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Mecalac closes location in Büdelsdorf: 180 jobs at risk!
Mecalac plans to close the Büdelsdorf site, which will affect 180 employees. Union negotiates social plan.
Mecalac closes location in Büdelsdorf: 180 jobs at risk!
In Büdelsdorf, a tranquil town in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district, the lights could soon go out for the employees of the construction machinery manufacturer Mecalac. How NDR reports, the company is planning to close its location, where around 180 employees currently work. This news was communicated to employees on Tuesday by the IG Metall union and has caused great concern among the workforce.
The closure plans are not only a hard blow for the workers, but also for the entire region. Rainer Hinrichs, mayor of Büdelsdorf, described the situation as extremely worrying. In order to offer employees a perspective, he has initiated a round table at which representatives from IG Metall, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the company itself will come together to discuss solutions.
The construction machinery industry is under pressure
The difficulties faced by Mecalac are reflected throughout the construction equipment industry. Loud Construction network German construction machinery manufacturers experienced a real sales decline of 21 percent compared to the record years of 2022 and 2023. Overall, the industry's turnover is now just over 12 billion euros, which is a notable decline.
The segments of building construction, earthmoving and road construction machinery are particularly hard hit, with declines of up to 26 percent. This development has the potential to not only jeopardize existing jobs, but also impact the economic stability of the industry in the long term.
Outlook for the future
Despite the current symptoms of the crisis, the prospects for the construction machinery industry are not completely hopeless. The Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA) has announced a possible increase in sales of around 5 percent for 2025 under certain conditions. However, these forecasts depend on a stable political situation in Germany and Europe-wide measures to reduce bureaucracy.
The most important industry event, the world's leading trade fair bauma 2025, is just around the corner. It will take place in Munich from April 7th to 13th and has already generated a lot of interest, which could potentially bring a breath of fresh air to the industry. The mood in the construction machinery industry has improved slightly over the last four months, which gives hope for a possible turnaround.
However, it remains to be seen whether companies have the flexibility and adaptability to respond to future geopolitical and economic challenges. The pressure on existing employees could lead to further layoffs and closures not only in Büdelsdorf, but also in other parts of Germany.
While negotiations on a social plan for the affected employees in Büdelsdorf could take several months, the outlook for the future of the construction machinery industry in Germany and beyond remains a topic that will continue to be hotly debated.