All entries located in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), newest first. tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:en:en/regions/north-rhine-westphalia 2026-11-03T06:00:00Z Eurotrack tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:6bbac484:en 2026-11-03T06:00:00Z

Alongside its third-quarter results Schaeffler announced a further savings programme: 3,460 jobs are to go in Europe, 2,660 of them in Germany, affecting 16 European sites. Five sites are to be given up, four of them in Germany, including Dortmund (430 employees), Morbach (160) and Berlin (about 270) as well as Schwalbach; annual savings of €300m are targeted from 2030, with one-off costs of about €480m. IG Metall and the group works council criticise the plans, and details are still to be negotiated (dpa-AFX via finanznachrichten.de, 3 November 2026; second source: WirtschaftsWoche, 3 November 2026). — Sources: https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2026-11/70016459-roundup-2-schaeffler-streicht-tausende-jobs-und-schliesst-werke-aktie-im-minus-016.htm · https://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/auto/autozulieferer-schaeffler-streicht-tausende-jobs-und-schliesst-werke/100266861.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:ebd37b59:en 2026-10-23T06:00:00Z

After about 18 months of construction, the Westfalen Group has completed a new plant for high-purity propane as refrigerant R-290 at its Münster-Gelmer site and officially put it into operation. The product is mainly needed for heat pumps; the company describes the investment only as a low double-digit million euro sum and gives no job figures (Westfalen Group via Presseportal, 23 Oct 2026). — Source: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/75577/6376950

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:332f8e03:en 2026-10-23T06:00:00Z

Generali Deutschland plans to remove roles equivalent to 800 jobs by the end of 2030 and give up its Aachen, Nuremberg and Stuttgart sites (250 staff in Stuttgart) in favour of Cologne, Munich and Karlsruhe. The reduction is to come through attrition, retirement and voluntary schemes; according to Stuttgarter Zeitung a job guarantee without compulsory redundancies applies until 2030. Talks with the group works council are under way (Börsen-Zeitung, 23 October 2026; Stuttgarter Zeitung, 26 October 2026). — Sources: https://www.boersen-zeitung.de/banken-finanzen/generali-deutschland-baut-stellen-ab · https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/wirtschaft/stellenabbau-bei-generali-versicherer-macht-standort-stuttgart-dicht-bundesweit-800-jobs-weg-79613420.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:fd44a238:en 2026-10-16T06:00:00Z

Synbiotic SE says in an ad-hoc notice that it will apply to the Münster local court to open insolvency proceedings. The company cites the persistently difficult cannabis market, financing not secured in time and the last shareholder meeting's refusal to approve new authorised capital. It expects a provisional insolvency administrator and, initially, continued operations; the notice gives no headcount (EQS ad-hoc, 16 Oct 2026). — Source: https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2026-10/69859545-eqs-adhoc-synbiotic-se-antrag-auf-eroeffnung-eines-insolvenzverfahrens-022.htm

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3a3ccbb7:en 2026-10-15T06:00:00Z

Investment firm Mutares has completed its acquisition of the German thermal-process engineering specialist from Japan's IHI Group. Steinmüller has total output of close to €100m and, according to the company, has delivered more than 1,300 projects for over 500 customers in 80 countries; the short release does not state the price. The announcement date of the deal is not documented here, so the entry date is the completion day (Mutares via Oslo Børs, 15 Oct 2026). — Source: https://newsweb.oslobors.no/message/684170

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:8f8f7b72:en 2026-10-04T06:00:00Z

The Lucerne-based steelmaker is planning another restructuring round that will mainly hit its German plants (Deutsche Edelstahlwerke, including Witten, Krefeld, Siegen and Hagen) and lead to further job cuts there, CEO Frank Koch said, without giving a number or naming the sites affected. The workforce has already been halved from around 13,000 to about 6,500; the group booked a loss of €311m in 2025 and is preparing a further balance-sheet restructuring, aiming to return to operating profit from 2028 (interview in SonntagsZeitung; awp/sda via finanzen.ch, 4 Oct 2026; second source: 20 Minuten, 4 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://www.finanzen.ch/nachrichten/aktien/swiss-steel-kuendigt-stellenabbau-in-deutschland-an-1036595420 · https://www.20min.ch/story/krise-bei-stahlkonzern-millionenverlust-bei-swiss-steel-stellenabbau-angekuendigt-103643884 · https://ms-aktuell.de/welt/swiss-steel-stellenabbau-04-10-2026

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3c445b4e:en 2026-09-25T06:00:00Z

