ROME - Factories in Europe's energy-intensive ceramics industry are changing shift patterns and upgrading their furnaces as companies seek to survive an eye-watering rise in costs.
"In the first hours of the day, temperatures are lower and we can, therefore, avoid turning on the fans, which are always on during the day so we can use energy when it is cheaper," said Ceramiche Noi's commercial manager Lorenzo Giornelli. "Bills have risen by 1,000 per cent," said Mr Giornelli, brandishing a monthly gas statement for 127,000 euros , compared with a bill for 18,000 euros from last summer even though he used a little less this year.
Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles, or Royal Delft as it is better known abroad, will also be turning down the heating this winter in its Delft factory where artists still paint many pieces by hand.Chief executive Henk Schouten said the company would like to replace all three ovens, but as each represents an upfront investment of 100,000 euros, it will phase them out gradually.