Many companies pulled out the savings pencil a long time ago because of the sunken demand and increased costs that sacrifice sacrifices, reducing layers and working hours – but not a Greiner. The plastic and foam giant of Kremsmünster (Upper Austria) is desperately looking for employees. 65 jobs are currently open.
“We want to invest in the future. You can only do that if you are very, very stable inside,” said Saori Dubourg when the Greiner-AG CEO together with CFO Hannes Moser presented the figures for 2024. With a turnover of 1.99 billion euros, the plastic and foam giant presented relatively stable numbers Compared to the Previous Year- “Even Thought the Development in the Entire Plastic Industry was Declining,” Said Moser.
Because the demand for the top years in Corona Times, especially in the fern area, in which the furniture and bed industry was booming, had had strong decreases, the family business from Upper Austria also had to get the cut. Three locations in Germany were closed last year. You now feel well positioned for the future, also for the growth of demand in this area, with which you will only recalculate in the coming years. “We sleep and live in the future,” says Dubourg.
Since March 2024, the former BASF officer has been at the head of Greiner, making it the boss of more than 10,300 employees. Almost a fifth of the workforce in Austria, of which around 1900 specifically in Upper Austria, where the heart of the company beats.
And although many companies in the state of the Enns have planned the savings with the staff because of the increased costs and a sometimes lower demand, the situation with Greiner looks different. You are desperately looking for employees, Moser confirms. “There are currently 65 jobs open in Austria,” he reveals.
“We want to stay in Austria”
To meet all orders, production capacities are sometimes outsourced to surrounding works according to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Poland. The machines are also full in upper Austria. How does that succeed if not all positions are occupied? “With overtime, overtime, overtime,” said Moser, who emphasizes, “We want to stay in Austria, invest a lot.”
In the previous year, the company has invested around 129 million euros worldwide – also in new facilities. Due to the customs problem in the US, the considerations of building additional production capacities in North America are also underway.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
