2024-07-23 05:12:05
Shock for the 550 employees of the traditional company Kolbus: The mechanical engineering company from East Westphalia has filed for restructuring proceedings.
The machine manufacturer Kolbus from Rahden, East Westphalia, has run into financial difficulties. This is what several media outlets are reporting. According to the report, the almost 250-year-old company filed a so-called “provisional self-administration procedure” with the Bielefeld District Court on Friday, writes the “Westfalen-Blatt”.
The court has ordered the proceedings, during which the management remains in office. According to the press release, lawyer Stefan Meyer from the Pluta law firm has been appointed as the trustee of the traditional company. Lawyer Maximilian Michelsen has been appointed as the general representative.
Nothing is currently known about the reasons for the self-administration procedure. The “Westfalen-Blatt” is quoting a letter from managing director Wilfried Kröger to his “dear employees”. Kröger writes that this path was chosen in order to “take advantage of the improved reorganization and restructuring options offered by the procedure”. He goes on to write, according to the report: “The self-administration procedure is aimed at preserving the company and jobs.”
The company’s 450 employees and another 100 employees of Kolbus-Ausbildungs-GmbH will initially receive insolvency benefits from the employment agency for three months. “After that, payments will be made as usual from the company’s funds,” says the letter quoted by the “Westfalen-Blatt”.
Most employees are currently on vacation, the company is closed, as an employee confirmed to t-online. As the “Westfalen-Blatt” writes, there will initially be two voluntary appointments on Monday and Tuesday to clarify questions from employees – then a staff meeting after the company holidays are over.
Meanwhile, Kolbus’ chances of being restructured are apparently good. “The company has a long tradition and appeal in the region and is an important employer,” said specialist lawyer Meyer, according to the press release. “That should be enough motivation for everyone involved to find good restructuring solutions.” He and my team will “do everything we can to ensure that the company and its jobs can be preserved,” Meyer continued.
The origins of the company go back to 1775. At that time, Christian Henrich Kolbus built a village blacksmith’s shop in Rahden. The company later specialized in the production of bookbinding machines, of which it is considered the world market leader. The company’s group turnover in 2020 was around 60 million euros.