Single-source report: according to the Financial Times, citing insiders, BASF has put a takeover proposal to Evonik and its largest shareholder, the RAG Foundation, and is talking to banks about a possible deal. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that Evonik had not received a takeover offer; BASF, Evonik and the RAG Foundation did not initially comment. The RAG Foundation holds around 43% of Evonik and intends to reduce its stake to 25.1% over time (Reuters via onvista, 25 September 2026, citing the Financial Times). Update (25.09.2026): In an ad hoc release that afternoon, the RAG Foundation confirmed that BASF had approached it about a possible voluntary public takeover offer for Evonik; the foundation holds around 43.8% of Evonik's shares. No formal offer has been made (EQS/finanznachrichten.de, 25.09.2026). Update (28.09.2026): According to Reuters and the Financial Times, Evonik's management rejected BASF's approach – reportedly about €22.15 per share, or roughly €10.3bn – as too low and allowed neither due diligence nor formal talks; the companies have not confirmed the figures. BASF is reported to be sticking to its plans (reports; Industriemagazin, 02.10.2026; Kapitalmarktexperten, 29.09.2026). Update (9 Oct 2026): The board of trustees of RAG-Stiftung was briefed online on BASF's interest; the content and outcome are confidential. According to Evonik, no talks are currently taking place (dpa-AFX / BÖRSE ONLINE, 9 Oct 2026). Update (23 Oct 2026): According to Bloomberg, cited by Börsen-Zeitung, BASF has put an increased indicative price of €24 per share to Evonik (about €11.2bn in total, a premium of almost 39% on the pre-leak price); Evonik and BASF decline to comment, and Evonik has set up a parity-staffed special committee of its supervisory board. Reported only, no formal offer (Börsen-Zeitung, 23 Oct 2026). Update (27 October 2026): According to a Reuters report, BASF has raised its offer to about €11.2bn; there is no official confirmation (MS Aktuell, 27 October 2026). — Sources: https://www.onvista.de/news/2026/09-25-ft-basf-arbeitet-an-uebernahme-evoniks-0-20-26557514 · https://industriemagazin.at/chemie/basf-evonik-uebernahme-kamieth-chemieindustrie/ · https://www.kapitalmarktexperten.de/evonik-aktie-abweisung-von-basf-angebot-bestaetigt/ · https://www.boerse-online.de/dpa-afx/rag-stiftung-beraet-ueber-basf-uebernahmeplaene-fuer-evonik-557285.html · https://www.boersen-zeitung.de/unternehmen-branchen/basf-geht-offenbar-mit-hoeherem-angebot-auf-evonik-zu · https://ms-aktuell.de/welt/basf-evonik-27-10-2026/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3dfdbee4:en 2026-09-24T06:00:00Z

Shock-absorber maker thyssenkrupp Bilstein plans to cut up to 180 jobs at its Ennepetal and Essen sites, mostly in research and development; part of this work is to move abroad, while production at the Ennepetal headquarters is unaffected, according to the company. Management points to cost and competitive pressure; the cuts have not yet been finalised, and the works council and IG Metall have brought in outside advisers. Around 100 jobs had already gone the previous year (WDR Lokalzeit Dortmund, 24 September 2026, via Dr. Web, 25 September 2026; second source: ad-hoc-news.de, 25 September 2026). — Source: https://www.drweb.de/bilstein-stellenabbau-ennepetal-essen/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:320b100b:en 2026-09-21T06:00:00Z

On 21 September 2026 Aachen-based pharmaceutical company Grünenthal announced an agreement with Bayer AG to acquire the cancer medicine Stivarga® (regorafenib) for up to €375 million. The oral medicine is approved to treat certain advanced cancers — including metastatic colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and hepatocellular carcinoma — and is available in more than 90 markets. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions; Grünenthal has invested around €2.6 billion in M&A transactions since 2017. (Source: Grünenthal Group via Presseportal/ots, 21 Sep 2026) — Source: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/118252/6355664

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:7850ef6e:en 2026-09-17T06:00:00Z

On 17 September 2026 RTL CEO Stephan Schmitter told staff in an internal business update that around 500 positions will be cut by the end of 2027, more than 250 of them already in 2026, with Cologne and Unterföhring affected roughly equally. The background is the integration following completion of the Sky Deutschland takeover on 1 June 2026 (removing duplicate structures; target: €250m in annual synergies within three years). This is an additional round on top of the 'Shift 2026' programme of more than 600 positions (entry 148fad5c), some 1,100 jobs in total (t-online, 17 Sep 2026). — Source: https://www.t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/wirtschaft/id_101440228/rtl-und-sky-streichen-erneut-hunderte-stellen.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:17d7b44c:en 2026-09-16T06:00:00Z

