Massive job cuts at Zeiss in Aalen: 248 jobs at risk!

Massive job cuts at Zeiss in Aalen: 248 jobs at risk!

A bitter setback for the workforce at Zeiss Vision Care: The technology group has announced that it will cut almost 250 jobs at its Aalen location by the end of October 2026. This is reported by the Mercury. The background to this drastic step is the falling demand for eyeglass lenses, which was already announced in October 2024. There are currently around 430 full-time employees at the site, but in the future only 182 employees will ensure production. This means a reduction of 248 jobs, which unsettles the workforce and the entire region.

The works council chairman Uwe Frey spoke of a “slap in the face for the employees” when he heard the advance announcements. IG Metall estimates that production in Aalen will be more than halved, which only increases employees' worries. Nevertheless, there are also bright spots: Despite the reduced capacities, Zeiss plans to remain the largest lens producer in Germany and produce up to one million lenses annually in Aalen.

Investments and future prospects

In a move that may come as a surprise to some, Zeiss intends to invest 25 million euros in modernizing the Aalen site. This investment aims to not only restructure production, but also to secure the location in Zeiss' global production network in the long term. Managing director Christoph Hinnenberg described the agreement on a reconciliation of interests and a social plan as an “important milestone” for the future of the company.

In order to make staff reductions socially acceptable, priority is given to internal changes, early retirement and voluntary departures with severance pay. Redundancies for operational reasons cannot be ruled out, but the company would like to avoid them if possible. Swabian highlights that measures such as making shift models more flexible and expiring fixed-term contracts have already been initiated.

Competition and market conditions

But this isn't just a challenge for Zeiss Vision Care: the glasses manufacturer Rodenstock, which is also active in the industry, is also announcing job cuts. The company, founded in 1877, plans to cut around 250 of the approximately 500 jobs at the Regen site and to relocate production to the Czech Republic and Thailand in the future. This development clearly shows how much competition and rising production costs are weighing on the industry. Despite the closure of its production site in Regen, Rodenstock remains active in the areas of research and development, reports German business news.

The networking of Zeiss and Rodenstock raises questions about the future viability of German eyewear production. It remains to be seen how the companies will be able to assert themselves in a rapidly changing market. The employees in Aalen and Regen hope that the measures and investments taken can not only secure their jobs, but also the locations.