About company

After privatisation we established our company in Horažďovice. We run a highly competitive production and sales programme, using the latest technical equipment and manned by an experienced and professionally skilled team. Thanks to privatisation, we were able to combine Swedish know-how with Czech efficiency and skill.

Managing Director

Managing Director

Potato starch production in Horažďovice is a tradition that goes back over one hundred years. Throughout this period it has been marked by the efforts of many generations of “starch producers” who have often had to fight to maintain production and always with the aim of achieving lasting and long-term company development.
Possibly the worse crisis occurred in the early 1990s after the gradual privatisation of the Czech starch production industry saw the reduction of the original 17 producers to just 5, the number currently in operation. And one of these is our company based in Horažďovice.
After privatisation we established our company in Horažďovice. We run a highly competitive production and sales programme, using the latest technical equipment and manned by an experienced and professionally skilled team.
LYCEKBY AMYLEX, Inc. combines Swedish know-how with Czech efficiency and skill. We produce high quality products, including potato starch, dextrin and other modified starches.

Company history

Company history

The history of starch production in Horažďovice began in tandem with the Industrial Revolution. There was a sugar factory in the town, which was famous for the cultivation of roses and fresh water pearl mussels from the Otava River. In 1889, Mr. Gellert and Mr. Gaus from Pilsen extended their local business to incorporate a paper mill, located on the eastern border of the town.

Permits were issued for paper and cardboard production from straw and production began on 20th of October 1889. Unfortunately, on 16th of June 1897, the paper mill burned down and never recovered from the disaster. The burnt site remained until 1906 when a new company for starch, dextrin and syrup production was established under the title “First Southwest Czech Starch Manufacturers”. They went into production launching their first campaign between 1st November 1906 and 30th March 1907.

Around 1600 tonnes of potatoes were processed over this period and bought for 50,000 crowns. The success of the business had a great effect on Horažďovice and led to the establishment of a starch factory co-op run by farmers from all over the region. In 1908, “The Czech Pošumaví Starch Manufacturing and Purchasing Co-op”, located in the foothills of the Šumava mountains, were given an offer from First Southwest Czech Starch Manufacturers and in spring of 1912 they bought the factory.

The farmers came into ownership of the starch factory and remained there until 1946. In that same year, through the Czech-Moravian Union for Potato and Starch, the factory was leased to leading starch expert Josef Smeykal, who took over the business. In spring of the following year work on modernising the factory began and over the next two years the factory was completely revamped. The coup in 1948 changed everything and the factory was then nationalised.

Further history in a nutshell:

  • 1950: Starch manufacturing is incorporated under the national enterprise, Amylon Havlíčkův Brod
  • 1952: Starch manufacturing comes under the management of South Bohemian Starch Manufacturers
  • 1958: Starch manufacturing becomes part of the national enterprise, West Bohemian Distilleries and Canning Factories in Pilsen – Božkov
  • 1960: Starch manufacturing becomes part of Havlíčkův Brod Starch Manufacturing Facilities
  • 1968: Dextrin production comes into operation
  • 1986: New starch manufacturing using Polish technology is put into operation
  • 1992: Starch manufacturing falls under the privatisation voucher scheme and becomes known as Horažďovice Starch Factory, Inc.
  • 1994: LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc. is founded by Horažďovice Starch Manufacturers, Inc. and Swedish company Lyckeby Stärkelsen
  • 1994-1996: Starch manufacturing is modernised
  • 2002: Potato starch production capacity multiplies and the production of cationic starch is launched
  • 2003: LYCKEBY CULINAR Inc., which specialises in the food industry, separates from LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc.
  • 2006: 100 years of starch production in Horažďovice
  • 2009: Horažďovice Starch Manufacturers, Inc. and LYCKEBY AMYLEX merge. Horažďovice Starch Manufacturers Inc. ceases and all activities are transferred to LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc.
  • 2010: Transportation of produced starch to warehouses is modernised
  • 2014: 20th anniversary of LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc. and the construction of a new dextrin production unit is completed

Quality

Quality

The quality management system at LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc. is a key part of a strategy focusing on quality and safety.

As the largest producer of potato starch and associated products (modified starches) in the Czech Republic, we at LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc. constantly work to maintain our standing as a supplier that offers our customers an unrivalled service delivering only the highest quality and safest products. That’s why at LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc. all our business activities are rooted in a functional quality management system.

The quality system according to ISO 9001 was certified in 1997 and the quality and food safety system according to ISO 22000:2005 was introduced in 2010. Later, we also successfully passed the FSCC 22000 audit. We successfully defend the systems in audits every year.

The food and feed quality and safety policy is available here.

Environment

Environment

At LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc. we are aware of the possible negative impacts of our activities on the environment. We follow legal requirements related to food hygiene, environmental protection and not least product safety. Our management supports a pro-active policy on environmental and health and safety protection for all people who may be directly or indirectly affected by the activities of our company.

In 2005, we successfully implemented an environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001:2004 and have successfully retained this certificate every year since. We fulfil legal and other requirements related to the environment, pollution prevention and the conservation of natural resources. We also constantly evaluate the effects of all of our activities on the environment.

We at LYCKEBY AMYLEX, Inc. have defined our commitment to protecting the environment. This policy is one of the elements of our company’s overall policy and is in compliance with our strategic goals and intentions. Our environmental policy is available HERE.

If you have any further questions, concerns or comments, etc. relating to the environment, please contact us.

Certificates

Certificates

Potato purchasing

Potato purchasing

Our agronomic department handles potato purchasing, seed reproduction and consultation. We collaborate with around 100 different companies.

Human resources

Human resources

Hiring of employees is based on personal interviews and open competition. All available positions are submitted to the Labour Office.

Career prospects:

  • Apprenticed workers (locksmiths, electricians, farm machinery repairmen, etc.)
  • High school, college and university graduates specialising in engineering, electronics, economics, chemistry (paper industry), food technology and agriculture (crop production). At least a basic knowledge of English is essential.For the annual potato processing season from September to November we hire some workers on temporary contracts.

Working hours:7 hours 30 min
Work schedule: Shifts for staff positions and flexible working rotas for other positions.

Employee benefits:

  • Equitable and ethical approach within the company and externally
  • Extra week of holidays
  • Pension fund contributions
  • Catering is provided and partially funded
  • Comfortable and modern working environment and atmosphere

Contact:
Phone: +420 376 532 111, 376 532 222
Fax: +420 376 513 536
E-mail: lyckeby@lyckeby.cz

Vacancies

Vacancies

There are currently no vacancies.


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Incorporated in the Companies Register kept by the Regional Court in Plzeň, Section B, File 387.