.

The amendment’s explanatory memorandum states that the earlier restrictions had limited access to information about construction projects and investments of public interest. It also said the restrictions had affected citizens’ ability to exercise their constitutional rights and made related reporting by the media more difficult.

Under the revised rules, anyone can access general information that does not contain personal data. This includes the type and date of a proceeding, the address and land registry number of the property concerned, and the subject of the proposed construction work.

Construction authorities must also publish selected supporting material on the ÉTDR public interface. Depending on the proceeding, this may include a site plan, elevation drawing or visualisation from which personal data has been removed. For demolition applications, authorities must publish photographs of the building and its surroundings.

A summary of the main points of an authority’s decision must be published at the same time as the decision is issued.

The public-access requirements also apply retrospectively to certain records. These include proceedings that were pending when the amendment took effect, information previously available through the ÉTDR public interface up to 15 August 2024, and proceedings initiated between 16 August 2024 and 30 June 2026.

Source: CMS

Baumanagement Chmelar Uses Digital Site Records During IKEA Store Refurbishment

Baumanagement Chmelar used PlanRadar’s construction management platform to document refurbishment work at an IKEA store in Vösendorf, Austria. According to a case study published by PlanRadar, the system reduced the time required for a documentation walk-through by between 85% and 90%.

Baumanagement Chmelar was responsible for project management and construction coordination during work on the store’s 22,000 sq m roof. The project included repairs to the roof membrane, replacement of skylights, installation of photovoltaic panels and changes to the ventilation system.

The store remained open during the work, requiring the construction team to coordinate activities without disrupting customers below.

Adding context to site photographs

Construction teams routinely take large numbers of photographs, but individual images can be difficult to use if they are not linked to a location, date and stage of work.

“A photograph without location and time information is simply an image rather than evidence,” said Adam Heres Vostarek, Regional Manager at PlanRadar. “If photographs are spread across individual workers’ phones or stored without a consistent structure, it can be difficult to reconstruct the progress of the work later.”

This was a particular issue on the Vösendorf project because much of the large, flat roof looked similar. Skylights, fans and ventilation outlets could be difficult to distinguish in conventional photographs. A record describing moisture near a skylight, for example, would be of limited use without a precise location.

Documentation time reduced

The project team used PlanRadar to record site information and store it in a central system. Its SiteView feature captured 360-degree images during routine inspections using a wearable camera, which could be mounted on a helmet.

The images were automatically linked to the building’s digital plan, creating a location-based visual record of the work. According to the case study, a documentation walk-through that previously required between 90 minutes and two hours took about 15 minutes using the system.

The centrally stored records could also be used to prepare project reports and review earlier site conditions.

Records used after storm damage

During the refurbishment, a severe storm caused water to enter the building at several points. The project team used the existing location-based records to identify affected areas, coordinate repairs and document the damage.

PlanRadar said the records reduced the need for repeated physical inspections and manual searches through photographs. The information also helped the team manage repairs while the store remained open.

The project produced a digital record of the building’s condition that can be retained for future maintenance and facility-management work.

“The project shows how digital tools can support the management of complex construction work,” Vostarek said. “Having project information in one system was particularly relevant because the store remained in operation throughout the refurbishment.”

Refurbishment and Technology Are Reshaping the Property Market

The global commercial property market is adjusting to changing macroeconomic conditions, according to Savills’ Impacts 2026 report. Target allocations to real estate in institutional investment portfolios stand at 10.8% this year, broadly in line with levels recorded since the beginning of the decade.

The report identifies three factors influencing the sector: the need to upgrade existing buildings, the growth of artificial intelligence and changes to global supply chains. It also points to Poland as a potential beneficiary of nearshoring and a location for business-services investment.

Target real estate allocations in institutional portfolios are forecast to remain relatively stable at 10.8% in 2026. Meanwhile, New York, Tokyo, London and Seoul retained the top four positions in the Savills Resilient Cities Index, which assesses economies, innovation, environmental, social and governance factors, and property markets.

Growth in artificial intelligence is increasing investment in data centres. Savills expects the sector to generate demand for an additional 790,000 sq m of supporting warehouse space in Europe over the next three years. At the same time, construction costs have risen in many markets, putting pressure on the viability of new projects. In New York, the cost of developing new office space has exceeded $10,700 per sq m.

