EN 
DE 
Heike Sabel
Heidenau. Henkel is closing its only Saxon site in Heidenau. Around 40 employees will be affected. This was already discussed with the local works council in May last year, according to the Group headquarters in Düsseldorf. It was agreed that this would be implemented by the end of 2024.
The long transition period should, among other things, allow the affected employees to reorient themselves. In this respect, it is the current implementation of a decision that was communicated to employees and the works council a year and a half ago, says Wulf Klüppelholz from Henkel's communications department.
Henkel relocates adhesives production abroad
The background to this is the optimization of the European supply chain and production network in the Adhesive Technologies business sector. Production in Heidenau is to be relocated to other European plants. The aim is to adapt the production network to current market requirements and strengthen competitiveness. Hot-melt adhesives are produced in Heidenau for the furniture, automotive and food industries, among others.
A reconciliation of interests has been negotiated with the works council for around 40 employees. Among other things, it includes early retirement arrangements and termination agreements. Henkel has also commissioned an external provider to support employees in their search for a new job, even after their employment with Henkel has ended. The employees were also offered further employment opportunities at other sites in Germany, says Klüppelholz.
Industrial site in Heidenau for 108 years
Henkel got involved in Heidenau in 1991. At that time, Citax Klebetechnik GmbH was founded, into which two Leuna AG plants were incorporated, one of which was in Heidenau. However, the site here dates back to 1916. At that time, an adhesives plant was built here. Heidenau was nationalized in 1972 and became part of the VEB Vereinigte Klebstoffwerke Pirna. After a brief interlude as the Pirna adhesives plant of Leuna-Werke, Citax Klebetechnik GmbH followed in 1991, Henkel Dorus GmbH & Co. KG in 2005 and finally in 2015 Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. The AG & Co. KGaA is a partnership limited by shares whose general partner is a stock corporation. By choosing this hybrid form, the liability of the partnership limited by shares can be limited without having to give up the legal form of a partnership limited by shares.
It remains to be seen what will happen to the site. This means that another business in Rudolf-Breitscheid-Straße is disappearing. During the GDR era, the Elbtalwerk and Dampfkesselbau were located here.
