Czech glass sand quarrying company Sklopisek Strelec, part of Belgian glass group AGC Group, in turn controlled by Japan“s Asahi Glass Company, announced in its annual report that it increased 2008 s…
Czech glass sand quarrying company Sklopisek Strelec, part of Belgian glass group AGC Group, in turn controlled by Japan“s Asahi Glass Company, announced in its annual report that it increased 2008 sales by 3% to CZK 564 million despite the crisis, while its profit decreased slightly to CZK 131 million from CZK 134 million the previous year. “The year 2008 was influenced by the beginning of the global crisis as of the second half, as a result of which five of our medium-sized clients entered liquidation,” Sklopisek Strelec said. However, the company increased sales by 50,000 tonnes of sand year-on-year, and says that it sees a chance on the market, especially in supplies of sand for the production of glass used in the growing segment of solar energy. Exports accounted for almost 25% of the company“s sales in 2008, and a larger part of the total revenues was generated from sale of sand to the glass segment. Sklopisek Strelec employed 91 people in 2008, investing CZK 48 million, mainly in cutting energy consumption and raising production capacity. The company, which has a share capital of CZK 121 million, saw its total assets increase 8% in 2008 to CZK 935 million.