21:52 9 December 2024
Historic Polish porcelain factory bankrupt, facing liquidation
The iconic Polish porcelain factory "Karolina" in Jaworzyna Śląska has declared bankruptcy after over 160 years of operation, leaving 180 employees jobless. A court auction scheduled for December 9 sets the starting price for its sale at over PLN 45 million.
Union leader Ireneusz Besser blames the 2022 acquisition by HM Investment, owner of the Gerlach brand, for the company’s decline. He claims the factory's initial manageable debts of a few million PLN ballooned due to mismanagement, job cuts, and lack of a clear investment plan.
This mirrors the closure of another porcelain factory, "Krzysztof," in nearby Wałbrzych, marking a significant loss for the region’s centuries-old ceramics tradition.
