Wienerberger Baustoffindustrie Ag
CASE SUMMARY
Company Overview
Founded in 1819 in Vienna and traded since 1869 on the Vienna Stock Exchange, Wienerberger can look back on a great tradition. Only in 1986 the company started its dynamic expansion, which has focused on building materials since the introduction of Value Management in 1997. This transformed Wienerberger from a local Austrian brick-maker into the world's largest producer of bricks within a few years.
Wienerberger encompasses 3 divisions, namely bricks, pipes, and real estate. It operates more than 70 companies and has about 220 plants in some 25 countries. Products include wall systems (hollow and facing brick), concrete surface paving bricks, and roofing systems (clay and concrete tiles). Other Wienerberger operations include its Pipelife plastic pipe business. The company's extensive real estate portfolio (which it is divesting) includes development, landfill, and garage investments.
Wienerberger is the world's largest producer of bricks (as of March 2001) and Number 2 on the roofing market in Europe, and also holds leading positions with pavers in Europe.
Hallow bricks No. 1 worldwide
Facing bricks No. 1 in Continental EuropeNo. 2 in the USA
Roofing systems No. 2 in Central-Eastern Europe
Clay pipe No.1 in Europe
Plastic pipe No. 4 in Europe
Market Analysis
1. Home Country (Austria)
Austria is a highly developed country, located in the centre of Europe.
Positive
1. The opening of Eastern Europe created the opportunity for relocation of the production units to take advantage of very low cost and the development of new markets, bur resulted in new competition in some sectors.
2. Became an EU members in 1995, resulted the country be a favorable location for foreign firms and attractive markets.
3. A tough currency policy
4. Privatize the large state-owned sector, which resulted in further structural markets distortions
Negative
1. High unemployment rate
2. Reducing public investment
2.
Company Overview
Founded in 1819 in Vienna and traded since 1869 on the Vienna Stock Exchange, Wienerberger can look back on a great tradition. Only in 1986 the company started its dynamic expansion, which has focused on building materials since the introduction of Value Management in 1997. This transformed Wienerberger from a local Austrian brick-maker into the world's largest producer of bricks within a few years.
Wienerberger encompasses 3 divisions, namely bricks, pipes, and real estate. It operates more than 70 companies and has about 220 plants in some 25 countries. Products include wall systems (hollow and facing brick), concrete surface paving bricks, and roofing systems (clay and concrete tiles). Other Wienerberger operations include its Pipelife plastic pipe business. The company's extensive real estate portfolio (which it is divesting) includes development, landfill, and garage investments.
Wienerberger is the world's largest producer of bricks (as of March 2001) and Number 2 on the roofing market in Europe, and also holds leading positions with pavers in Europe.
Hallow bricks No. 1 worldwide
Facing bricks No. 1 in Continental EuropeNo. 2 in the USA
Roofing systems No. 2 in Central-Eastern Europe
Clay pipe No.1 in Europe
Plastic pipe No. 4 in Europe
Market Analysis
1. Home Country (Austria)
Austria is a highly developed country, located in the centre of Europe.
Positive
1. The opening of Eastern Europe created the opportunity for relocation of the production units to take advantage of very low cost and the development of new markets, bur resulted in new competition in some sectors.
2. Became an EU members in 1995, resulted the country be a favorable location for foreign firms and attractive markets.
3. A tough currency policy
4. Privatize the large state-owned sector, which resulted in further structural markets distortions
Negative
1. High unemployment rate
2. Reducing public investment
2.