As part of optimising group capacity, Wienerberger AG is investing €8m in increasing capacity at its Ansbach and Bad Neustadt hollow brick plants in Bavaria.  This will result in the closure of the Bavarian Spardorf brick works towards the end of next year.  The Mühlacker brick works in the province of Baden-Württemberg is sent to close at the end of this year, with its market being supplied by the Malsch plant near Heidelberg in the same province and from the Betschdorf works in the French province of Alsace.  This should allow a better utilisation of capacity as the German market is showing signs of bottoming out.