Employees Wienerberger fear closure of brick factory in Westmalle (Malle)

The stone factories are inextricably linked to Westmalle. Rik Quirynen and his brother Frans started the Quirynen brick factory more than a hundred years ago. Later it became Terca Quirynen and later Wienerberger. Generations of Mallenaren earned their sandwiches. Former field driver Paul Herygers also worked in the stone factories before he became a professional and after his cycling career he retired to the stone factories to earn his living.

Local clay

Clay extraction is still happening locally, near the Paaltjesdreef in Oostmalle, where clay would be for a year and a half. The facing bricks of Wienerberger who come from the site in Westmalle are therefore top local products.

According to the employees, including 54 workers, it has been buzzing about closure for a year of rumors. But just before the holidays, the management told that there was certainty until 17 May for continuity. The employees are displeasure because the factory in Westmalle is profitable and Wienerberger was able to present positive financial figures last year, better than in 2023. Two of the types of facing bricks made in Westmalle have been in the top 10 of best-selling facing bricks in our country for years. (Read more under the photo)

“Wienerberger took a diversity manager last year. Now she wants to close the most diverse factory in the group. Twelve nationalities work very well together in Westmalle. We really feel a family company. Here, no work accidents have been done here for four years, which is also very special. There is a welfare survey every two years, and the site in Westmalle always scores very high. People like to work here, « it sounds.

We are not a loss -making factory, on the contrary

employee Wienerberger Malle

Wienerberger still has a brick factory in Beerse, but there is already more technical unemployment, because another product is made there. “Transferring to Beerse to be placed on economic unemployment, we are not going to accept. We are a very good factory where everyone has always shown a lot of commitment. Unfortunately, we never received much in its place, « says the staff.

We don't expect good news, but we are not going to just let the site close quietly. We are not a loss -making factory and Wienerberger has submitted nice financial figures in 2024, despite the contraction in construction

employee Wienerberger Malle

“The investments were always for other factories. Last year Wienerberger bought a factory in Tournai. Our products want to make them there. We do our best, but they just take our stones. We always realized that we were the smaller brother in the group. The uncertainty weighs, but we are always fantastic our best. That's why this feels really unjust. «  (Read more under the photo)

We called Wienerberger's headquarters in Kortrijk, but for the time being there was no response about the content of the declaration of intent that will be given on Friday. Hopefully that will follow during the day. “We don't expect good news, but we are not going to just let the site close quietly. We are not a loss -making factory and Wienerberger has presented nice financial figures in 2024, despite the contraction in construction. They lead the clay from Malle to Kortemark, while here we can make those stones ourselves, which would be much more ecological. «