Ytong became the Manufacturer of the Year 2009

In September 2009, the ceremonial announcement of the Best Building Materials Manufacturer competition 2009 took place. The manufacturer of aerated concrete blocks Ytong, the company Xella CZ, ranked at the top. It was awarded particularly for technological advancements in the field of thermal insulation building materials, a modern approach to production, and a progressive business policy. A special attention of the jury was also drawn to this year's novelty of the company, aerated concrete block class P1.8 300, the lightest solid material on the current market.

“I would be lying if I said that the award did not warm our hearts. It is a certain satisfaction for all our employees, but also for business partners who have contributed to the long-standing and successful presence of the Ytong brand in the Czech Republic through their commitment, diligence, and ideas,” comments Ivana Havlíčková, Marketing Manager at Xella CZ, on the company's successes. The competition presents both the professional and lay public with manufacturers of building materials in the Czech Republic, who are introducing progressive products and new technologies to the construction market. The aim of the competition is to show that the production of modern building materials can be considerate, sustainable, and energy-efficient.

Representatives of the three winning companies (Xella CZ, Lafarge Cement, and Wienerberger Brick Industry) during the ceremonial award presentation of the Best Building Materials Manufacturer 2009 in the building of the Senate of the Czech Republic

The organizer of the competition is The Association of Entrepreneurs in Construction of the Czech Republic, the company ÚRS Praha, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Xella CZ participated in the competition in the category of large companies (with more than 150 employees). The main criteria for evaluation included economic success and a solid market position, energy consumption of production, achieving production quality, improving the environment and waste management solutions, the state of introducing production management systems, and significant investment activities in manufacturing plants and operations over the past three years. Due to the ongoing crisis, the jury also evaluated overall employment in individual companies.

Energy savings in first place
The manufacturer of aerated concrete Ytong convinced the jury of its uniqueness for several reasons. Ytong is an established stable brand with a progressive business policy, maintaining an important market position even during the economic crisis. Thanks to modern technologies and continuous material development, Ytong continuously improves the parameters of its products. This year’s two innovations - thermal insulation boards Ytong Multipor and the lightest solid block class P1.8 - 300 - prove this. Both products reflect the new situation in the Czech market, which finally favors materials with exceptional thermal insulation parameters and has stepped towards sustainable building.
Aerated concrete is an ecological product in several aspects. Its production is far less energy-intensive and more environmentally friendly compared to traditional solid materials. An important aspect is also the minimal waste generated during production and the possibility of its recycling.
The excellent thermal insulation parameters of aerated concrete buildings contribute to long-term energy savings.
Ytong confirmed its position as a leader in the field of energy-efficient construction this year by registering its products Ytong Lambda and Ytong Multipor in the product and technology database of the Green Savings program. Each of the certified materials is usable in key segments of the subsidy program: in investments in energy savings during renovations as well as in new buildings in passive energy standards.

Successful business policy is not just about sales
According to Ivana Havlíčková, the success of the Ytong brand does not lie solely in innovations and technological progress, but primarily in exceptional care for customers and business partners, thus embodying the spirit of the traditional policy “the customer is our lord.” “The above-standard service we offer to anyone who decides to build with the Ytong masonry system is a given for us. Since we do not sell a final product, a house, or a car, we feel a greater responsibility towards our customer to ensure they achieve all the premium features that a house made of aerated concrete can offer,” explains Ivana Havlíčková and concludes with a resolution: “We perceive the award as a challenge for the coming years, as defending our leadership is often harder than the path to the top. However, I firmly believe that we will not rest on our laurels and will be able to defend our primacy in the coming years as well.”
On September 30, 2009, the winning companies received their awards during a ceremonial presentation in the building of the Senate of the Czech Republic from the hands of the Senate Chairman Mr. Přemysl Sobotka.
Besides the company Xella CZ, the companies Lafarge Cement and Wienerberger Brick Industry also ranked at the top.

CEO of Xella CZ Martin Polák receives a diploma from the Senate Chairman Mr. Přemysl Sobotka

---

YTONG is used primarily for the construction of apartment and family houses due to its unique thermal insulation properties, ensuring year-round thermal and moisture comfort. Environmentally friendly and energy-efficient production, along with minimal energy consumption of buildings, ranks YTONG aerated concrete among the most environmentally friendly building materials today. High precision, low weight, speed, and simplicity of the masonry technology also make it suitable for renovations of all types of buildings. White YTONG aerated concrete is manufactured exclusively from quality natural raw materials such as silica sand, lime, cement, and water. Therefore, it is ideal for buildings intended for long-term human habitation, including spaces with increased hygiene requirements.
The production of YTONG aerated concrete is ensured in the Czech Republic by Xella CZ. With about 350 employees, three manufacturing plants produce approximately 1,000,000 m³ of this precise building material annually. In addition to the YTONG aerated concrete building system, the company also offers a comprehensive range of lime-sand blocks SILKA, which are distinguished by exceptional load-bearing capacity and extreme sound insulation. The combination of YTONG and Silka materials creates optimal building solutions for both standard and special projects in civil, residential, and industrial construction.
More information about Xella and its product range can be found at www.xella.cz and www.ytong.cz.