Manroland Sheetfed streamlines German production

Support staff reduced by 120 in post-pandemic reorganisation.

Manroland Sheetfed GmbH, the German press builder, announced on Friday that it has finalised a post-pandemic reorganisation plan to streamline manufacturing operations at its Offenbach factory.

The company is shedding 140 or around 15% of its near 900 German workforce, of which 120 are indirect workers. Globally the company employs around 1,500 people.

Direct workers are being retained, just 20 are joining the voluntary programme. The company is increasing apprentice intake year-on-year to compensate.

Most of the reductions, over 80%, are being achieved voluntarily, the majority of leavers taking early retirement. Two thirds will leave the company by the end of March, the remainder before year end.

Manroland Sheetfed – streamlining post pandemic.

Editors note.

Like much of the industry, the pandemic hit the German heavy metal builders hard. The subsequent recovery, although re-filling order books, has been dogged with supply chain bottlenecks, spiralling fuel, material and transport costs and high absenteeism.

Covid-19, although much less virulent, has become more and more widespread in Germany. Since the German government lifted virtually all restrictions in November 2021, cases have sky-rocketed and the country has experienced record absenteeism levels.

Supply chain problems are easing across the manufacturing sector but Manroland Sheetfed manufactures all of its iconic presses in Germany and has born the full brunt of post-pandemic disruption.

The company has been reviewing its operations since last summer and taken a long hard look at every aspect of its business. The company says streamlining will not impact its capacity to build the 500 printing units (roughly 100 presses) planned for this year. Neither will it compromise the R&D that Manroland is famed it says.

The announced headcount reductions have largely been found from back-office administration, logistics and other support functions.

Manroland Sheetfed’s market organisation, comprising over 40 sales and service subsidiaries, is largely unaffected by the review. Small outposts in Austria and Switzerland have been merged into the German sales and service organisation.

About Manroland Sheetfed

Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a leading German producer of sheetfed offset litho printing presses. Founded in 1871, the company is one of the oldest producers of printing presses in the world. Today the company has its own subsidiaries in over 40 countries and is a global watchword for supreme quality and reliability. Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the privately owned UK engineering group, Langley Holdings plc.


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