Thuringia’s Economics Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee visits Erfurt / Schuler considers selling welding plant and mechanical production facilities.
During a visit last week, Thuringia’s Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee discussed with representatives of the company how Schuler’s Erfurt site can be secured in the long term. “Our plant in Erfurt is an excellent and competitive location for heavy engineering with over 125 years of tradition, excellently trained specialists, state-of-the-art machinery and an optimal infrastructure,” emphasized Dr. Joachim Schönbeck, CEO of parent company ANDRITZ. “Currently and in the future, however, it is not possible for Schuler to operate at full capacity and thus profitably.” Schuler is currently examining the sale of the two plant areas that are particularly affected by the underutilization of capacity: the welding plant and mechanical production. “Of course, we prefer to continue operations under a different ownership rather than closing down,” says Dr. Schönbeck. “Schuler would continue to use the capacities as a customer.”
Labor Director Thomas Kamphausen, Economics Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, Site Manager Markus Schempp and Chief Operations Officer Dr. Peter Jost (from left). © Schuler
Economics Minister Tiefensee emphasized as an important result of his talks with the Schuler management that no dismissals should be made in the aforementioned areas within the next twelve months. “We want to use this time to work on a perspective for the site.” To this end, the Minister has also promised the support of the state and in particular the Thuringia State Development Corporation (LEG). “The Schuler plant in Erfurt not only has an impressive history, but also committed employees,” said Tiefensee. “It is regrettable that the far-reaching structural change in the automotive industry has led to underutilization. We will now do everything we can to make this location fit for the future – also because Germany will face industrial challenges in the coming years in the areas of electromobility and the hydrogen economy, which will increase the demand for heavy engineering.” Schuler sees opportunities to use its expertise in these areas to develop new business areas in the future.
Schuler is considering the sale of the welding plant and mechanical production at the Erfurt site. © Schuler
“We are pleased to be able to count on the support of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the State Development Corporation in our search for interested parties,” said Schuler’s Director of Labor Relations Thomas Kamphausen. And Economics Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee added: “Of course, we would also examine the extent to which we can support a potential investor within the framework of the existing funding instruments.”
Around 380 people currently work for Schuler in Erfurt, 2,500 in Germany and 5,000 worldwide. ANDRITZ employs around 30,000 people worldwide.
About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com
Schuler offers customized cutting-edge technology in all areas of forming —from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to presses, our products include automation, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry. Schuler’s Digital Suite brings together solutions for networking forming technology and is continuously being developed to further improve line productivity and availability. For battery production in gigafactories, Schuler provides equipment and services in the process steps of cell assembly and formation. Our customers include automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance and electrical industries. Presses from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries. Founded in 1839 at our headquarters in Göppingen, Germany, Schuler has approx. 5,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and the Americas, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is part of the international technology group ANDRITZ.
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