To continue growing in the supply of forgings for the automotive sector, OSTROJ needed to meet the strict IATF 16949 standards. “By obtaining the certificate, we have strengthened our position as a reliable supplier and opened the door to new business opportunities. We have received very positive feedback from key partners and are working on a number of new projects. This year alone we plan to produce over one million forgings of various types, which represents year-on-year growth of more than 3%. Considering the current situation in the automotive sector, I see this as an excellent result,” says Aleš Martínek, CEO of OSTROJ.

Preparation for certification began in September 2024, building on the company’s previous quality management system based on the VDA 6.1 standard. “Most of our processes were already stable, but we still had to adapt our documentation and engage employees more in fulfilling the requirements of the new standard. The audit had two stages: first the documentation was assessed, then the functioning of the system directly in production,” explains Patrik Neuman, Director of Automotive, the division responsible at OSTROJ for production of automotive forgings.

OSTROJ specializes in complex-shaped parts weighing from 0.5 to 20 kilograms, used in all types of vehicles—from combustion to hybrid to electric. Forgings from Opava are key components of towing devices, bike racks, spring holders, and other safety parts for brands such as Volkswagen, Škoda, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Audi, Hyundai, and Stellantis.

Looking ahead, OSTROJ plans to further increase the added value of its products. The company intends to expand the share of forgings with subsequent machining and gradually extend its deliveries beyond the automotive sector, for example into agriculture, rail transport, or airport technology. “At the beginning of 2026 we will put a new semi-robotic forging line, the LZK 4000, into operation. We are preparing upgrades to our machinery and the robotization of existing lines. We are also developing an automated workplace for non-destructive testing and will significantly improve the ergonomics of our packaging process,” adds Patrik Neuman.

Currently, around 150 employees in Opava are engaged in the production of die forgings. With its complete in-house facilities—from forging and heat treatment, through specialized technical inspections, to final machining—OSTROJ is able to offer customers comprehensive solutions and maintain a strong position on both the European and global markets.