Liebherr’s Sunderland plant faces potential job cuts due to low demand for cranes, affecting nearly half of its workforce. Employees were informed during a meeting.
Staff learned about the potential layoffs during a meeting at the plant. This site makes specialized cranes for the maritime industry. It’s a big deal since it could affect nearly half of the 200 workers there.
Liebherr has been around for over 35 years, and they’re taking this seriously. They want to consider the concerns of their employees as they navigate this situation.
The Sunderland plant is quite large, covering 758,000 square feet. It focuses on making harbour and ship cranes for offshore and port markets. Liebherr Group, a German multinational, owns it and has many companies worldwide.
In their latest financial report, Liebherr Sunderland Works showed a revenue increase to £55.2 million. They also reported a slight rise in pre-tax profits. However, they have significant liabilities of £20.4 million.
The company operates on a five-year strategy, working closely with sister factories in Germany and Austria. They adapt their production to meet market demands, which is one of their strengths.
In a statement, Liebherr confirmed the potential redundancies were discussed in a mass meeting. They emphasized the need for long-term stability due to low demand for smaller mobile harbour cranes.
Liebherr is committed to finding socially acceptable solutions for affected employees. They plan to keep everyone informed about the next steps as they move forward.
