Chain bankruptcies: Porcelain company pushes 352-year-old company into bankruptcy | Area

Saalfeld (Thuringia) – The bankruptcy of a porcelain company brought other traditional German companies to their knees. And that’s after 352 years. Bankruptcy that led to rats.

Due to a legal dispute with his former French business partner, he was forced to do so Porcelain manufacturer Könitz files for bankruptcy. According to management, the reason for this step was not due to economic obstacles, but rather the ongoing legal process abroad.

Bankruptcy of the parent company with serious consequences

A former business partner went to court to recover “six-figure damages” from a cup and mug manufacturer (100 employees). Apparently too much for the manufacturer: company reports insolvency in independent administration. And stated that he wanted to prevent money from flowing abroad.

However, the bankruptcy of the parent company also hit one of the oldest printing companies Thuringia: Wiedemannsche Druckerei AG with around 20 employees. The small Saalfeld-based company was taken over by Könitz in 2000. He produces decorations that decorate plates, drinking bottles and advertising signs.

Traditional companies produce such decorations for cups and mugs from the porcelain manufacturer Könitz

Photo: iHK

Here’s what the bankruptcy administrator had to say

The porcelain manufacturer’s bankruptcy administrator, lawyer Rolf Rombach, told BILD: “90 percent of recent orders have come from Könitz.” The rest are external orders. 20 jobs now at risk at printing company.

Könitz porcelain decorations come from one of the oldest duck factories in Thuringia

The decorations on Könitz porcelain come from traditional printing companies, which have now also had to file for bankruptcy

Photo: Könitz Porcelain

The printing company has been in the family for 275 years

The roots of the company, which is now affected by serial bankruptcies, begin in 1673. At that time, Johann Ritter founded the first printing company in Saalfeld. The company has been family-owned for nearly 275 years. There were several changes in ownership until Könitz Porzellan GmbH finally became the new owner with its head office in Könitz.

However, bankruptcy administrator Rombach is optimistic that there is still rescue for Könitz and its subsidiaries: Management believes that Chase can master the current situation with its proven business model.