The Optics Industry in Ullensvang: Current Status and Outlook

The optics industry in Ullensvang is a small but dynamic sector with two registered companies. In recent years, sales have declined, with a sharp drop of 30% from 2022 to 2023. Nevertheless, the number of employees has fluctuated, increasing to 3 employees in 2026. The industry has a negative EBITDA margin, indicating challenges with salary costs and operating results. Ullensvang's broader agricultural community has a more stable development, but the optics industry has its unique challenges. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs explore potential addresses in Ullensvang for this industry.

Sales Development:

• Sales in the optics industry in Ullensvang have declined sharply since 2022, with a 30% decrease from 2022 to 2023. In 2025, sales were only NOK 1.5 million, a 7% decline from 2024.
• The most dramatic decline was recorded from 2022 to 2023, where sales fell by 30%.

Employees:

• The number of employees has shown an uneven development, increasing from 1 to 3 employees from 2022 to 2026. The most significant increase was recorded from 2022 to 2023 (100% increase).
• In 2026, the industry had 3 employees, indicating stabilization after a period of fluctuations.

Operating Results:

• The industry has a negative EBITDA margin of -28%, indicating that operating costs exceed income. This is a challenge for companies in the sector.

In Ullensvang, there are 2 companies registered in the optics industry:

1. C) Optikk Hardanger As (Bakkegata 4A, Odda)

• Founded: 2016-09-27
• Organisational form: AS
• Number of employees: 2
• Sales: NOK 1.5 million
• EBITDA: NOK -428,000
• Status: Not bankrupt

1. Odda Optikk As (Eitrheimsvegen 17A, Odda)

• Founded: 2022-07-26
• Organisational form: AS
• Number of employees: 1
• Sales: NOK 0
• EBITDA: NOK 0
• Status: Not bankrupt

Organisational Form:

• Both companies are ASs, indicating a dominance of this form in the industry. No other organisational forms are registered in the data.

Odda is the only town in Ullensvang with activity in the optics industry. Here, there are 2 companies and 3 employees. The key economic indicators for Odda are:

Odda is therefore the only town in Ullensvang with activity in the optics industry, and it is here that the two companies operate.

Bankruptcies and operational challenges:

• Neither of the two companies in the optics industry is bankrupt, but both have negative EBITDA values. This indicates that operating costs exceed income, which can be a challenge for the companies' profitability.

Operating results and salary costs:

• C) Optikk Hardanger As has a negative operating result of NOK -480,000, with salary costs of NOK 668,000. This shows that salary costs constitute a significant portion of operating income.
• Odda Optikk As has no sales or operating income, which may indicate inactivity or an early stage in the company's operations.

Employees and operating results per employee:

• C) Optikk Hardanger As has an operating income per employee of NOK 748,000, while EBITDA per employee is NOK -214,000. This shows that operating income covers salary costs, but not operating costs or other expenses.

Outlook for the optics industry

Sales development and operational challenges:

• Sales in the optics industry have declined sharply since 2022, with a 30% decrease from 2022 to 2023. This shows that the industry has been affected by economic or market-related challenges.
• The EBITDA margin is negative at -28%, indicating that operating costs exceed income. This can be a challenge for companies in the industry.

Employees and operating results:

• The number of employees has shown an uneven development, increasing from 1 to 3 employees from 2022 to 2026. The most significant increase was recorded from 2022 to 2023 (100% increase).
• This may indicate stabilization of the industry, but there are still challenges with operating results and salary costs.

Conclusion for entrepreneurs:

• The optics industry in Ullensvang has shown an uneven development, with both increases and decreases in sales and the number of employees. This can be a challenge for entrepreneurs considering starting a company in this sector. Nevertheless, there may be opportunities to develop in a stabilized market environment.

Agricultural community in Ullensvang:

• The agricultural community has a more stable development compared to the optics industry. Sales in the agricultural community have shown a more even development, with an increase from 2023 to 2024 (2.6% increase).
• The number of employees in the agricultural community has shown a more stable development, with an increase from 8 to 13 employees from 2021 to 2026.

Comparison with the optics industry:

• The agricultural community has a larger number of companies (4) compared to the optics industry (2). This shows that the agricultural community is a more developed sector in Ullensvang.
• Sales in the agricultural community have shown a more stable development, with an increase from 2023 to 2024 (2.6% increase), while the optics industry has shown a sharp decline from 2022 to 2023 (30% decline).

Peer companies in the agricultural community:

• A B N Musikk Og Lyd Arild Bernt Nielsen (Jondal): 0 employees, 0 sales, 0 EBITDA.
• Brødr Jacobsen Handel As Avd Odda (Odda): 12 employees, 0 sales, 0 EBITDA.

These companies are not in the optics industry, but they show that the agricultural community has a broader variation of companies and activities.

The optics industry in Ullensvang is a small but dynamic sector with two registered companies. In recent years, sales have declined, with a sharp decline of 30% from 2022 to 2023. Nevertheless, the number of employees has fluctuated, increasing to 3 employees in 2026. The industry has a negative EBITDA margin, indicating challenges with salary costs and operating results. Ullensvang's broader agricultural community has a more stable development, but the optics industry has its unique challenges. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs explore potential addresses in Ullensvang for this industry.