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Wanzl to Shut Two Leipheim Plants, Consolidate Production by 2030

Four years of German losses prompt a shift to automation with a new flagship factory.

Overview

  • Wanzl will close Works 1 and 2 in Leipheim and fold operations into Werk 4, with implementation starting in 2026 and completion targeted by 2030.
  • About 900 employees are affected, though the number of job cuts remains undecided and will be shaped by talks with employee representatives and future business conditions.
  • The Kirchheim site will be modernized, including new automated storage technology, while the Mouldtec plastics facility in Kaufbeuren remains unchanged.
  • The company plans mid double‑digit million‑euro investments to build what it calls the world’s most modern shopping‑cart factory and to upgrade logistics, order processing, and digital systems.
  • Management cites overcapacity and high domestic costs as drivers of the reorganization, and consultations are underway with a stated goal of a socially responsible transition.