Novoker a.s. starts the production of a new assortment of wall tiles named as Stone, which will be supplied to the market already from March. This step is planned to be taken two months after the production has been assumed, together with employees, by the Penta private equity group.
"The Stone program is a part of a recovery of production and increase in its quality. From the beginning of the year, the production functions on both lines and in February, the company produced more than 160,000 m2 of wall and floor tiles. Excellent quality parameters have also been reached by us with the production of 250×330 cm wall tiles, belonging to the technologically most demanding assortment. During the first two months of the production, we managed to reduce spoilage on a year-over-year basis (i.e., the faultiness in the production) by 20%," Jozef Špirko, partner of the Penta private equity group said.
Until January 1, 2008, the company operated under the name of BPS, a.s. Its staff, production, and all operation-related activities were assumed, as of January 1, 2008, by the Penta private equity group. Penta´s aim is to restructure and recover the production of the company being prepared by the group for an entry of a strategic investor. "We currently commence to actively address potential investors," Jozef Špirko said.
The Lučenec company, Novoker a.s., currently employs 260 employees. This year, it plans to produce 2 million m2 of wall and floor tiles. Approximately 55% of production is intended for export, especially to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, and Austria.