Results in the manufacturing business do not always come quickly. You need to plan ahead for the season, invest in equipment, maintain high-quality standards and constantly look for new solutions. This is how the story of Inox Prime Solutions Group, founded by Marina Chirilov and Radu Burghelea, has developed. Today, the company manufactures stainless steel products for clients in Moldova and other countries.
Read the interview to learn about their first steps in business, the stereotypes and challenges they have faced in manufacturing, and how their partnership with Microinvest helped them keep moving forward without delays.
Marina, Radu, manufacturing stainless steel products is not the most obvious business idea. How did you choose this particular field?
Marina: I agree, it is not the most obvious business idea, especially since this industry was not very developed in Moldova at the time. However, I had a strong argument: I knew the field from the inside, because I had worked at a similar manufacturing company in Portugal for more than four years. And there was another important reason: I genuinely enjoyed what I was doing. I saw an opportunity in this field, and Radu supported the idea that it was worth exploring.
Radu: At that time, I was also thinking about starting a business, but to be honest, stainless steel was definitely not the first idea that came to mind. I considered various options, including the HoReCa sector. Marina already had experience and understood the manufacturing process very well. At some point, I realised that this knowledge needed to be put to good use. In the beginning, it was a decision along the lines of: “Let’s take the risk.” Today, looking back, we understand that we made the right choice. This month, Inox Prime Solutions Group celebrated its eighth anniversary.
What types of stainless steel products do you manufacture for your clients?
Marina: Today, we have a fairly wide range of stainless steel products. First of all, we manufacture containers and barrels in various models and sizes, ranging from 30 to 550 litres. They are mainly used in the wine industry, but not exclusively. Over time, we began expanding our production and added products for the HoReCa sector, including tables, racks, extractor hoods, cabinets and shelves. We also manufacture stainless steel supports and legs for containers. We try not to stand still and gradually introduce new products, because we can see that there is demand from our clients.
Tell us a little about your manufacturing facility. How is the production process organised?
Radu: Today, we operate in a facility of approximately 1.000 m². Our team consists of 9 people, 6 of whom are directly involved in the manufacturing process. For us, this is no longer just a small workshop, but a fully operational production facility where each person is responsible for a specific stage.
Marina: In recent years, we have placed a strong emphasis on introducing new technologies into our production process. This has helped us speed up operations and make production more stable. For example, while we previously produced around 20 components per day at certain stages, we can now produce around 100 – 200. At the same time, our priority is not simply to manufacture more, but to maintain precision, welding quality and the reliability of every finished product.
Where are your products sold today? Do you operate only on the Moldovan market, or have you already expanded abroad?
Marina: At the moment, approximately half of our products are sold on the Moldovan market, while the other half are exported. We currently export to Romania and Bulgaria.
What challenges have you faced in manufacturing, and how have they influenced the development of your business?
Radu: One of our main challenges is seasonality. We manufacture containers throughout the year so that we have finished products in stock when the season begins. However, this also creates a challenge: funds remain tied up in the manufactured products for a certain period and cannot immediately be reinvested into the business. That is why, over time, we began developing product categories that could generate sales throughout the year. This is how we came to the idea of further diversifying our range, including by manufacturing products for the HoReCa sector.
Marina, stainless steel manufacturing is often considered a male-dominated field. How do you feel about working in this industry?
Marina: Honestly, I have never viewed it as either a “male” or a “female” field. I already had experience in manufacturing, I understood the process from the inside, and I knew that it genuinely interested me. I have always enjoyed watching a finished product gradually take shape from a sheet of metal and several individual components. There is something very tangible and meaningful about this process: you are not simply selling something; you are creating it from scratch. I have never imagined myself working, for example, in a beauty salon or in another field traditionally considered more suitable for women. I feel comfortable in manufacturing. Even though most of the people around me are men, I feel that this is exactly where I belong.
What does a high-quality product mean to you, and what sets Inox Prime Solutions Group apart on the market?
Radu: First of all, it is about the quality of the materials, the thickness of the stainless steel, the welding and the components we use. We want our clients to receive a complete, ready-to-use product without having to search for additional parts or make further modifications.
How has your partnership with Microinvest influenced the development of your business?
Radu: We approached Microinvest last year when we needed to cover a cash flow gap more quickly and prepare better for the season. In our business, it is important to manufacture products in advance and be ready for the period of active sales. Speed played a major role for us. We were able to start production sooner, avoid losing valuable time and go through the preparation stage with greater peace of mind.
Marina: In manufacturing, moments like these are very important. Sometimes, what you need is an additional resource that allows you to keep moving forward without interruptions. In our case, Microinvest’s support helped us meet this need at the right time. We had previously worked with different financial partners, but what we appreciated here was that the process was clear and fast. This matters in business because sometimes you need a solution not “someday”, but precisely when the need arises.
*Microinvest is the only financial organization in Moldova that holds the international GOLD certification in client protection (according to the Cerise+SPTF Client Protection standards and methodology). This reflects a responsible and transparent lending process, fair financing, and a constructive approach to every request.
