- \n
- ZF Friedrichshafen<\/strong> is actively offering its facilities for arms production and converting capacities, such as for military propulsion systems.<\/li>\n
- Trumpf<\/strong> is developing and producing laser weapons for the first time, targeting drone defence\u2014an entry into high-end military technology.<\/li>\n
- Continental<\/strong> is partnering with Germany\u2019s largest arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and converting plants formerly used for automotive technology into facilities for weapons components.<\/li>\n
- Volkswagen (VW)<\/strong> is considering converting its Osnabr\u00fcck plant for\u00a0tank production<\/a>; its entry into the defence sector has been officially confirmed by the company\u2019s leadership.<\/li>\n
- Bosch<\/strong> is losing skilled workers to the arms sector and using facilities for military subcontracting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meanwhile, existing arms manufacturers are also expanding their production capabilities:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Rheinmetall<\/strong> is converting former auto parts production lines (especially in Berlin and Neuss) into weapons and ammunition factories to meet soaring demand.<\/li>\n
- KNDS (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann)<\/strong> is repurposing former railway tech factories\u2014such as those acquired from Alstom\u2014for the production of tank components.<\/li>\n
- Hensoldt<\/strong> is actively recruiting engineers from the civilian mechanical engineering sector to ramp up production of military electronics and radar systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In addition, large German machine tool makers such as Walter Maschinenbau, Vollmer, Heller, and Fein are increasingly acting as suppliers of industrial equipment and components that end up\u2014sometimes indirectly\u2014in international arms manufacturing. The focus here is on CNC machines used for the precision production of weapons, vehicles and ammunition. These are sold not only within Germany but also exported to third countries.<\/p>\n
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG was once a global leader in the production of printing presses for commercial and magazine printing. But with the rise of digital communication and the online availability of newspapers and magazines, demand for printed products has fallen.<\/p>\n
According to another printing press manufacturer, K\u00f6nig & Bauer, global demand for newspaper presses declined by about 70 percent between 2008 and 2018. The growth of online retail led to some expansion in the packaging and digital printing segment, but the profit margins of the past were gone.<\/p>\n
This trend led HDM to diversify its product portfolio. In recent years, it introduced new product lines, including consumables and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, automation technologies and robotics. Nevertheless, annual revenues fell steadily\u2014from about \u20ac3.6 billion in 2007 to \u20ac2.25 billion in the 2024\/25 financial year. Production capacities were therefore underutilised.<\/p>\n
So, when CEO Otto announced the strategic partnership with Vincorion, he highlighted the company\u2019s excellent \u201cscalability\u201d\u2014its ability to increase output without massively raising investment costs. Heidelberg aims to reposition itself as a reliable partner in security-related sectors, he declared.<\/p>\n
Strike at Heidelberg Druckmaschinen in Wiesloch (November 2024) [Photo by IGM Heidelberg]
<\/a><\/p>\n
The IG Metall union\u00a0supports Germany\u2019s military buildup<\/a> and thus also HDM\u2019s corporate goals. At the end of last year, the union betrayed the roughly 3,500 HDM workers during the wage dispute for higher pay.<\/p>\n
At a strike on November 6, Heiko Massfeller, head of IG Metall Heidelberg, acknowledged the burden that rising prices placed on working families: \u201cWorkers are paying significantly more for groceries\u2014something we notice directly in our wallets. We therefore need more money now, also to help stimulate the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet just four weeks later, on December 9, IG Metall announced it had agreed to substantial cuts in real wages and the elimination of nearly one in eight jobs: \u201cTo improve cost efficiency, the wage increase from this current round of negotiations will be offset against performance-based bonuses. This will keep wages constant, and workers won\u2019t lose money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Considering the previously emphasised rise in food prices, this stagnation in pay amounted to a cut in real wages and was something IG Metall no longer wanted to hear about. The job cuts were once again dressed up as being organised in a \u201csocially acceptable\u201d manner: \u201cUp to 450 posts will be eliminated across all departments and levels over the coming years, for example through the retirement of older employees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once again, the union tried to present a defeat as a major victory. It fully backs the militarisation of production and the war economy, for which it is\u00a0prepared to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of jobs<\/a>. But who is it trying to fool?<\/p>\n
Workers everywhere are having the same experiences: layoffs and \u201cdownsizing\u201d via early retirement or hiring freezes, skyrocketing prices for food, rent and energy, falling wages and living standards, slashing of social benefits, and cutbacks to healthcare and education. Billions in cutbacks are being redirected into militarisation and war.<\/p>\n
Workers\u2019 readiness to resist this conversion to a war economy is growing worldwide. What is needed is to organise and unite these forces in rank-and-file action committees, independently of the pro-corporate union leadership. We therefore call on all workers in mechanical engineering\u2014and beyond\u2014to join the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees<\/a>\u00a0in the fight against mass layoffs. Contact us by sending a WhatsApp message to +49 163 3378340 and register using the form below.<\/p>\n
Sign up for the WSWS email newsletter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The share price of print equipment manufacturer Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HDM) surged by 35 percent on July 29,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":316336,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5310],"tags":[2000,299,1824,49378,13196,24861,13199,115148],"class_list":{"0":"post-316335","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-germany","8":"tag-eu","9":"tag-europe","10":"tag-germany","11":"tag-imperialism","12":"tag-job-cuts","13":"tag-militarism","14":"tag-pay-cuts","15":"tag-profiteering"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114968773534865862","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/316336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- KNDS (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann)<\/strong> is repurposing former railway tech factories\u2014such as those acquired from Alstom\u2014for the production of tank components.<\/li>\n
- Trumpf<\/strong> is developing and producing laser weapons for the first time, targeting drone defence\u2014an entry into high-end military technology.<\/li>\n