–
—
Mechanical engineering in the southwest is suffering from inflation. More than a third of companies are therefore considering removals or job cuts.
–
High energy prices are making things difficult for Southwestern machine builders. “The costs for electricity and gas significantly limit the earnings and investment power of companies and in individual cases even threaten their existence,” said the president of the industrial association VDMA Baden-Württemberg, Mathias Kammüller on Thursday in Stuttgart. According to a survey conducted by the association of companies in the sector, 35% of companies are therefore considering job transfers or job cuts, according to Kammüller.
In the current situation, a temporary limit on the price of electricity could help maintain security of supply for the industry. “In the long run, we need a new design of the European electricity market that makes us more crisis-proof,” says Kammüller. Here he relies on the rapid expansion of renewable energies and technological innovations for the use of all forms of energy.
In nominal terms, the association expects sales growth in the current year. According to the industry survey, mechanical engineering in Baden-Württemberg could grow nominally by 8.4% in 2022 and thus reach a turnover of around 85 billion euros. Net of prices, however, stagnation is to be expected. For 2023, companies expect nominal sales growth of 5.5%.
–
