KNDS Plans to Gradually Increase Its Workforce

The Franco-German defense contractor KNDS plans to gradually expand its workforce at its Görlitz plant. Currently, 300 employees work there; by the end of this year, that number is expected to reach 400, said Florian Hohenwarter, managing director of KNDS Germany, during a visit by Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) to the site. As the plant continues to ramp up operations, these numbers are expected to rise significantly in the coming years. At the same time, the transformation of the site is proceeding at a rapid pace.

Components for tanks are manufactured at the Görlitz plant

Tank manufacturer KNDS acquired the Görlitz plant from rail vehicle manufacturer Alstom in 2025. At the time, it was announced that 580 of the 700 employees would be retained. In Görlitz, components are manufactured for the Boxer wheeled armored vehicle, the Leopard 2 main battle tank, the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, and armored versions of Bundeswehr trucks. According to KNDS, approximately 100 million euros have been invested in retooling the production facilities. The plant is expected to reach full capacity in 2029.

KNDS plans to invest a total of about one billion euros

According to Hohenwarter, KNDS is continuing to search for locations in Germany. The company plans to invest a total of about one billion euros. Leopard production will triple, Boxer production will quadruple, and Puma production will double. The managing director did not specify production figures.

Kretschmer praised the Görlitz plant’s contribution to Germany’s defense capabilities. Every handshake made at KNDS in Görlitz is a contribution to security, he told the workforce. 

KNDS emerged from the merger of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter and considers itself a leading European manufacturer of military land systems with headquarters in Germany and France.