Type
Offshoring/Delocalisation
Country
Germany
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Lahr
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Rubber And Plastic Products And Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products
Manufacture Of Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products
23 - Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
New offshoring locations
Thailand, Portugal

1,240 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
7 March 2005
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date
31 December 2006

Description

Grohe Water Technology, the German plumbing specialist, is planning extensive restructuring in order to secure its future. Management has not given details of the effects on the 5,800 jobs and the company's five German sites, but job cuts are seen as being inevitable. Cost savings of around €150 million are planned till 2010, applying to the entire supply chain. The company is also planning increased production abroad, including the development of production sites in Thailand and Portugal and the possible installation of a new site in the Nafta region. The company has a 10% share of the world market for bathroom fittings, and is Germany's largest exporter in this field. Altogether in Germany, the company is planning to cut over 1,240 jobs by 2006 and transfer part of production abroad. The Lahr works obtained a site guarantee from the Grohe owners, but this is valid until 2008, and the union IG Metall fears that the jobs of those unaffected by the current round of cuts may be stable only for a further three years.


Sources

  • 20 March 2007: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
  • 9 June 2005: Süddeutsche Zeitung
  • 13 June 2005: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Citation

Eurofound (2005), Grohe Water Technology, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Germany, factsheet number 61331, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/61331.