Attacks on infrastructure in Ukraine also limit the Fischer plant. But although there is a shortage of electricity in Mukachevo, the production of skis and the like is still in full swing. Director Franz Föttinger describes the situation as “very depressing”.
“Gas stations and pharmacies are lit, but otherwise it is pitch dark in the cities,” says Franz Föttinger. The Fischer director speaks in a serious voice about his last business trip to Western Ukraine, from which he returned on Tuesday.
Russian attacks on the country’s infrastructure have left their mark and electricity has become scarce. Still, the people of Mukachevo do their best to keep up with daily life. “Even hotels are open,” says Föttinger. Heating? no. That’s why the manager crawled into a sleeping bag at night to keep warm: “Given the very depressing situation, that’s still a luxury.”
War caused production delays
After a major fire in October 2020, Fischer had invested 80 million euros in Mukachevo in Europe’s largest ski factory to restart production. The war caused delays. It will take until February before all skis for the current winter can be delivered. All goods are normally out in November.
In Ried and Mukachevo, where ski boots and ice hockey sticks are also made, people work to the limit, in Ukraine under restrictions. For example, veneer production was shifted to the night to relieve the electricity grid.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
