Staedtler closes plants in Neumarkt and Sugenheim – IG Metall defends itself!

Staedtler closes plants in Neumarkt and Sugenheim – IG Metall defends itself!

The news hits like lightning: The well-known stationery manufacturer Staedtler is planning to close its factories in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz and Sugenheim in the Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim district. This decision will significantly change the working world on site, as around 250 employees are affected - around 100 in Sugenheim and 200 in Neumarkt, like BR.de reported. Sharp criticism has already come from IG Metall, which has announced that it will resist these measures.

The closures are planned until the end of 2028, and production is to be concentrated at the main site in Nuremberg. The company sees this as a step to remain competitive in the face of changing economic conditions and ultimately to secure jobs in Germany. In the long term, Staedtler is also aiming to invest in a new production site in Eastern Europe, which raises the question of whether foreign locations can also be part of the solution while the domestic workforce falls by the wayside. Critics, including trade unions, fear negative effects on the everyday lives of the affected employees - with longer commutes and additional costs.

Consequences and reactions

However, Staedtler offers a kind of handout for the employees in Neumarkt and Sugenheim: all employees should be offered jobs in Nuremberg. IG Metall is disappointed with the way the decision was made and criticizes the fact that the Economic Committee was not informed in a timely manner. Discussions with employee representatives should begin soon in order to develop alternatives and work towards serious dialogue. Nordbayern.de emphasizes that protest actions cannot therefore be ruled out.

You can't choose the economic conditions themselves. This also presents Staedtler with new challenges. With around 2,200 employees worldwide, 1,200 of whom work in Germany, the manufacturer is one of the largest suppliers of writing, painting and drawing products in Europe. The board sees the integration of production in Nuremberg as a long-term solution to enable further growth and ensure competitiveness. But the critical voices are getting louder: employee representatives are calling for a comprehensive examination of possible alternatives.

The situation is tense and raises many questions. How will the industry in the Neumarkt and Sugenheim area develop in the long term? What options remain for the affected employees? It remains to be seen what specific changes will emerge in the coming months and what role the unions will play in this. It is clear that the affected locations face an uncertain future. The dialogue between companies and employees will be crucial in the next few weeks.