The Decline of Zalakerámia: A Tile Too Far?
Ah, Zalakerámia! The once illustrious Hungarian tile manufacturer now appears to be on life support, and the prognosis isn’t good. According to the HVG news on Tuesday, the factory in Romhány is being decommissioned. Yes, you heard that right—like the last kid picked for dodgeball. Let’s unpack this tragedy, shall we?
The Grim News
So, as of August 2024, the Tófej unit will cease to be a hub of tile production. One would think that precision tile crafting would be immune to the malaise of the construction industry, but here we are. The company, owned by our friendly Austrian neighbors at Lasselsberger, has virtually stopped production in Hungary. It’s like finding out the Eiffel Tower is made out of LEGO and not even the premium kind.
Zalakerámia, bless its little ceramic heart, informed our editorial team that the “general decline of the construction industry” is the villain in this riveting tale—a decline so profound it could make even the most patient of men shake their heads in disbelief. They describe their strategy as “optimizing production.” Translation? They’re pulling out faster than a bad magic trick.
The Company’s Response
In their official announcement, Zalakerámia sought to reassure us that certain elements of their factory in Romhány will be relocated to foreign production units, because no one wants to be left holding the tile when the music stops. Some parts will even migrate to the Tófej factory! It’s like a family reunion that nobody wanted—too many awkward conversations, not enough snacks.
Additionally, they mentioned that their investment in Romania could be considered a lifeline for Zalakerámia. Hooray for globalization, right? It seems the boys in the boardroom think that as long as they can slap their brand on products, we shouldn’t care where they come from. A true example of ‘manufacturing’ magic, just don’t check the label too closely!
Throwback to Glory Days
Ah, but let’s turn back the clock to when the factory was the pride of Hungary. A year ago, economist György Katona, who used to lead the company, nostalgically recalled the rich history of ceramic artistry in the area. The Celotti family in the ’20s and János Németh, the ceramic genius—oh, how times have changed! It was a period when success was measured in high state awards, not the lackluster performance of the current production line. Now, they probably need more than an award to stay afloat.
Katona tells tales of Italian machines and cooperative ventures, which sound like the stuff of legends. In the ’80s, they were kings of the tile—cement tiles and limestone quarries, oh my! But instead of remembering the golden days of yore, we’re left reflecting on this misfortunate decline with a mix of horror and disbelief.
The Last Laugh?
So what’s next for Zalakerámia? Perhaps they’ll put on a brave face and continue to market as if everything’s peachy keen. “We’re still here! Just not really here.” The irony isn’t lost on anyone; they are the surviving champion of Hungarian tile manufacturing, leaning on international trends like a crutch. One must wonder, how long until that crutch splinters?
In conclusion, as Zalakerámia shuffles off this mortal coil, it leaves behind a legacy that’s fallen into disrepair, much like the tiles they once valiantly crafted. Remember the name, folks. In the annals of industrial history, it might just become synonymous with “what not to do.”
Let’s raise our ceramic mugs in salute to the memory of what was, and hope that the ghost of tiled past doesn’t haunt us too fiercely. Cheers!
According to Tuesday’s HVG news, “Zalakerámia’s factory in Romhány will be decommissioned, and the Tófej unit will not produce again since August 2024. The suffering of the patina Hungarian tile manufacturer owned by the Austrian Lasselsberger is spectacular, and the company has virtually stopped production in Hungary.”
Zalakerámia plant hall in Romhány
Photo: Zalakeramia
Zalakeramia announcement
In response to our newspaper’s question, Zalakerámia sent the following announcement to our editors: “As a result of the general decline of the construction industry for years, the Lasselsberger group of companies has decided to optimize production. Within this framework, some elements of the factory unit in Romhány will be transferred to the group’s foreign production units, and other parts to the factory in Tófej We would like to emphasize that the Lasselsberger investment taking place in Romania (Cluj) can also be considered an investment by Zalakerámia.
The redevelopment of the products manufactured in Romhány has been completed, and their production continues partly in the Tófej factory and partly in the group’s plants across the border, so these product types are still available in unchanged form and under the same conditions under the Zalakerámia brand name(s) on both Hungarian and foreign markets. Zalakerámia Zrt. is still present as the only Hungarian covering manufacturer on the domestic market, and with its wide product range that follows international trends, it will continue to serve the needs of Hungarian customers in the future.”
The first steps
A year ago, we reviewed the factory’s problems with economist György Katona, who led the company from 1976 until 1996 as deputy director.
“In addition to the Italian Celotti family who settled here in the 1920s, the ancestors of the ceramic artist János Németh also had something to do with the development of the production of ceramic and tile stoves,” György Katona said at the time. “We also bought the machines and technology from an Italian company, and developed it in cooperation with them. In the eighties, there was not a high state award that we did not receive for our successes. Cement tile production in Zalakomár, limestone quarry in Sümegen joined the production, the latter also because the lake head clay required limestone flour as an additive.
