Bosch to take over Wrocław appliance factory

The Wrocław Special Economic Zone has received a permission from the Ministry of the Economy for the takeover of a household appliance manufacturing plant in Wrocław. The factory, located on the north side of the city, has a long history. Prior to WWII, there was a German metal manufacturer Knauth operating on the premises. Post-war authorities created Wrozamet which produced general household appliances until the 1990s. In the 1990s, Spanish Fagor took over and was expanding production up until 2010. Only recently, economic hardship has forced a bankruptcy of the existing factory and the German company Bosch seems to be the front-runner for a takeover of at least a part of the production. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has given a green light to Bosch, claiming that the new ownership would not infringe on fair competition laws. At the time of closing, the plant employed 700 people and a previous offer was contingent on retaining full employment of the factory staff.