Only one more year, then it will be “printed out”: The Bertelsmann Group wants to close its last remaining gravure printing plant in Ahrensburg at the end of January 2024. The reason: rising energy prices and falling demand – 545 employees are affected.
According to the group, Ahrensburg has been in the red for some time. According to the company, the production facility is the last remaining Bertelsmann gravure printing site in Germany. The workers’ side announced opposition to the plans.
Workers announce resistance
According to the company, the European gravure printing market relevant to Ahrensburg has been structurally declining for more than a decade. The demand for large-volume catalogues, magazines and inserts has fallen disproportionately.
Digital change: Orders from the print shop are decreasing
Prinovis Managing Director Ulrich Cordes said: “In addition, our clients have repeatedly questioned their marketing activities over the past two years due to the consequences of the pandemic and the enormous increase in paper and energy prices and have often changed them in the direction of digital communication solutions.” There is a strong one Decrease in order volume.
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According to the company, “socially acceptable solutions” should be found for the affected employees in the near future. The works council at the Ahrensburg site announced that the closure plans would not be accepted: “For more than 14 years now, employees have been required to make employee contributions to secure their future in the form of direct wage waivers, working time extensions without wage compensation and work intensification.” (dpa/mp)
