At the Slovak Ministry of Defence, a landmark memorandum was signed between EURENCO and ZVS holding, solidifying a joint venture to construct a new manufacturing plant for Modular Artillery Charge Systems (MACS) in eastern Slovakia. The ceremony was attended by Slovak Minister of Defence, Robert Kalinák, who hailed the initiative as a pivotal step for national and European defence autonomy.
The project will be located in Strážske, building upon revitalisation efforts initiated in 2024 by MSM GROUP, which holds a 50% stake in ZVS alongside the state-owned DMD Group. The new facility will focus exclusively on MACS, a critical component for modern NATO-compatible artillery ammunition. Currently, the limited availability of these propellant charges is a major bottleneck in ramping up large-calibre ammunition production across Europe.
Minister Kalinák emphasised the strategic importance of the investment, which is valued at approximately €300 million. “This is not just about a new factory; it is about securing sovereign production capabilities,” he stated. “It will create hundreds of qualified jobs in the region and is a concrete step toward achieving our goal of producing over one million rounds of large-calibre ammunition annually. This strengthens both our domestic industry and our contribution to collective security.”
The joint venture combines the technological expertise of EURENCO, a European leader in energetic materials, with the industrial infrastructure and manufacturing experience of CSG Group, parent company of MSM GROUP. By bringing MACS production in-house, CSG continues its long-term strategy of controlling critical supply chains within the defence sector. For EURENCO, the partnership reinforces its role as a key supplier to European Union member states, ensuring a stable and robust supply of essential components.
Jan Marinov, Director of CSG Defence Systems, described the project as a major milestone. “By joining EURENCO’s know-how with our industrial capabilities, we are building a modern facility that will directly address Europe’s security needs and enhance the resilience of our supply chains,” he said.
EURENCO CEO Thierry Francou echoed this sentiment, stating: “This joint venture is a new key milestone for European sovereignty. Combining our expertise ensures we can meet today’s security challenges with modern, agile production capacity.”
Construction in Strážske is scheduled to begin shortly, with production expected to come online in 2028. The plant will produce several hundred thousand modular propellant charge systems annually, significantly bolstering Europe’s ability to sustain its artillery capabilities and reduce dependency on external sources for these strategic goods.
