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Jungheinrich closes plant in Lüneburg: 380 jobs at risk!
Jungheinrich will close the plant in Lüneburg by 2027, affecting 380 employees. The job cuts are part of cost savings.
Jungheinrich closes plant in Lüneburg: 380 jobs at risk!
The waves of change are currently rolling through the industry and now it is also affecting the forklift manufacturer Jungheinrich. How Mercury reports, the company is planning extensive job cuts, which will result in the closure of the Lüneburg plant with around 380 employees by 2027. This is a hard blow for the region as many jobs will inevitably be lost.
But Lüneburg is not the only one facing this challenge. The locations in Norderstedt and Hamburg will also be affected by the dismantling. In Norderstedt, where around 1,500 employees are employed, a three-digit number of layoffs can be expected. Double-digit reduction plans have been announced at the company headquarters in Hamburg, which has over 1,200 employees. In summary, around 1,000 jobs are to be cut worldwide, which underlines the significance of this decision.
The background to the closures
Jungheinrich, with headquarters in Hamburg and over 21,000 employees in 120 countries, faces the challenge of adapting to changing market conditions. A central reason for the planned closures is the changed demand in the market for forklifts and warehouse technology. Customers are increasingly relying on cheaper machines and devices, which threatens the company's competitiveness worldwide. How NDR adds, the goal of the closure is savings of about 100 million euros.
The board informed the workforce this week about the plans, which not only affect the Lüneburg employees. The closure is particularly criticized by Florian Rebstock from the IG Metall union, who denounces the loss of skills because the Lüneburg plant is a so-called “special structure” that produces tailor-made vehicles.
A look at the industry
The challenges facing Jungheinrich are part of a larger trend in German industry. Millions of jobs will be at risk in 2025, according to analysis by Specialist focus shows. Structural change in industry is not only continuing, it is accelerating. Sectors such as the automotive industry, mechanical engineering and steel industry show clear signs of need for job cuts, while automation and digitalization are significantly changing production processes.
These developments are leading to protests in many cities, including Cologne, where over 23,000 people are demonstrating against cuts in the chemical and automotive industries. Policy measures to stabilize the labor market are now required, including workforce retraining and investments in sustainable production methods.
Overall, German industry is facing a rocky road, and the reaction of politicians and companies will be crucial in order to avoid a further worsening of the jobs crisis. The closure of the Jungheinrich plant in Lüneburg is just the tip of a very large iceberg.