Ceratizit to close German plants in Besigheim and Empfingen in global reorganisation
March 19, 2025
The Ceratizit Group, headquartered in Mamer, Luxembourg, has announced plans to close its German manufacturing facilities in Besigheim and Empfingen in 2026. The company stated that the closures are necessary to strengthen its competitiveness in the global cemented carbide market. Production from these facilities will be transferred to other Ceratizit Group locations.
Facing ongoing high costs and challenging market conditions for the foreseeable future, Ceratizit said it has decided to optimise its international production network. The optimisation measures aim to make greater use of economies of scale, synergies and location advantages while reducing duplicate resources, the company added.
Given its high dependence on the automotive business and the markets in Germany and Europe, the group’s cost-reduction efforts focus particularly on the sites in Besigheim and Empfingen. The group is struggling not only with the prospect of a weak outlook for incoming orders but also with fierce international competition.
Manufacturing capacities for the affected products will be established at other European sites within the group. This, the company stated, will enable Ceratizit to maintain full production capacity and meet all its delivery obligations to customers in the future.
The sites’ managing directors plan to negotiate with employee representatives regarding a social plan and alignment of interests in the near future.
