2022 was an extremely difficult year for the Thuringian porcelain industry. While one traditional company has ceased operations, another wants to hire new employees once it has secured its continued existence.
Kahla/Triptis (dpa/th) - After a loss this year, the traditional Thuringian manufacturer Kahla Porzellan is aiming for a balanced result again in 2023. "We have an excellent order situation," said Managing Director Daniel Jeschonowski of the German Press Agency. Sales of around twelve million euros this year should grow by 20 percent next year. According to the managing director, the hiring of 40 new employees is also planned.
The company had to bear additional costs of around 1.5 million euros this year due to the high gas prices, said Jeschonowski. A six-digit loss will be reported for 2022. Since the long-standing gas supplier had terminated the contract with the company in the fall, the continued operation after the end of the year was in jeopardy. With the conclusion of a new energy supply contract, the company can now continue to produce without interruption.
According to the company, around 150 employees currently produce porcelain for the household, hotel and catering trade and for the advertising industry in Kahla. The price of the porcelain will increase by around ten percent in the coming year. One reason for this is rising wages and salaries. "We are a brand manufacturer "Made in Germany" - that has to be paid for," said Jeschonowski. At the same time, he announced an investment program totaling ten million euros for the modernization of the porcelain manufactory from 2024.
The current porcelain manufacturer Kahla/Thüringen Porzellan GmbH had to file for bankruptcy in March 2020 after a major order fell through. As a consequence, jobs were cut and the plant was sold to Jeschonowski.
Meanwhile, the high energy prices have become fatal for another Thuringian porcelain company. Eschenbach Porzellan - Neue Porzellanfabrik Triptis GmbH ceases production. The ovens will be switched off this Thursday, as the technical director, Frank Meinhardt-Ruppin, told the German Press Agency. Around 100 employees have been made redundant. The political decisions to curb energy costs came too late for the family business. The energy costs for operation have increased sixfold this year.
