A 175-Year-Old Printer Collapses as Germany’s Printing Industry Demands 7% Pay Hike
04.06.2026 - 08:05:23 | boerse-global.de
The ADV-Augsburger Druck- und Verlagshaus, a printing and publishing house that had operated for 175 years, is shutting down. After failing to find an investor, the company filed for insolvency at the end of May 2026. Production will continue only until late August. Around 100 employees will lose their jobs. The firm’s subsidiaries, Franz Schoder Druck GmbH and ADV Mediendienste GmbH, are not affected, according to company officials.
The closure underscores the severe pressure gripping Germany’s printing sector. The services union Verdi this week called for a 7% wage increase for roughly 99,000 workers in the industry. Its tariff commission made the decision on June 2 in Kassel, setting the stage for negotiations with the Bundesverband Druck und Medien (BVDM). Those talks are scheduled to begin on July 6 in Berlin.
Declining output and soaring costs
Industry data paints a bleak picture. The BVDM’s business climate index fell to 86.4 points in May 2026, a drop of 1.4% from the previous month. Only 5% of companies described their situation as positive, while 27% rated it negative. The production index for 2025 stood a full 36% below its pre-crisis level from 2019.
Costs are spiraling. Producer prices for graphic papers jumped 32% in 2025 compared with 2019. Imports rose 20% over the same period. Unsurprisingly, 81% of firms now cite falling orders and revenues as their largest business risk.
Another traditional house faces liquidation
The damage is not limited to Augsburg. Another long-established printing company is heading toward closure after restructuring efforts failed. Some 66 employees face dismissal. Industry representatives blame ruinous price competition combined with rising energy, paper and logistics costs.
Islands of investment and innovation
Despite the gloom, there are pockets of expansion. The German Print Group (GPG) is building a new plant in Koblenz. Spread over more than 3,000 square meters, the facility will focus on large-format digital printing for the trade-fair and retail sectors. Move-in is slated for June 30, 2026.
Technology is also moving forward. Konica Minolta is launching its AccurioPress C5080 series, which features automatic quality control and can print up to 81 pages per minute. The machines will be presented at the Print & Digital Convention in Düsseldorf on June 16–17.
Wage conflict fits a wider labour debate
The printing-industry wage dispute is one piece of a broader national confrontation. Verdi chief Frank Werneke has drawn “red lines” ahead of a meeting with Chancellor Merz scheduled for June 10. He firmly opposes any extension of the daily maximum working hours and any changes to the statutory retirement age.
At the same time, 14 business associations are pushing for a modernisation of labour law. They want to replace daily with weekly maximum working hours. The Federal Ministry of Labour has announced it will present a draft bill before the summer break of 2026.