On 16 September 2026 RWE agreed to acquire a further 3% of M31 Beteiligungsgesellschaft, which holds 74.9% of transmission system operator Amprion; RWE's pro-rata interest in Amprion thus rises from 55% to around 58% and RWE becomes M31's majority shareholder. The remaining 25.1% of Amprion is held by RWE Alkaios, a joint venture of RWE and Apollo. Amprion remains an independent transmission system operator under the unbundling rules; the investment continues to be accounted for at equity, the price was not disclosed and completion is subject to regulatory approvals. Follow-up to entries 5804ee6f (cartel clearance 17 July 2026) and fa26b729 (completion 27 July 2026, 55%); no additional volume recorded (RWE press release via EuropaWire, 17 September 2026). — Source: https://news.europawire.eu/rwe-further-increases-indirect-stake-in-amprion-to-around-58-and-becomes-majority-shareholder-of-m31/eu-press-release/2026/09/17/15/55/17/180871/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:b8b0b8b5:en 2026-09-09T06:00:00Z

On 9 September 2026 the Essen district court ordered preliminary protective/restructuring measures for three linked companies of the Prinz-Mayweg group (steel tube maker); around 310 employees are affected across the German sites of Altena (150), Wickede (110), Werl (20) and Werl-Westönnen (30). Production continues via insolvency-pay advances while a structured investor process runs; cited reasons include high raw-material and energy costs, high fixed costs and weak summer sales (ms-aktuell.de, 9/11 Sep 2026). — Source: https://ms-aktuell.de/welt/prinz-mayweg-11-09-2026/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:55e13af2:en 2026-09-04T06:00:00Z

The first construction phase of the new U81 light-rail route (served by the new U80 line) links Düsseldorf's central station via Freiligrathplatz directly to the Airport Terminal over 1.9 km, including a roughly 400 m tunnel and a 438 m bridge crossing the Nordstern junction and the A44 motorway. Technical completion was confirmed by the technical supervisory authority at the end of June 2026; the official opening, with special services followed by regular passenger service in the afternoon, is scheduled for Friday, 4 September 2026. Total investment stands at around EUR 336.2 million. Update (4 Sep 2026): The 1.9-kilometre new line from Freiligrathplatz to Flughafen Terminal underground station opened on 4 September 2026. The U80 runs every 20 minutes during the day between the main station and the airport (19-minute journey), while the U81 links the airport with the trade-fair grounds and arena on event days; bus line 896 was withdrawn. The city council approved the operating concept on 7 May 2026, and technical completion followed on 30 June 2026. There are no dates yet for the planned extensions (Rhine crossing to the west, airport long-distance station, Ratingen West) (LOK Report, 4 Sep 2026). — Sources: https://www.duesseldorf.de/aktuelles/news/detailansicht/newsdetail/u80-u81-eroeffnung-am-4-september · https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/aus-den-laendern/nrw-stadtbahnstrecke-zum-flughafen-duesseldorf-eroeffnet.html · https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/aus-den-laendern/nrw-offizielle-eroeffnung-der-duesseldorfer-u81-am-4-september.html · https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/aus-den-laendern/nrw-technische-fertigstellung-des-ersten-bauabschnitts-der-u80-u81-in-duesseldorf.html · https://www.duesseldorf.de/amt-fuer-bruecken-tunnel-und-stadtbahnbau/stadtbahnbau/stadtbahnstrecke-u81/1-ba-flughafen-terminal

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:13ab073e:en 2026-09-03T06:00:00Z

The Wahl-Gruppe — by its own account the world's oldest still-operating BMW dealer (founded 1898) — filed for self-administered insolvency at Siegen district court on 3 September 2026 for six group companies with 31 sites in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate; around 1,000 jobs are affected. The company cites rising costs, falling sales and customer purchasing restraint; operations continue, and wages are secured via insolvency benefit until at least the end of November 2026 according to restructuring adviser Schultze & Braun (Siegener Zeitung, 3 September 2026). The figure represents jobs at risk; no cuts have been decided yet. — Source: https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/verkehr/aeltester-bmw-haendler-der-welt-ist-insolvent-31-standorte-1-000-mitarbeiter-betroffen/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:682f00de:en 2026-09-01T06:00:00Z

