Epicentr moves its ceramic production abroad after a devastating missile attack
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Ukrainian group Epicentr halts its Kalynivka plant after a direct Russian missile strike destroyed its kilns and two logistics complexes, shifting production to two facilities abroad.
Ukrainian business group Epicentr has decided to completely halt operations at its Epicentr Ceramic Corporation manufacturing plant after a direct hit by Russian missiles. To avoid supply shortages in the market and honour its commercial commitments, the company will immediately move production to two facilities located abroad, while preparing to launch a new plant inside Ukraine. A devastating blow to productive infrastructure The attack caused severe damage across the industrial complex: Warehouses destroyed: direct hits completely destroyed two large logistics and storage complexes. Irreparable damage to the production area: a missile struck the production core directly, destroying all of the ceramic firing kilns and making continued operations impossible. Vehicles and equipment lost: the adjacent employee car park burned down, with at least 20 cars destroyed. According to the company's initial estimates, fully rebuilding the plant and restoring production capacity will take between eighteen months and two years. Epicentr's strategic priority is now to activate production lines abroad in order to keep supplying its partners and customers. History, investment and opening of the plant Epicentr's ceramic division is one of the most ambitious and modern industrial projects developed in Ukraine over the past decade. Opening: the Epicentr Ceramic Corporation plant, located in Kalynivka, in the Kyiv region, was officially inaugurated in 2021 after a period of construction and fit-out with state-of-the-art European technology, mainly Italian Sacmi machinery. Massive investment: the project involved a total estimated investment of more than 150 to 170 million dollars, around 3 billion Ukrainian hryvnias. It included highly energy-efficient automated lines capable of producing millions of square metres of wall tiles and porcelain stoneware per year, aimed at both the domestic market and exports to more than 25 countries. Economic and social impact Epicentr's management has stressed that the attack is not only an economic loss for the company, but a deliberate blow to Ukraine's industrial fabric, logistics, employment and capacity for economic recovery. The company has expressed its condolences to the affected families and its solidarity with the other Ukrainian businesses damaged during the same day of attacks.