Jubilee of Privatization / 1996 - 2011 /

Dyckerhoff Polska Press Conference

"I am proud of the shape in which the company is today, but 15 years ago when the privatization process began everyone had many fears and doubts", said Krzysztof Kocik, the CEO of the Dyckerhoff Polska company during a press conference which was held at the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the company’s privatization. It was a perfect opportunity for memories and summaries. Nowadays Dyckerhoff Polska is a manufacturer of cement, mixed concrete and specialty mixes. It employs 396 workers in the cement line and in 28 ready-mixed concrete factories located throughout the country. It is a modern facility with very high environmental standards.

Journalists had the opportunity to see these changes and confront them with historic knowledge and archive photographs picturing smoking chimneys. CEO Krzysztof Kocik briefly outlined the creation process of the establishment, which dates from 1966. "But the breakthrough for the company was when it was privatized in 1996", he said. "The strategic investor - Dyckerhoff AG, with head office in Germany, has provided, in addition to a rich benefit program, a huge investment which has changed the face of this company. As a result, a modern plant was created, environmentally friendly, yet very effective. This allows the implementation of strategies for sustainable development, including timely payment of any public contributions, and provides fair dividend to the owners."

Krzysztof Kieres, Board Member and Chief Financial Officer, outlined the details of the privatization process, starting with agreement with the crew and ample benefit package, and ending with on-site residential sales. "With the privatization of the cement plant Dyckerhoff AG became the owner of 945 apartments located in Nowiny, Chęciny and in Kielce. The estate in Nowiny was sold to the council, while the other flats were then sold to tenants or designated buyers. No one has been deprived of a roof over their head, and all purchasers, as owners, can now freely dispose of their property."

Production Manager Robert Jedynak presented the manufacturing process and the most important technology investments made in the company. In the first investment period, in the years 1997 – 2001, more than 500 million zł was spent on modernizing all components of the manufacturing process. Within this over 100 million zł was allocated for projects related to environmental protection. As part of this effort most of the air filtering devices were built or modernized, limiting the emissions of dust and noise. The care of green spaces is also worth noticing - approximately 15,000 shrubs and 2,000 trees were planted in the cement plant. Manufacturing activity is conducted on the basis of an integrated permit, where all the parameters of the use of the environment, the levels of dust emissions, noise and the rules for burning alternative fuels are defined in accordance with European standards.

Media representatives also participated in the so-called "shooting at the mine," which means observing the moment of crushing of raw material and landslides. Plant Manager Zenon Sypniowski explained the related procedures and talked about the research and security measures applied by the company to make the neighborhood of the mine the least burdensome for the residents of the surrounding areas.

Text and photos

Magdalena Fudala

Spokeswoman for Dyckerhoff Polska