Kitchen Cabinet Makers Hit by Strikes and Insolvencies as Germany’s Furniture Sector Reels
Published on 07/29/2026 at 22:01 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The heartland of German kitchen manufacturing is under pressure from two directions at once. Workers have walked off the job at multiple plants in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region, while several well-known furniture brands are fighting for survival amid soaring energy costs and shifting market conditions.
Walkouts Spread Across Production Sites
Employees at pronorm EinbaukĂĽchen in Vlotho downed tools at the start of the year, kicking off a wave of industrial action. The IG Metall union is demanding a five percent wage increase in collective bargaining talks for the wood and plastics industry in North Rhine-Westphalia, with a contract duration of twelve months.
The protest quickly spread. Production lines stopped at SieMatic and Danielmeyer in Löhne. At packaging specialist Wellcarton, the night shift halted operations, backing the same core demand: five percent more pay.
One Brand Saved, Another Hangs in the Balance
While union battles play out on the shop floor, corporate restructuring is reshaping the sector. Furniture maker InterlĂĽbke from Rheda-WiedenbrĂĽck has been rescued. The Langhorst Group took over the company after it filed for insolvency in the spring. Eighty-seven jobs will be preserved, while roughly fifteen employees left voluntarily.
The company’s troubles were triggered by the Iran conflict, which sent heating oil costs skyrocketing. Interlübke faced additional monthly expenses of 50,000 euros. Despite that, the firm managed to narrow its losses from 1.5 million euros in 2022 to 250,000 euros in 2025.
The outlook is far grimmer at Himolla. The upholstered furniture manufacturer entered protective shield proceedings about a month ago, a process set to run until the end of August. Thirty-two trucks with Hungarian license plates parked at the factory site have fueled speculation that production may be shifted abroad. Management has refused to comment on rumors that up to 250 jobs could be cut.
Labour Unrest Spills Beyond Furniture
The tensions are not confined to kitchen and cabinet makers. In North Rhine-Westphalia, workers in the confectionery industry staged a 24-hour production stoppage. At Intersnack in Schwerte and Grevenbroich, the NGG union is pushing for a 5.8 percent wage increase — at least 230 euros per month. The employers’ offer fell well short of that figure.
The metal and electrical industries are also bracing for a tough autumn. Union leaders have flatly ruled out a zero-wage round for the sector’s 3.8 million employees. Employers, however, point to 270,000 jobs lost since 2018. Workers are pinning their hopes on growth in defence manufacturing and renewable energy.
Tesla Complaint Dismissed
Tensions between companies and worker representatives have also flared elsewhere. Brandenburg’s General Public Prosecutor’s Office rejected a complaint filed by Tesla against IG Metall. The carmaker accused the union of secretly recording a works council meeting in February. A forensic analysis by the state criminal investigation office found no evidence to support the claim.
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