Traditional company from Baden-Württemberg
Mechanical engineering company EMAG wants to cut 455 jobs
November 9, 2025 – 22:09Reading time: 2 minutes
Mechanical engineering company EMAG in Salach announced it would cut 455 jobs in Germany. The main reason is the still weak order situation and economic uncertainty.
Mechanical engineering company EMAG, based in Salach (Baden-Württemberg), plans to cut a total of 455 jobs at its German sites. The head office in the Göppingen district is most affected, where around 300 jobs will be cut, according to IG Metall Göppingen-Geislingen. The company announced this on November 5.
EMAG was founded in 1867 and specializes in the production of machine tools for the automotive and other industries. The company currently employs around 2,500 people worldwide, including around 1,500 in Germany. EMAG cut 124 jobs at its headquarters last year.
The company cited a persistently weak order situation as the reason for the cuts. The Association of German Machine Tool Manufacturers (VDW) recorded a decline in incoming orders for the industry for the third year in a row. The association reports a decline of five percent in the first half of 2025 – in Germany, according to VDW, the decline is even around 17 percent. Other negative factors include international trade conflicts, a weak Chinese economy and reluctance to invest in Europe.
“The current market situation forced us to take difficult but necessary decisions,” said Markus Clement, CEO of EMAG Group. Organizations must adapt to lower order volumes to ensure the company’s ability to act.
Criticism came from IG Metall. Trade unions complained that social plans were negotiated without their participation. “Anyone who goes it alone in a crisis not only risks social hardship, but also the confidence of the workforce,” said Michael Kocken, First Representative of IG Metall Göppingen-Geislingen. According to the union, the proposed social plan does not provide for any severance payments, but only a change to the transfer company.
