DRWO4.0 Transnational Workshop for the Development of the Transformation Model

On September 30, 2025, at the premises of Bjelin Croatia Ltd. in Ogulin, Croatia, a Transnational Workshop for the Development of the Transformation Model was held within the framework of the Danube Region Wood Industry Transformation Model towards Industry 4.0 (DRWO4.0) project, co-financed by the Interreg Danube Programme.

The workshop marked the initial stage in preparing the DRWO4.0 Transformation Model, a key output of the project aimed at supporting the transition of the wood and furniture industries in the Danube Region towards Industry 4.0 standards.

Representatives of the project partners, Prof. Nedeljko Štefanić (Culmena) and János Keresnyei (CICC), presented the methodology for developing the Transformation Model, including guidelines for its application based on value chain analysis and the CULIS methodology. The session also featured interactive group work, allowing participants to contribute ideas and discuss the core elements of the model, exchange best practices, and integrate national perspectives from across the Danube Region.

As an active partner in the project and representative of Pilot Environment East, the Bulgarian Furniture Cluster (BFC) contributed to the discussion with insights from its pilot initiatives and experience in fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and public institutions. BFC emphasized the importance of developing a transformation model that is practical, adaptable, and tailored to the needs of SMEs in the wood and furniture sector.

During the workshop, Matija Vidoš, Production Plant Manager and member of the Management Board of Bjelin Ogulin, presented the company’s new production facility and shared real-world experience in implementing Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing. Participants had the opportunity to visit the Bjelin Ogulin plant and observe the production of Woodura wooden floors, a best practice example of integrating innovation, sustainability, and digitalization in industrial processes.

The workshop served as a platform for collecting feedback and proposals from project partners and stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming Transformation Model reflects the real challenges and opportunities of the industry, laying the groundwork for its successful implementation across the Danube Region.