Western Hungary’s Century-old Brickworks: one of the most Modern Factories in Europe

The Kőszeg Brickworks (Wienerberger Téglaipari Zrt.) is a factory with a long history and even greater importance in western Hungary. Few people may know it, but it is one of the most modern factories in Europe, writes Világgazdaság.

It is not a new factory, but one that dates back centuries: it was founded around the 1920s. The Kőszeg brickworks is now the most modern bridging and girder brackets factory in Europe. The plant has been highlighted in a series of articles on brickworks in Hungary, published on the website of the Hungarian Brick Association.

Throughout its history, it has been subject to development. The tiny plant started out with a small capacity, but in the years after World War I, construction activity increased significantly. The brick and tile industry developed rapidly, with major improvements from 1930 onwards.

As a result, annual brick production capacity increased from 500,000 bricks to 2 million small bricks and 1 million tiles.

The Kőszeg factory was not without problems: first it burnt down, then it was restarted after World War II in 1946. After only two years, the company was nationalized. The 1950s were again a time of development, when the factory employed between 90 and 100 people.

After a long jump until the regime change (1989, fall of the communist era),

the Kőszeg brickworks was bought by the Austrian Wienerberger in 1991 as its first investment in Hungary.

It has been owned by them ever since. One of the highlights of this ore is that in 2022, the 6,200-square-meter hall was expanded with an 1,800-square-meter building section. With an annual capacity of 5 million flow meters, 75 percent of the capacity is dedicated to the needs of various European countries.

However, the expansion does not end there. In January this year, the completely renewed and automated bridging and girder bracket production plant was inaugurated with an investment of over HUF 3.6 billion (EUR 9 million). As a result, the life cycle of one of the oldest domestic factories of the company, producing brick wall panels, bricks and tiles, has been extended by 50 years. The factory’s operation is now secured for decades to come, opening up the German market to France, Slovakia, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia.

Wienerberger Hungary is part of the international Wienerberger Group. It has grown to become the world’s largest brick producer, and it is the number one in the production of facade bricks and is the European leader in the production of ceramic roof tiles. It is present in twenty-seven European countries, as well as in India, the United States and Canada. The group employs more than 19,000 people worldwide and has more than 200 production sites.

The company currently has eight production sites in Hungary and employs more than 800 people in the country, of which 51 are employed in Kőszeg.

According to publicly available company data, Wienerberger Téglaipari Zrt. achieved net sales of HUF 33.8 billion (EUR 85 million) in 2021 with a profit after tax of HUF 4.3 billion (EUR 11 million), while in 2022 net sales exceeded HUF 54.2 billion (EUR 137 million) and profit after tax was HUF 8.6 billion (EUR 21.8 million).

Via Világgazdaság; Featured image via Facebook/Kőszegi Fidesz