Westermann-Verlag is closing its printing plant in Zwickau, which employs 170 people. Production is expected to cease on August 31, a company spokesperson said in response to an inquiry. The reason cited was “persistently difficult market conditions” in Germany, which had led to a sharp decline in orders. The “Freie Presse” had previously reported on the closure.
“High labor and energy costs in Germany have meant that production was no longer competitive compared to, for example, Eastern European providers, despite significant investments in new machinery,” explained Timo Blümer, commercial managing director of the Westermann Group. The printing plants as a whole suffered from overcapacity amid declining demand.