Reported (dpa, 1 September 2026, via Yahoo Finance/Aachener Zeitung): Rheinmetall plans a technology and innovation centre for artificial intelligence, digitalisation and satellite technology next to its existing Neuss plant, with an investment of around €250 million. According to Mayor Reiner Breuer, about 500 scientists are to work there and production is to grow by about 700 employees — around 1,200 additional jobs in total; the figures come from the city's account, no Rheinmetall press release was available. Update (6 Oct 2026): Serial production of SAR satellites has started in Neuss, built by Rheinmetall Iceye Space Solutions GmbH, in which Rheinmetall holds 60%, with Finland's Iceye as partner. About 50 satellites a year are planned, and in early 2027 the first satellite built in Neuss is to be put into orbit on a SpaceX rocket. The satellites are 3.3 m long and 0.8 m wide and weigh around 220 kg (dpa-AFX/aero.de, 6 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://de.finance.yahoo.com/nachrichten/rheinmetall-technologiezentrum-neuss-rechnet-jobmotor-045225152.html · https://www.aero.de/news-53855/Rheinmetall-startet-Serienproduktion-von-Weltraumsatelliten.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:943585ea:en 2026-09-01T06:00:00Z

The two workshop companies of the Railpool group, KTG in Duisburg and RAILPOOL Lokservice with two sites in Hamburg, have operated as a single company since 1 September 2026, with KTG merged into Lokservice. Railpool says this is meant to simplify cooperation between the sites and create clear structures; know-how, local work and both managing directors remain, with Christoph Engel mainly covering Hamburg and Carsten Janneck Duisburg. The report gives no costs, job numbers or other figures for the merger; Railpool, founded in Munich in 2008, runs six workshops of its own and leases more than 600 electric and hybrid locomotives. (LOK Report, 1 Sep 2026) — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/industrie/railpool-ktg-wird-zu-railpool-lokservice.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:bd78ffba:en 2026-08-27T06:00:00Z

Belgian transport and logistics group JOST is acquiring German freight forwarder CTJ Janssen GmbH (Grevenbroich near Düsseldorf; €135m annual revenue, ~650 employees, 400 trucks). Post-acquisition JOST will employ around 4,000 people with a fleet of 2,100 trucks and 4,500 trailers, strengthening its presence in Europe's largest logistics market (Germany). Financial terms were not disclosed (JOST/CTJ announcement, 27 Aug 2026). — Source: https://www.flows.be/transport/2026/08/jost-neemt-duitse-logistieke-speler-ctj-janssen-over/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:c83fe822:en 2026-08-03T06:00:00Z

Insolvency proceedings under self-administration were opened over Düsseldorf fashion chain Adenauer & Co. at the Düsseldorf district court effective 1 August 2026; the petition dates back to 15 May 2026 and the case became public on 3 August 2026. Around 200 employees at 59 locations in Germany, Spain and Austria are affected. The founder, a grandson of Konrad Adenauer, blames misappropriated funds linked to an investment in Turkish manufacturing, putting the damage in the mid single-digit millions. Store closures during the restructuring cannot be ruled out; no list has been published. Second source: Handelsblatt (3 August 2026). Outcome (6 August 2026): Insolvent fashion chain Adenauer & Co. has found an investor in Hamburg-based BK Retail Group, which is taking over the business; about 40 of roughly 200 employees will lose their jobs and 15 of the 59 stores are set to close, while the remaining locations continue operating under the new owner. (source: https://www.t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/wirtschaft/id_101377618/adenauer-bk-retail-uebernimmt-insolvente-modekette-des-kanzler-enkels.html) — Source: https://www.t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/wirtschaft/id_101371922/adenauer-co-meldet-insolvenz-an-war-betrug-in-der-tuerkei-der-grund-.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3db23ae8:en 2026-07-31T06:00:00Z

The Dutch competition authority ACM published on 31 July 2026 the merger filing under which Germany's Dalli group intends to acquire sole control of Italy's Farmol S.p.A. through its subsidiary Dalli-Werke Wäsche- und Körperpflege Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH; the request was submitted on 24 July 2026. Both companies make personal care and household care products, Farmol exclusively as a contract manufacturer for third parties. Dalli also runs its own brands and operates two plants in the Netherlands, which is why the filing was made with the ACM; Farmol has no Dutch sites. No purchase price was disclosed. Update (03.10.2026): The ACM cleared the acquisition on 11 August 2026, finding that sufficient competition would remain; completion has not yet been reported (ACM). Update (24 Oct 2026): Lebensmittel Zeitung reports that the Dalli Group has closed the Farmol acquisition after antitrust clearance; Farmol now belongs to the group (Lebensmittel Zeitung, 6 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/dalli-verwaltungs-und-beteiligungsgesellschaft-wil-uitsluitende-zeggenschap-verkrijgen-over-farmol-concentratiemelding · https://www.acm.nl/nl/publicaties/dalli-verwaltungs-und-beteiligungsgesellschaft-mag-uitsluitende-zeggenschap-verkrijgen-over-farmol-concentratiebesluit · https://www.lebensmittelzeitung.net/industrie/nachrichten/wpr-hersteller-dalli-uebernimmt-farmol-193577

