Type
Offshoring/Delocalisation
Country
Germany
Region
Baden-Württemberg; Tübingen; Reutlingen
Location of affected unit(s)
Münsing
Sector
Manufacturing
(28) Manufacture of machinery and equipment
28.4 - Manufacture of metal forming machinery and machine tools
28.41 - Manufacture of metal forming machinery and machine tools for metal work
New offshoring locations
Sweden

160 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
30 March 2026
Employment effect (start)
30 March 2026
Foreseen end date
1 January 2027

Description

Walter AG, a German tool manufacturing company in the metalworking industry, has announced plans to relocate parts of its production from Münsingen, Germany, to Sweden, potentially affecting around 160 employees in production units.

The restructuring, expected to take place gradually until 2027, involves the transfer of raw parts production and press tool manufacturing to the company’s Swedish site in Gimo, driven by overcapacity in production and declining demand, while the Münsingen site will continue to produce indexable inserts.

The company is currently in discussions with the works council and plans to support affected employees through a social plan, although no final decisions on specific job cuts have yet been made.

The trade union IG Metall has strongly criticized the plans, describing the potential job losses as incomprehensible and announcing that it will fight to preserve jobs, while negotiations between management and employee representatives are ongoing.

Walter AG is a Germany-based tool manufacturer headquartered in Tübingen, employing around 3,800 people worldwide and operating as part of the Swedish Sandvik Group.


Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2026), Walter AG, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Germany, factsheet number 204533, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/204533.