In the future, a solitary site – Rosenthal – will cease its manufacturing operations. - In the near future, a singular facility, Rosenthal, will cease its operations.
Rosenthal, renowned for its fine china, bags, and vases, is facing a crisis. One of its two factories is set to shut down, with production concentration at the Selb site. This news has led to job cuts, with the exact details to be discussed in negotiations with the works council. Currently, Rosenthal employs around 600 people.
CEO Gianluca Colonna stated that overcapacities and high labor costs at the factories are causing significant financial losses. Production processes need to be optimized to improve profits.
The municipality of Speichersdorf, home to one of the factories, expressed disappointment at the decision. Mayor Christian Porsch noted that Speichersdorf is losing jobs and a significant piece of its identity. However, discussions for job prospects for the affected employees are already underway.
Rosenthal plans to invest heavily in the Selb plant, promising a new factory building and a "Porcelain Village" as a tourist attraction. The company has been grappling with declining production volumes, attributed to changed consumer behavior, decreasing sales, and high wage costs.
Rosenthal's roots are deeply connected to Selb. The company's founder, Philipp Rosenthal, established a porcelain painting workshop only a few years after moving the headquarters to Selb. The factory building, designed by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, is a valuable architectural heritage.
Peter Berek, Wunsiedel district administrator, reiterated the historical, emotional, and future ties between Selb and Rosenthal, suggesting that the decision to focus on the Selb site was a logical choice in challenging times.
For decades, Rosenthal has been synonymous with artistic rigor, classic or cutting-edge design, and high-quality porcelain. However, the heyday of the German porcelain industry has long passed, and cheap foreign competitors are gaining ground. Rosenthal joined the British-Irish Waterford-Wedgwood group in 1997, then filed for insolvency in 2009 before being taken over by the Arcturus group.
The reasons behind Rosenthal's factory closure are not explicitly provided. Potential reasons could include cost efficiency, market demands, technological advancements, or strategic realignment. More specific information from a reliable source would be necessary to confirm these possibilities.
- Despite Germany's renowned china manufacturer Rosenthal investing in the Selb plant and promising a new factory building, the overcapacities and high labor costs at other factories, as mentioned by CEO Gianluca Colonna, have led to significant financial losses.
- The decision to close one of Rosenthal's factories and concentrate production at the Selb site has added to Mayor Christian Porsch's concerns, as Speichersdorf, home to the closing factory, is losing jobs and an integral part of its identity.
- The news of Rosenthal's insolvency in 2009 and subsequent takeover by the Arcturus group underscores the challenges the German porcelain industry has faced, with decreasing sales and cheap foreign competitors gaining ground, potentially contributing to the current crisis and factory closure.
