KraussMaffei agrees to keep German plant open

ERJ staff report (EPN)

Treuchtlingen, Germany − KraussMaffei Group (KM) has reached an agreement with unions and workers that allows the company to keep open its plant in Treuchtlingen, reported European Plastics News.

KM had said on 12 November it would close the plant in order to maintain competitiveness and move its production of components for small- to mid-sized injection moulding machines and extruders to other plants in Germany and Slovakia.

In a statement earlier this week, KM said talks between representatives of KM, the IG Metall trade union and the KM works council had resulted in an agreement to halt the closure plans for the Treuchtlingen factory.

"In connection with the constructive and professional negotiating discussions, all parties have furthermore agreed that there will be no involuntary redundancy notices up to 31 December 2015," said Jan Siebert, KM’s CEO.

Munich, Germany-based KM said it was agreed that a 38-hour week would be introduced for the period January to September 2014 in order to increase its competitiveness. The schedule will call for a 37-hour week from October 2014 to December 2015.