Jungheinrich plans to close the plant: 400 jobs in Lüneburg are at risk!

Jungheinrich plans to close the plant: 400 jobs in Lüneburg are at risk!

In an unexpected move, Jungheinrich plans to close the Lüneburg plant by mid-July 2027. This is based on current information from Mercury out. The closure is part of a global austerity program that will affect a total of 1,000 jobs. This of course causes great unrest among the approximately 380 employees in Lüneburg, where special vehicles are produced. Despite the planned closure, the plant is still operating and has a profitable production record.

The company is facing increasing international competition and cost pressure, which is why the savings program with the aim of saving 100 million euros has become necessary. However, the decision to close seemed all the more incomprehensible since incoming orders rose by 4.2 percent to almost 1.4 billion euros in the second quarter, while sales stagnated at around 1.3 billion euros. Nevertheless, the situation is tense: Earnings before interest and taxes fell by more than 6 percent to 106 million euros.

Criticism from IG Metall

The metal industry union has sharply criticized Jungheinrich's decision and described the plant closure as a "breaking of a taboo". Ole Drewes, union secretary, emphasizes that Jungheinrich's goal of doubling sales by 2030 comes at the expense of employees. In a recent communication from World Jungheinrich is described as a highly profitable company that does not live up to its social responsibility.

The company, which in the past recorded a very successful 2024 financial year with a surplus of 289 million euros, has now faced serious challenges. The sale of the Russian subsidiary put Jungheinrich in a tense situation, as the sales price was only a maximum of 40 percent of the market value and required a significant devaluation of the subsidiary. Given these circumstances, Jungheinrich has also lowered its forecasts for 2025.

Prospects for employees

IG Metall is offering future talks to save the location and jobs in Lüneburg. The talks are supposed to be clarified in advance by September 19th, but remain under a thick curtain of uncertainty. The question of whether jobs in Lüneburg can be maintained remains open, and the upcoming negotiations will be crucial for the future of the employees. In the context of corporate decisions dictated by financial strategies, it remains to be seen how this situation will develop further.