Zehnder : completes consultation procedure at Gränichen site

On 29 May 2018, the Zehnder Group announced its intention to move the production of products for the British market from the plant in Gränichen (CH) to Vaux-Andigny (FR). The consultation procedure in connection with the plans to cut 40 jobs at the Gränichen site was completed on 19 June 2018. The partial relocation of production was confirmed. Those involved in the consultation were able to reduce the number of jobs being cut to 35.

The management and the human resources department maintained a continuous and constructive dialogue with the employee representatives throughout the consultation procedure. The proposals submitted by the employee representatives were examined in detail and in some cases incorporated into the redundancy plan. The plan focuses on the reintegration of the affected employees with the aid of the state-run mobile regional employment centre and a privately operated job centre, as well as the prevention of social hardship. The headcount reductions will largely be completed by the beginning of 2019. Thanks to ordinary and early retirements as well as direct internal and external transfers, the number of redundancies will be much fewer than 35. The affected employees are being actively supported in their job search.

The costs of the redundancy plan are fully covered by existing restructuring provisions. The measures introduced will have a positive impact on the operating result of the Zehnder Group as of the 2019 financial year.

The Gränichen site will continue to serve as the Group headquarters and the Swiss sales office, and will remain central to the Group's research and development activities. Furthermore, the site will also continue to produce made-to-measure radiators for the Swiss market along with other selected foreign markets.