DGAP-News

SCHULER AG: Schuler streamlining production in Germany

DGAP-News: SCHULER AG / Key word(s): Strategic Company Decision
SCHULER AG: Schuler streamlining production in Germany

26.08.2015 / 15:11

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PRESS RELEASE

Schuler AG
Bahnhofstrasse 41
73033 Göppingen
Germany

Ingo Schnaitmann
Corporate Communication
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Ingo.Schnaitmann@
schulergroup.com
www.schulergroup.com/pr

Schuler streamlining production in Germany
- New machine manufacturing pooled in Erfurt and Göppingen

- Production closures in Netphen, Waghäusel and Weingarten

- Personnel measures affecting approximately 450 employees

Göppingen, Germany, 08/26/2015 - Schuler AG is streamlining its production
in Germany and will only be manufacturing at four facilities in future,
instead of the seven at present. "We merge the wide range of production
sites in Germany resulting from acquisitions made in the past. This will
create more efficient manufacturing structures and help us remain
successful in the face of fierce international competition," explained CEO
Stefan Klebert on Wednesday following a meeting of Schuler AG's Supervisory
Board in Göppingen, Germany.

The press manufacturer has strongly expanded its manufacturing activities
in foreign markets over the past years in order to meet shifts in its
global demand profile. Moreover, changes in the product mix have also
resulted in revised capacity needs. Schuler has successfully entered new
market segments, such as equipment for the production of large pipes or
high-speed railway wheels. The plant manufacturer acts as a systems
supplier for such orders and buys in a large number of components - thus
reducing the proportion of in-house production.

 
Production pooled in Göppingen and Erfurt
In the new manufacturing concept for Germany, the Göppingen plant will
produce all presses which can be fully assembled and put into operation
in-house. At this site, the company is currently investing EUR 40 million
in the construction of a Technology and Development Center as well as a
test center for lightweight construction in the automotive sector. The
facility in Erfurt will be the company's only German production site for
large-scale presses. Over the past few years, the press manufacturer has
invested tens of millions in modern manufacturing equipment. "This is a
clear sign that Germany will remain our high-tech location and home base -
despite all our globalization activities," explained Klebert.

At the same time, the production of presses and new machine components will
be discontinued at the company's sites in Netphen (by the end of 2016),
Waghäusel (by the end of 2017) and Weingarten (by the end of 2017).