Japanese-owned coatings group Kansai Helios is to phase out manufacturing at Chromos’s century-old Zagreb site, transferring production to Gornji Milanovac in Serbia and Količevo in Slovenia.
The restructuring will take place over several years as the company consolidates its regional operations. Zagreb will retain a sales and distribution presence, while Kansai Helios has said product availability and existing quality standards will be maintained during the transition.
The Slovenian facility will serve as a centre for technical expertise and product development. Gornji Milanovac, meanwhile, will assume a larger role as a scalable manufacturing base intended to support further regional growth.
The move closes a significant chapter in Croatia’s industrial history. Founded in 1920, Chromos became Yugoslavia’s largest producer of paints, varnishes, resins and plastics. At its peak in the mid-1980s, the company employed about 4,500 people.
