29. October 2024
Zehnder Group is restructuring its production business. From April 2025, the company will be consolidating radiator production for flat tube radiators at its plant in Vaux-Andigny in France, according to a statement.
The existing production site at Zehnder Group’s headquarters in Gränichen in the Swiss canton of Aargau will be repurposed as a centre of excellence for the core business of room ventilation and indoor climate solutions. The Gränichen centre will also bring together the growing service and maintenance business as well as the procurement and processing of system components, and will serve as a centre for training and further education.
There will be 50 job losses in production in Gränichen, however some of those affected could take up positions in service and maintenance. For the others, the company will apply the existing social plan. The Zehnder Group employs a total of around 3,500 people, of whom around 300 work in Switzerland. Combined with value adjustments for the plant in Dachang in China, this will result in provisions and value adjustments totalling 20 to 25 million euros.
Zehnder attributes the reorganization to the high production costs in Switzerland coupled with declining volumes. The value adjustment in China is a consequence of the country’s ongoing property sector crisis.
Zehnder sees great potential in the North American market. To develop this potential, the company has appointed a new President of the Zehnder North America region. Valentina Videva Dufresne will join Zehnder in January, and will also be a member of the Group Executive Committee. ce/stk
