Industry News
Rodenstock To Close Production Site in Germany
Since 1988, Rodenstock has been producing spectacle lenses in their production facilities in Frankfurt, Germany. The glasses manufactured in Frankfurt are delivered to clients in Germany and throughout Europe. In the future, this will be taken over by Rodenstock's facilities in Regen (Niederbayern - Germany) and in Klattau in the Czech Republic.
The plant in Frankfurt is a relatively small production and employs only 130 people. Approximately one million spectacle lenses are produced there, which accounts for five percent of Rodenstock's production volume.
In 2016, the family business had to accept a slight drop in sales of 1.5 per cent despite a production record for spectacle lenses. According to the company, this was due to lower demand in other European countries as well as in the emerging markets of China and Brazil. "The closure of the plant in Frankfurt does not mean that we want to withdraw from the German market. We can not operate the plant in Frankfurt any more, " says Manninger, Rodenstock spokesman. Manninger can not name a date for the closure. "We are now going into the talks. At this early point in time you can not foresee a period. "
However, according to a recent press release, Rodenstock expects growth again in 2017. Last year, the company expanded its production capacities in international lens production and reorganised its frame (eyewear) business.
“The ophthalmic optics industry has seen very cautious growth in recent times, which has certainly also increased the pressure to consolidate,” says Oliver Kastalio, CEO of the Rodenstock Group. “We view the announced merger between two major competitors as confirmation of our successful business model. For 140 years, Rodenstock has been the only company to provide frames and lenses from a single source. Last year, we expanded our foreign lens production capacities and focused the frame business on Rodenstock and Porsche Design, both of which are strong brands. In doing so, we created the conditions for further growth in the long term.”
Kastalio continues: “The merger of two competitors is a huge opportunity for us. Also in future, we will not compete with independent opticians by establishing our own retail and online business. Instead, we want to be a reliable, strong partner to them. That makes us an attractive alternative for many opticians.”
In financial year 2016, the Rodenstock Group generated net sales of 409 million euros, corresponding to a slight decrease of 1.8% (previous year: 417 million euros). Net of currency effects, sales was on par with the previous year. Along with a generally slower market development, especially strategic changes in the eyewear and lens business were the main reasons for the negative impact on the company’s growth. Prior to 2016, Rodenstock’s sales grew for six years in a row.
