On the 21st March a fire completely destroys the company's facility in Santa Maria de Lamas, leaving the largest factory in Vila da Feira in ruins. The whole municipality is shaken by the disaster. Hundreds of workers are left without jobs. Losses reach 15 000 000 Escudos.
Two months later, the news of the start of part-time work, with over 300 workers, is reported in the Boletim da Junta Nacional da Cortiça.
At the same time, the end of the 2nd World War is in sight, creating a climate favourable for a general economic upturn.
The warehouse acquired in Abrantes becomes a factory for preparing cork planks. It is the first step in the integration of two different phases in the production process – the production of the raw material and the production of the cork stopper – guaranteeing the quality of the final product.
At a time of great social challenges, the call for issues of responsibility is reflected in Amorim & Irmãos' pioneering initiative. The first staff refectory opens, where the company serves hot soup daily. Access to a doctor is also provided. It is the beginnings of what would become part of the area of Social Responsibility, which today is implemented and developed in all large companies.
The Amorim family buys a small warehouse in Abrantes, close to the country's main cork oak forest area. Raw material is now acquired directly, thus preventing the stranglehold by foreign companies. At the time, despite being the world's largest cork producer, Portugal only processes around 5% of the raw material, while the rest is monopolised by foreign organisations. The Amorim family's strategy was to counteract this trend.