Excerpt from the article WHAT TRAINS AND MOTIVATES SLOVAK CHEMISTRY’S DRAGGONS – concerning FORTISCHEM a.s.
Manufacture of chemicals
Fortischem
Location.
Owner: Energochemica Maria Hoffmann
Revenues: 141 mil. EUR (2017)
Profit: 4.6 mil. EUR (2017)
Current moods
The Nova producer of sodium hydroxide for cleaning, PVC and calcium carbide for welding mixtures went bankrupt only a decade ago, but gradually its economy stabilized. In the last three years he has earned over ten million euros. Also thanks to several modernisation investments. The most significant investment has only recently been completed. He replaced the older mercury salt electrolysis, which is the basis of his entire chlorine business, with a more environmentally friendly membrane electrolysis. The new plant will produce 75 thousand tons of sodium hydroxide annually and cost 30 million euros. It will also reduce the energy intensity of the business.
Challenges for the future
The company has planned the construction of a new carbide furnace for about eight million euros for this year and next year.
Eliminating the shortage of new people
“We have been addressing the situation for a long time by developing our own education system. With the transition to modern manufacturing technologies that are fully automated and digitized, the problem of a shortage of positions such as chematronics technician arises. Slovak universities do not have this field of study in their curricula at all,” informs the management of Fortischem.
Expectations from the state
The company would like to see a reduction in domestic electricity distribution charges, the school system adapted to the needs of the industry and a reduction in the tax and levy burden, as well as shorter court proceedings.
