Austria“s Eckelt Group, which makes glass facades, roofing and interiors, posted consolidated sales of EUR 106 million (USD 125.06 million) in 2003, compared to EUR 115 million (USD 135.68 million) i…
Austria“s Eckelt Group, which makes glass facades, roofing and interiors, posted consolidated sales of EUR 106 million (USD 125.06 million) in 2003, compared to EUR 115 million (USD 135.68 million) in 2002, it was reported on 12 May 2004. Sales in Austria fell 12.3% year-on-year to EUR 51.5 million (USD 60.76 million), mainly due to the continuing stagnation of the German construction market, which forced German competitors to enter Austria in search of new markets. The result was a fall in prices on the Austrian market of up to 30%, and the insolvency of many Austrian construction companies, said Eckelt“s managing director Helmut Forstner. The company plans to increase the efficiency of its units as well as to undertake some restructuring in order to reduce costs. Eckelt expects to maintain its 2003 sales rates through 2004. No employees are expected to be laid-off in Austria in the short term. Eckelt operations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are progressing successfully and the company plans to upgrade its Slovakian plant. The loss-making Hungarian unit will be sold to a local company. Eckelt group, with a total staff of 900, is part of French holding company Saint-Gobain.