Manroland Sheetfed GmbH has finalized a post-pandemic re-organization plan to streamline manufacturing operations at its Offenbach, Germany, factory.
The company is shedding 140 or around 15 per cent of its nearly 900 German workforce, of which 120 are indirect workers. Globally, the company employs around 1,500 people.
Most of the reductions, over 80 per cent, are being achieved voluntarily, with the majority of leavers taking early retirement. Two-thirds will leave the company by the end of March, and the remainder before year-end.
Direct workers are being retained with just 20 joining the voluntary programme. The company is increasing apprentice intake year-on-year to compensate.
Like much of the industry, the pandemic hit the German heavy metal builders hard. The subsequent recovery, although re-filling order books, has been dogged with supply chain bottlenecks, spiralling fuel, material and transport costs and high absenteeism.
Supply chain problems are easing across the manufacturing sector but Manroland Sheetfed manufactures all of its presses in Germany and has born the full brunt of post-pandemic disruption.
The company has been reviewing its operations since last summer and taken a long hard look at every aspect of its business. The company says streamlining will not impact its capacity to build the 500 printing units (roughly 100 presses) planned for this year.
The headcount reductions have largely been found from back-office administration, logistics and other support functions.
Manroland Sheetfed’s market organization, comprising over 40 sales and service subsidiaries, is largely unaffected by the review. Small outposts in Austria and Switzerland have been merged into the German sales and service organization.
Print this page
