Irisolaris chooses Ploiești for first European factory — NRG-IA

A €153 Million French Investment Turns Ploiești into a PV Export Hub — What Happened The French group Irisolaris, with €153 million in global revenues, has selected Romania to open its first European subsidiary outside France, establishing its industrial base in Ploiești. According to data reported by Ziarul Financiar, the French giant, which boasts cumulative investments of €780 million worldwide, entered the local market by acquiring the Romanian company Lamis Energy. This strategic move marks the transformation of the Ploiești Industrial Park into a manufacturing hub for technical equipment destined for solar parks across Central and Eastern Europe. The new subsidiary, officially rebranded as Irisolaris România in November 2025, is launching its operations with an initial team of 16 employees but boasts a significant industrial capacity. The factory is designed to produce up to 5,000 technical shelters annually for the photovoltaic sector. Local management estimates that this production capacity will generate a turnover of €5.5 million by 2026. This transaction represents a milestone for the French group, which has 17 years of experience in the renewable energy sector and over 450 employees worldwide. Through this acquisition, Irisolaris is not only expanding its geographical footprint but also vertically integrating its manufacturing capabilities for critical equipment, thereby securing the supply chain for its future regional projects. Industrial Integration and Regional Logistics: Why Irisolaris Chose Ploiești Industrial Park The French group's decision to establish its base in Ploiești was not a greenfield project but was built upon an existing, operational industrial platform. The acquisition of Lamis Energy, a local manufacturer of metal structures and technical shelters founded in 2024, allowed Irisolaris to drastically reduce the time required to start actual production. The process of analyzing the Romanian market and identifying opportunities was supported by the government organization Business France. A decisive factor in this economic equation is access to a robust network of local suppliers. According to Marius Cismaru, General Manager of Irisolaris România, approximately 90% of the raw materials used in the production process are sourced directly from Romanian suppliers. The final assembly of the technical shelters takes place at the Ploiești facility, ensuring high local value addition. Ploiești also offers major logistical advantages for regional expansion. Its geographical positioning enables rapid distribution of heavy equipment both to booming PV projects in Romania and to neighboring Eastern European markets. This business model integrates the entire value chain, from design and financing to assembly, operation, and maintenance. From Technology Importer to Assembly Hub: The Impact on Romania's Value Chain Until recently, Romania's renewable energy boom was characterized by massive imports of technology and equipment from abroad, particularly from Asia and Western Europe. The Irisolaris investment marks a paradigm shift, gradually turning Romania into a manufacturer and exporter of essential components for green energy infrastructure. The technical shelters manufactured in Ploiești—complex structures housing inverters, transformers, and storage systems—will not only serve the local market but will also be exported to mature markets such as France, Belgium, and Germany. This dynamic directly supports Romania's horizontal industry. Sourcing 90% of raw materials (steel, structural elements, and other metal components) locally translates into additional orders for the Romanian metallurgical and manufacturing sectors. This creates a multiplier effect in the economy, countering the trade deficit trend in the energy equipment segment. For the national energy grid, the presence of such a local manufacturer reduces delivery times for critical components of new solar parks. At a time when developers face global logistical bottlenecks, direct sourcing from Ploiești can accelerate the commissioning of new power generation and energy storage capacities. Financial Targets for 2026 and Risks Associated with Labor Shortages The next critical milestone for Irisolaris România is reaching the projected turnover of €5.5 million in 2026. To sustain this growth rate and achieve the maximum capacity of 5,000 shelters per year, the company will need to rapidly scale its operations beyond its initial core of 16 employees. However, this expansion comes amid a tight market characterized by an acute shortage of skilled industrial labor in the Prahova region. Although the acquisition price of Lamis Energy remains confidential, the medium-term investment plan will depend on the subsidiary's ability to quickly integrate new workers and maintain the high quality standards demanded by Western European markets. Any bottlenecks in the local raw material supply chain or unexpected increases in energy and construction…