Bathroom and sanitary ware manufacturer Laufen CZ ended last year with a loss after tax of CZK 17.8 million. A year earlier, it had a profit of CZK 114.3 million. Sales fell by nine percent. Revenues from the sale of products, services and goods rose by less than a percent to CZK 3.25 billion. Due to the crisis in the construction industry, the company laid off seven percent of its workforce at the end of last year and has nearly 1,100 employees. This year, the company, with plants in Bechyně, South Bohemia, and Znojmo, South Moravia, expects sales of 3.35 billion, a growth of three percent, this is according to the company annual report.
“Sales of products in pieces fell by nine per cent year-on-year due to the global crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and the decline in the construction sector as a result of high interest rates,” the company said. Due to the aforementioned crisis and the worsening situation in the construction sector, the company reduced its workforce by seven per cent in the final months of last year. From a pre-tax profit of 149.2 million last year, the firm ran into a pre-tax loss of 23.6 million last year.
The company sells mainly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Sales abroad accounted for 75 percent of sales last year. Laufen CZ produced 1.43 million pieces of ceramics last year, 10 percent less than the year before. The main part of the production is made in Bechyně, while heavier and more demanding pieces are made in Znojmo.
The manufacturer of washbasins, toilets and bathtubs invested CZK 109 million last year. In Znojmo it mainly invested in a new line and laboratory equipment, in Bechyně it rebuilt the rail transport to the furnaces for almost 15 million. Basic wages rose by an average of 5.4 percent last year, but the company did not disclose their amount.
Laufen CZ is part of the Laufen holding company headquartered in Switzerland with a 100-year history. It has been owned by Spain’s Roca Group since 1999. It produces around three million pieces of ceramics annually in six European factories. It offers products under the Jika, Roca and Laufen brands.
Source: Laufen CZ and CTK
Photo: Laufen
