Wienerberger triples profit

Wienerberger Sisteme de Caramizi (Wienerberger Brick Systems), the local division of Austrian manufacturer Wienerberger, tripled its net profit to 6.7 million euros (at an average exchange rate of 3.5245 RON/EUR) in 2006, in its first year with the two Romanian plants operating at a full capacity. The Austrian group holds two production facilities in Romania, one in Gura Ocnitei (near Targoviste) and one in Sibiu, a plant which was opened in the first half of last year following an 18 million-euro investment. The increase in net profit was prompted by the company boosting its sales volume and due to the application of moderate price adjustments. In fact, the group’s turnover increased by 60% last year to 46 million euros, amid the expansion of the constructions market. Revenues derived by Wienerberger Sisteme de Caramizi accounted for 2% of the total revenues of the Austrian group. Wienerberger Sisteme de Caramizi stepped into the black for the first time in 2005, when it derived a net profit of 2.5 million euros and a 29.3 million-euro turnover, double the turnover in the previous year. The company has started construction works for a new production plant in Triteni, Cluj county, which is to become operational at the end of this year.