The company announced this on its website on Tuesday evening. By then, around 130 employees are planned to be cut. Production for tool making for fiber and tilting machines as well as for the automation of thermoforming machines should be divided among other group locations.
Kiefel Managing Director Matt Sieverding was quoted in a media report: “The market situation in mechanical engineering is still characterized by major challenges. In order to remain competitive in the long term, we must make even better use of the strengths of our respective production sites for our local customers.” Kiefel GmbH is a member of the Brückner Group, a group of companies with a total of around 2,900 employees worldwide.
“The sudden closure hits the employees and their families hard, as there have been no signals from Kiefel that the site is at risk,” explained Reinhold Binder, federal chairman of the production union (PRO-GE), in a press release. We will fight together with the works council for a “quick social plan”.
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**Interview with Matt Sieverding, Managing Director of Kiefel GmbH**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Matt. We’ve heard news about Kiefel GmbH’s decision to cut approximately 130 jobs. Can you explain the reasoning behind this difficult decision?
**Matt Sieverding:** Thank you for having me. Yes, the decision to reduce our workforce is indeed challenging and never taken lightly. The current market situation in mechanical engineering presents us with significant hurdles, and we must adapt to remain competitive. By consolidating production for tool-making and automation, we can better utilize the strengths of our various locations, which is crucial for our long-term sustainability.
**Interviewer:** There seems to have been no prior indication of this decision, which has understandably shocked employees. Can you elaborate on how this was communicated to your team?
**Matt Sieverding:** We strive to maintain open communication with our employees, but in situations like this, where external market pressures and internal assessments coalesce, things can change rapidly. We did our best to evaluate the situation discreetly, but unfortunately, the sudden nature of the announcements caught many off guard. We understand and empathize with the impact this decision has on families.
**Interviewer:** Reinhold Binder, the chairman of the PRO-GE union, mentioned this closure’s impact on employees and their families. What measures is Kiefel taking to support those affected by these layoffs?
**Matt Sieverding:** We are committed to supporting our employees through this transition. We are working closely with the works council to ensure that those impacted receive appropriate severance packages and job placement assistance. It’s a difficult time, but we believe that with the right resources, affected employees can find new opportunities.
**Interviewer:** Looking forward, what are the steps Kiefel plans to take to stabilize the company amidst these challenges?
**Matt Sieverding:** Our focus is on enhancing efficiency and leveraging the strengths at our remaining locations. We will be investing in innovation and exploring new market opportunities to help stabilize our position. Collaboration across our group companies will play a vital role in our strategy moving forward.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing this insight, Matt. We wish you and the Kiefel team the best as you navigate these challenging times.
**Matt Sieverding:** Thank you for having me. We appreciate the support and understanding from everyone as we work through this period.
