Rathscheck Schiefer und Dach-Systeme is one of the largest suppliers of slate for roofing and siding in Europe. The company is the market leader of the German-speaking world. Its slate is extracted from the Katzenberg (Mayen) and Margareta (Polch) mines at depths of up to 300 meters. The company also sells natural slate mined at several international sites, which are located mainly in Spain, Asia and North America. Rathscheck Schiefer maintains an export department at its Mayen headquarters as well as subsidiaries, warehouses and offices in various countries.

Innovations strengthen position on European market

The Slate division produces and markets roof and façade slates in Europe. Its target group is builders, planners, roofing trade retailers, and slaters. The division is represented by Rathscheck Schiefer which, over the last decade, has developed into one of the leading suppliers on the European market.

 

The economic crisis meant that, in 2009, the entire European roofing market faced a marked drop in demand. As the renovation market in Germany has continued to stall, net sales in the steep roof sector have fallen by 10 %. In France, there has been a fall in net sales of 20 to 25 %, with the renovation market remaining stable, if with hotly contested prices. The market in the Benelux countries has been only slightly affected by the economic crisis. Margins have fallen in the UK and eastern Europe. The demand in these markets has dropped by around 30 %. Consequently, 2009 has seen a significant deterioration in sales for Spanish producers of roof slates. As a result of the fall in demand, stocks on hand initially rose sharply. The restrictive lending policy of the banks led to financing difficulties. In the second half of the year, the Spanish slate industry therefore instituted costcutting adjustment measures. Nevertheless, a few producers filed for bankruptcy. In the medium term, this consolidation process strengthens the market position of the well known producers, one of which is the Spanish Cafersa S.L. Group, acquired by the Slate division in 2008. Overall, Spanish slate production fell by a quarter.

 

Net sales in the difficult business year 2009 were around 9 % less than in 2008. Foreign sales made up around 28 % of the total turnover. The overall decline in sales was 16 %. Nevertheless, the operating result reported by the Slate division was significantly greater than the preceding year, as the Cafersa Group was acquired mid way through the year and the reporting year took into account a full business year.

 

In Germany, Rathscheck’s most important market, a stable product portfolio ensured that the position was maintained and market shares retained. The product range has been completed with new types of façade cladding. The development of the ‘Stonepanel’ product has enabled the Slate division to incorporate an innovative system into its product portfolio. This product facilitates the rapid and simple cladding of both interior and exterior walls and façades.

 

France is the world’s largest market for slate and also the most important export market for the Slate division. Rathscheck Schiefer has firmly established itself in this market with a targeted sales and marketing strategy. The division has expanded its concession in Spain with the acquisition of a new deposit nearby, thereby securing additional slate reserves. As planned, development began in a deposit not previously used.

 

As an economic recovery for the European sales markets is still not expected for 2010, the best that the Slate division expects is for a stagnation in sales across all its markets. Nevertheless, the Slate division’s goal is to increase its net sales and results in Europe over the coming business year. In the long term, the increasing importance of climate protection and energy efficiency will open up excellent growth opportunities for natural products such as roof and façade slate.