Czech glass industry is coming out of recession

The Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic has organized an expert discussion under the title „Glass industry daybreak“ in Jablonec nad Nisou in Northern Bohemia on Wednesday 24^th September in which a number of important companies from the glass industry sector took part.

„During the last six years, a lot of things has been changed, the glass industry has been stabilized and the companies have gained new contracts,“ the Associtation of Glass and Ceramic Industry secretary general Marek Novák pointed out.

„We have such a number of new contracts that we are not able to meet the demand,“ the glassworks Ajeto in Lindava director Jaroslav Turnhöfer said.

„Our next production has been selled in one-year advance,“ the Preciosa Ornela marketing director Petr Puš stressed. „Our production capacity has trippled.“

The glass industry has overcome the difficult period above all due to the experienced working force that is not especially expensive and an extensive rationalization of the sector.

In 2008, the glass industry has provided job for 31 240 people, but in 2010 it was only for 19 869 people. In 2013 there were 21 144 people employed within the sector.

In 2008, the sales have represented 49,81 billion CZK (1,81 bilion euros), but in 2010 it was only 36,72 billion CZK (1,3 billion euros). Last year, the sales have increased to 42,2 billion CZK (1,5 billion euros).

„I’m very happy that the glass and ceramic industry has overcome the crisis,“ the Confederation’s director general Zdeněk Liška said. But he stressed that the sector, similarly to other purely technical sectors, is afflicted by a long-term lack of qualified workers.