German plastics machinery specialist KraussMaffei (KM, Munich; www.kraussmaffei.com) is moving ahead with plans to close its Treuchtlingen / Germany facility and transfer the production and assembly processes to its homebase in Munich as well as to its Slovakian site in Sucany. The Bavarian-based company says the move is being made with the goal of increasing its ability to be competitive on the international level. In Treuchtlingen, about 150 kms north of Munich, KM produces components for injection moulding machines.

A large percentage of the employees working at the site will be offered the opportunity to continue working at the Munich location, according to various regional media reports. "Otherwise, every possible and necessary measure that is socially in accordance will be considered," stated Jan Siebert, KM's CEO since 2011. Further details will be discussed in the facility's works council in the next few weeks and all trainees will be receiving offers to continue their employment within the group.

KraussMaffei has been pooling various business areas for some time now, including its Swiss subsidiary Netstal (Näfels; www.netstal.com), whose actvities are increasingly becoming integrated and merged – see Plasteurope.com of 10.10.2013. In contrast, the companies Slovakian capacities are being massively expanded. At the Sucany site, in the country's northern section and which employs about 200 individuals, the company primarily produces AX injection moulding machines as well as switchboards and tools – see PIEWEb of 29.11.2012.