Hubergroup, a global printing inks and chemicals specialist, has announced a strategic realignment resulting in the reduction of approximately 300 positions in Germany. This decision affects around 250 employees at the Celle site and approximately 50 employees in Kirchheim. The company is engaging in consultations with the works council to manage the layoffs responsibly, aiming to reconcile interests and establish a social plan for the affected employees.
The restructuring involves concentrating the Celle site on production and services for the German-speaking market, specifically focusing on application technology for flexo and gravure printing. Series production operations in Celle will be closed, with volumes transferred to facilities in Wroclaw, Poland, and existing plants in India by the end of 2024. This move is intended to reduce global overcapacities and enhance capacity utilization closer to customers and suppliers.
In Kirchheim, administration and research and development for the Offset and Chemicals divisions will be adjusted to align with the new organizational structure in Germany. Hubergroup’s CEO, Heiner Klokkers, emphasized the company’s commitment to its German roots while leveraging its global positioning to benefit the entire group and the employees remaining in Germany.
This realignment aims to decrease Hubergroup’s dependence on the declining printing ink sector and facilitate its transformation into a chemicals company. The company plans to focus more on raw materials for the chemicals industry and printing inks for the packaging industry, opening new growth opportunities that were previously inaccessible.
