ZAHORANSKY Plans Further Adjustments at German Sites, Up to 120 Positions Could Be Affected
ZAHORANSKY AG is considering further structural adjustments at its German locations in Todtnau and Freiburg, with up to 120 positions potentially affected as the company responds to continued pressure on the mechanical and plant engineering market.
The family-owned technology group, which supplies machinery, moulds, and automation solutions to industries including brush manufacturing and medical technology, says the measures are intended to adjust its cost structure and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of its German operations.
The company states that the specific implementation of the planned measures will be developed jointly with the works councils, with an emphasis on a socially responsible process.
Continued Pressure on Mechanical and Plant Engineering
According to ZAHORANSKY, the latest measures are being considered against a backdrop of continued weakness in its German mechanical and plant engineering activities.
The company points to restrained customer investment, delays in project decisions, increasing international competition, geopolitical uncertainty, and comparatively high operating costs in Germany as factors affecting the business. Order intake at the German sites is expected to remain significantly below the previous year’s level this year. While ZAHORANSKY has already undertaken restructuring measures in recent years, it believes additional adjustments are now necessary to respond to the current market environment.
Up to 120 Positions Potentially Affected
The company is considering measures that could affect up to 120 positions across its Todtnau and Freiburg sites.
This figure represents a potential impact rather than a confirmed number of redundancies, as discussions with the works councils will form part of the process through which specific measures are developed. ZAHORANSKY has also stressed that Todtnau and Freiburg remain important parts of the Group and are intended to be maintained and strengthened over the long term.
Executive Board: Focus on Core Strengths
ZAHORANSKY’s Executive Board notes that the current market environment has made further structural adjustments necessary.
“The persistently challenging national and international environment makes further structural adjustments within the Group necessary,” explain Dr. Heinrich Sielemann and Ric Nachtmann, members of the Executive Board of ZAHORANSKY AG. “As a company deeply rooted in the region, this is not an easy decision for us. It is therefore all the more important to us to maintain a trusting and constructive dialogue with the works council in order to implement the planned measures in the most socially responsible manner possible. With this realignment, we are creating the conditions to position ZAHORANSKY competitively for the long term and to sustainably secure the future of our sites.”
A Global Technology Group With a Strong Brush Industry Connection
ZAHORANSKY has a long-established position in machinery engineering, mould making, and automation. For the brush industry, the company is particularly relevant through technologies covering brush-making machinery, injection moulds, and automation solutions. Its wider business also serves medical technology and other manufacturing sectors.
The company operates internationally, with locations including Germany, Spain, China, India, Japan, Brazil, and the United States. Its global structure means that developments at the German sites take place within a broader international organization rather than representing a withdrawal from the markets it serves.
What the Announcement Means for the Brush Machinery Sector
For brush manufacturers, the announcement is relevant beyond the employment implications in Germany. The wider mechanical engineering sector has faced a difficult investment environment, and machinery suppliers are closely connected to the capital-spending decisions of manufacturers. When customers delay new machinery projects or postpone major production investments, equipment manufacturers experience the impact through lower order intake and longer project cycles.
ZAHORANSKY’s announcement provides another indication of the pressure currently affecting parts of the European machinery and manufacturing ecosystem. At the same time, the company’s stated intention to maintain and strengthen its German sites indicates that the measures are being presented as a restructuring effort aimed at adapting the organization rather than abandoning those locations.
Looking Ahead
The next stage depends on ongoing discussions between ZAHORANSKY and the works councils to determine how the planned measures are implemented. For the brush industry, attention will likely remain on whether restructuring changes the company’s engineering, service, or customer-support capabilities in Germany.
For now, the company emphasizes that the objective of the planned adjustments is to create more efficient structures, respond to current market conditions, and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of its German sites.
About ZAHORANSKY
Founded more than 120 years ago, ZAHORANSKY is a family-owned engineering company specialising in brush manufacturing machinery, mould making, automation systems and turnkey production solutions. The company serves manufacturers in the oral care, cosmetics, household brush, industrial brush and medical technology sectors through a global network of production and service locations.
Editorial Note
This article has been prepared and edited by the editorial team of Brushes, Hairs & Fibres using information and images provided by ZAHORANSKY AG through its official media relations team.