The report estimates that 80% of the buildings that will be in use in developed-market cities in 2050 have already been built. Extensive refurbishment could reduce their energy consumption by between 40% and 70%, increasing the importance of upgrading existing properties.

Investment amid market volatility

Savills says commercial property continues to provide diversification within investment portfolios, combining characteristics of equities and fixed-income instruments. However, the performance of individual assets remains dependent on factors including location, building quality and tenant demand.

In the US office market, some landlords are offering more flexible lease terms in response to caution among occupiers. At the same time, companies continue to favour higher-quality space. In locations where employers compete for skilled workers, some businesses are signing leases of 10 or 15 years in well-equipped buildings.

Technology and access to workers

Access to skilled employees is becoming a more important factor in corporate location decisions. Demographic change and a smaller pool of available workers in some markets are encouraging companies to place operations in cities with established talent bases.

The San Francisco Bay Area, New York and the UK’s “Golden Triangle” of London, Oxford and Cambridge remain leading centres for advanced technology. These locations account for a significant share of demand from artificial-intelligence companies.

The expansion of AI is also affecting demand for data centres and related property. At the same time, rising construction costs may make it more difficult to deliver new space, further increasing the importance of upgrading existing buildings.

Poland’s role in nearshoring

The Savills Nearshoring Index identifies Poland as one of the markets that could benefit as businesses move production and supply chains closer to their customers.

According to the report, Eastern European markets, including Poland, offer a relatively balanced combination of resilience, economic conditions, business environment and ESG standards. Poland’s position in the index is stronger than its GDP per capita alone would suggest.

Warsaw also appears in the Savills Talent Cities Index as a “cost-advantaged talent hub”, alongside cities including Lisbon. The category covers locations that combine access to skilled workers with lower operating costs than more expensive global business centres.

“In 2026, we expect investors to focus on rationalisation and cautious property portfolio management,” said Wioleta Wojtczak, Head of Research at Savills Poland.

She said recent macroeconomic disruption had changed the way commercial properties are planned and managed. Asset quality, location and the potential to create long-term value are therefore likely to remain central to investment decisions.

“Higher construction costs and tighter climate regulations are increasing the importance of refurbishing existing buildings to improve their operational and environmental performance,” Wojtczak said. “At the same time, investors remain interested in new projects that meet occupiers’ requirements.”

Savills therefore expects investment interest to focus both on high-quality new properties and on existing buildings that can be upgraded. Wojtczak added that real estate could continue to support portfolio diversification, provided that investment decisions were based on detailed analysis of individual locations and assets.

Dr Irena Eris opens cosmetic institute at Renoma in Wrocław

The Dr Irena Eris Cosmetic Institute has opened a new location at the Renoma mixed-use complex in central Wrocław.

The institute occupies approximately 165 sqm on the ground floor and includes five treatment rooms. It offers skin assessments, face and body treatments, massages, aesthetic medicine procedures, manicures and pedicures. Staff also provide recommendations for home skincare.

A reception and retail area allows customers to view and test Dr Irena Eris products. The premises were designed by Wrocław-based practice 77 Architects, which used natural materials and subdued lighting in the interior.

The institute relocated to Renoma to provide easier access for residents, city-centre workers and visitors. It joins the building’s existing mix of offices, shops, services and restaurants, including the PeDeT food and leisure area.

Joanna Kaczanowska, asset management and leasing manager at Globalworth, said the opening adds health and wellbeing services to Renoma’s tenant mix.

Jolanta Łapińska, director of the professional division at Dr Irena Eris, said the new location enables the company to provide its range of cosmetic and skincare services in central Wrocław.

IU leases 3,550 sqm at Yorcks Campus in Düsseldorf

IU International University of Applied Sciences has agreed a long-term lease for around 3,550 sqm at Yorcks Campus in Düsseldorf. BNP Paribas Real Estate advised the tenant.

The agreement brings the proportion of space secured under long-term leases to more than 85%. Other occupiers include Düsseldorf’s adult education centre, fitness operator FitX, biotechnology company Bio-Techne and health insurer AOK Rheinland/Hamburg.

