Over the next two years, the WEINIG Group will optimise around 400 jobs, mainly at its sites in Germany, Michael Weinig AG reports. The woodworking machinery manufacturer explains the move by pointing to prolonged instability in the global economy and an order backlog that is weaker than expected.
Geopolitical factors continue to weigh on the market. These include US trade policy, the conflict between the US and China, and the war in Ukraine. As a result, many companies are postponing investments, which is having a negative impact on mechanical engineering and the woodworking industry.
In previous years, WEINIG performed better than the industry average. However, the current order intake does not meet the company’s plans. Management believes that global costs need to be adjusted to reflect the new market conditions.
The company will launch the Transformation 2027 programme, which will apply worldwide. It предусматривает process optimisation and adjustments to production capacities in line with fluctuations in demand.
The main structural changes will affect the German sites in particular. WEINIG emphasises that it is taking social responsibility seriously and plans to implement the changes with due consideration for employees’ interests.
The company expects that cost optimisation will help reduce the impact of crises and prepare the business for growth once the economy recovers. WEINIG will first inform its workforce about further steps, followed by the public.
The state of the industry remains the backdrop for manufacturers’ decisions: the German window market is expected to shrink by 1.2% in 2025.