Glass manufacturer Duralex, struggling financially since the energy crisis, is asking to be placed in receivership

After the energy crisis of 2022, the French glass manufacturer Duralex is struggling “requested that recovery proceedings be opened in his favor in the Commercial Court of Orleans”The operator of the well-known brand New Duralex International (NDI) announced this on Tuesday, April 16.

“The goal is to find a buyer for NDI, thereby finding the best solution for the company.”The company says that 230 people are employed in the historic factory in Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin (Loire). before adding this“The administrator and legal representative shall be appointed by the court to assist the company during the observation period to be opened”.

Duralex experienced a rise in gas prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and was temporarily saved by a €15m government loan, which allowed it to reopen the glass furnace and restart production afterwards. Closing five months.

“New difficulties arose” last year.

However, in fiscal year 2023, “New difficulties have arisen”Attributed to inflation, consumer environment “in sharp decline” and “intensified competition”clarifies the company and adds that, “Despite operational efforts and continuous investment, losses could not be stemmed.

At the same time, NDI says it has “Sit Out Orleans Administrative Court Ruling on Former Duralex Owner’s Pollution Rights”Given that he was “Payable for quota due to former operator”. This judgment “Delivery mid March”against which the company has announced its intention to appeal, “seriously compromises NDI’s financial health and its ability to sustain its operations in a sustainable manner”“, says the press release.

“It’s always a little sad”Repented by Agence France-Presse (AFP) elected CGT Francois Dufran, who ensures that employees “I did not expect.”
“ Three weeks, a month ago, they gave us a presentation where they told us the goals, the products we were going to develop, etc. Quite a speech and, a month later, we held an emergency CSE meeting to say we were going to put the company into receivership.Again the trade unionist laments before adding: “Now we’re going to keep our fingers crossed that there will be a buyer.” »

In Bercy, the Minister of Industry, Roland Lesquire, who came to open the furnaces, said that the state “I will do my best to make remedial decisions”. “We are counting on local stakeholders to mobilize with us in this research”He responded to AFP in a short press release.

Duralex, founded in 1945, invented frosted glass and glasses that were used in both school cafeterias and trendy restaurants. The company has achieved an annual turnover of 29.4 million euros in 2022. Pyrex, a separate entity from Duralex, operated jointly within the French glass house. “continues business as usual”– it is mentioned in the press release.