2024-10-08 14:17:19
The weak demand is also affecting the construction machinery industry. In Hanover, the manufacturer Komatsu now wants to cut every fourth job.
The Japanese construction machinery manufacturer Komatsu is cutting almost one in four jobs at its plant in Hanover. Ingo Büscher, Managing Director of Komatsu Germany, confirmed in response to a request from the German Press Agency that 235 of the almost 1,000 employees to date are expected to leave the company by the end of the year. The reason is the weak demand for construction machinery. The “Hannoversche Allgemeine” had previously reported.
“Like the entire construction machinery industry, we are also suffering from a sales crisis,” said Büscher. “Unfortunately, we can no longer avoid job cuts.” A future collective agreement applies to the remaining almost 750 employees at the site, which excludes dismissals for operational reasons until the beginning of 2030.
78 fixed-term contracts have been allowed to expire since April 2024, said Büscher. A further 50 employees would leave as part of a voluntary program: “Unfortunately, we have to actively lay off the remaining 107 employees for operational reasons on the basis of the social plan agreed with the works council.”
Short-time work has been in effect at the plant since October 2023, which expired in September 2024. The site specializes in the construction of wheel loaders and mobile excavators. According to the “Hannoversche Allgemeine”, sales had recently collapsed. This year, Komatsu Hannover will only deliver half as many machines as in 2023.