Located at Yorckstraße 18–23 and Münsterstraße 169, the campus provides approximately 28,600 sqm of lettable space. Its facilities include roof gardens, landscaped outdoor areas, shared spaces, food and service amenities, and around 400 parking spaces with electric-vehicle charging points.

IU is a private, state-recognised university with around 130,000 students. It offers campus-based, distance-learning and dual-study programmes across subjects including business, IT, artificial intelligence, psychology, healthcare and social work.

The building complex was completed in 1992 and acquired by ABG Real Estate Group in 2020. Its subsequent renovation included new building systems, heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and other energy-efficiency measures. According to ABG, these upgrades reduced the property’s energy demand by more than 50%.

Yorcks Campus has received DGNB Gold pre-certification.

Deutsche Bank leases 7,566 sqm in Hamburg’s EMPORIO Tower

Union Investment has signed a lease with Deutsche Bank for 7,566 sqm of office space in Hamburg’s EMPORIO Tower. The bank is scheduled to move into the premises in March 2027.

The initial lease term is five years, with an option to extend. Union Investment said the agreement also reduces the property’s lease-expiry risk through 2032.

The 23-storey EMPORIO Tower was built in 1963 and extensively renovated between 2009 and 2011, when two floors were added. The building has been listed as a historic landmark since 2001 and holds LEED Platinum certification. It is currently fully leased.

Located at Valentinskamp 70, EMPORIO is the largest property in Union Investment’s Hamburg portfolio. It has been held by the UniImmo: Deutschland open-ended real estate fund since 1989.

Union Investment manages around 219,000 sqm of office space in Hamburg. Its other properties in the city include Chilehaus, TRIIIO Hamburg, Ericus-Contor and the Falkenried complex.

Munich industrial and logistics market slows in H1 as large warehouse deals remain absent

Munich’s industrial and logistics property market recorded a slower first half of 2026 as the absence of large-scale warehouse transactions weighed on leasing activity, according to new research from REALOGIS.

Total take-up reached 115,700 sqm in the first six months of the year, an 18% decline from the 141,900 sqm recorded in the same period of 2025 and 7% below the five-year average. Warehouse space accounted for 99,500 sqm, representing 86% of all leased space, while office and mezzanine areas totalled 13,900 sqm and 2,300 sqm, respectively.

REALOGIS attributed the weaker performance primarily to the lack of transactions exceeding 10,000 sqm, a segment that had contributed more than one-third of total market activity during the first half of last year.

Despite lower leasing volumes, rental levels remained resilient. Prime rents held steady at a record €13.50 per sqm per month, while average rents edged up to €9.20 per sqm, reflecting continued demand for well-located and modern industrial space.

Existing properties accounted for the majority of leasing activity, with 88,800 sqm, or 77% of total take-up, completed in standing assets. Leasing of brownfield developments reached 24,000 sqm, while new developments on greenfield sites contributed only 2,900 sqm, highlighting the limited availability of newly developed logistics facilities.

Manufacturing emerged as the strongest occupier sector during the period, accounting for 61,700 sqm, or 53% of total take-up. The sector moved ahead of logistics and distribution, supported by leasing activity from companies including Schletter Group and ARX Robotics. Logistics and distribution followed with 39,700 sqm, while retail and wholesale activity declined sharply compared with the previous year due to the absence of larger occupier requirements.

The northern part of the Munich region remained the largest submarket, accounting for almost half of all leasing activity despite recording a year-on-year decline. Eastern Munich ranked second and maintained broadly stable activity compared with last year, while the southern region posted the strongest percentage growth from a relatively low base.

Leasing activity shifted toward mid-sized occupiers, with units between 5,001 sqm and 10,000 sqm becoming the largest segment of the market, followed by properties ranging from 3,001 sqm to 5,000 sqm. Together, these two categories accounted for more than two-thirds of all take-up.

Looking ahead, REALOGIS expects activity to strengthen during the second half of the year as several larger transactions progress. The consultancy also noted growing demand from defence-related companies seeking industrial space in the Munich region, alongside a pipeline of larger leasing deals that could support a market recovery before year-end.

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