Despite earlier reports of an imminent shuttering, German plastics machinery maker KraussMaffei (KM, Munich; www.kraussmaffei.com) has decided to continue operations at its plant in Treuchtlingen / Germany – see Plasteurope.com of 12.11.2013.

According to a recent company press release, KM representatives reached an agreement with Germany's dominant metalworkers' union IG Metall and the company's workers’ council which ensures the plant will continue operations. "As part of constructive and objective negotiations, all parties have also agreed that there will be no redundancies for operational reasons until 31 December 2015," said KM's chief executive, Jan Siebert. In addition, as part of a measure to raise KM’s international competitiveness, the parties have agreed to implement a 38-hour work week for Treuchtlingen employees between January and September 2014, followed by a 37-hour work week from October 2014 through December 2015, with no wage compensation.