Manroland to slash production work hours

Offset press manufacturer Manroland has put 814 of its production workers on short time for the next six months as falling Chinese sales put the squeeze on revenue.

German press reports that all of the company’s staff at the Offenbach sheetfed factory are affected by the unspecified working hour reductions, which began on January 1.

Exceptions would only be made in accordance with legal requirements, such as the trainees and their trainers. The company says customer service staff will also not be affected, but workers are reportedly ‘concerned’ about their future.

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The German publications say the manufacturer’s Chinese business is not doing well and the significant decline in Sino orders has not been offset in other markets. China is the biggest market for printing presses in the world.

Manroland hopes the new Roland 700 Evolution will lift sales in the second quarter this year, with the possibility of ending the work restrictions earlier if results improve enough.

Offenbach production workers have faced similar short time conditions in recent years, most recently a three-year stint that ended in July 2011.

However, workers are less understanding this time around. Marita Weber, first representative of manufacturing union IG Metall Offenbach says the workforce is now “particularly noisy, if there are any messages from management.”

The move highlights unhappy times in the offset press manufacturing world, and follows 180 layoffs at KBA web offset plants last November, and Heidelberg closing its Leipzig factory at the cost of 650 jobs after it ended production of most finishing lines last August.

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