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:f2eea650:en 2026-07-29T06:00:00Z

On 29 July 2026 Gerresheimer signed binding agreements to sell its global primary plastic packaging business (15 plants in nine countries) and its US subsidiary Centor to funds advised by Apax Partners; the two units are valued at about €1.5bn combined, generated around €570m in sales in 2025 and employ about 2,400 people, who transfer with them. The group wants to focus on drug delivery systems and glass packaging for injectable drugs and use the proceeds to cut debt. Centor is due to close by the end of financial year 2026 and the plastics business in the first half of financial year 2027 (Gerresheimer, EQS release, 29 Jul 2026; second source: DCAT Value Chain Insights, 6 Aug 2026). Update (8 Oct 2026): The European Commission cleared the acquisition of the primary plastic packaging business unconditionally under the simplified procedure (case M.12602; European Commission, 8 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://app.boersengefluester.de/en/newswire/DE000A0LD6E6/gerresheimer-ag/gerresheimer-is-selling-centor-and-its-global-primary-packaging-plastics-business-to-apax-funds-2373126 · https://www.dcatvci.org/top-industry-news/gerresheimer-selling-two-pharma-packaging-units-in-1-7-bn-deals/ · https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_26_2112

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:7064bcea:en 2026-07-27T06:00:00Z

ACCUREC Recycling is starting the final expansion stage of its Krefeld site on Bataverstrasse with EUR 5.5m, doubling the operating area. The driver is rising demand for lithium battery recycling capacity from e-mobility and stationary energy storage. The site, expanded step by step since 2016, already runs dismantling, processing and lithium recovery plants; no completion date was given. — Source: https://battery-news.de/2026/07/27/accurec-erweitert-standort-in-krefeld-mit-investition-von-55-millionen-euro/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:fa26b729:en 2026-07-27T06:00:00Z

On 27 July 2026 RWE completed the purchase of further shares in the M31 holding company, taking its indirect stake in transmission system operator Amprion to around 55%. Following the German Federal Cartel Office's unconditional clearance on 17 July 2026, the deal closed in under five weeks from announcement; the purchase price of roughly €3.6 billion went to five existing M31 shareholders. — Source: https://www.energy-pedia.com/news/germany/rwe-successfully-closes-acquisition-of-stake-in-amprion-204735

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:e7bdf844:en 2026-07-27T06:00:00Z

Kitchen furniture maker Menke filed for insolvency at the Bielefeld district court on 27 July 2026 (case 43 IN 594/26); Bielefeld lawyer Dr Bero-Alexander Lau was appointed preliminary insolvency administrator. Menke is known as a specialist in flat-pack kitchen furniture and a supplier to the furniture discount segment; sources put the headcount at between roughly 100 and 140, and it has not been officially confirmed. Production had only been moved from Kirchlengern to Rödinghausen in late 2023 — to a site where the kitchen manufacturers Brinkmeier and Störmer had previously failed. — Source: https://www.moebelmarkt.de/beitrag/menke-k%C3%BCchen-insolvenzantrag-gestellt

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:8469a6b4:en 2026-07-24T06:00:00Z

Swiss access and security technology group dormakaba opened a new training centre of around 660 m² and a modernised door-closer housing production line for the TS 98 XEA and ITS 96 series at its German site in Ennepetal on 21 July 2026; total investment was more than €10m. At the start of the training year in August 2026 the site counts 86 apprentices, including 12 new starters and 12 taken over from the discontinued Bharat Forge CDP production. Figures per company statement (dormakaba press release distributed on 24 July 2026). — Source: https://www.presse-control.de/2026/07/24/dormakaba-investiert-ber-zehn-millionen-euro-und-erffnet-neues-ausbildungszentrum-an-seinem-deutschen-standort-ennepetal/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:d0b02310:en 2026-07-18T06:00:00Z

According to a statement on 18 July, Klinikum Leverkusen and the Catholic Alexianer group are exploring a possible transfer of the Alexianer St. Remigius hospital (Opladen site) to Klinikum Leverkusen; exploratory talks are under way. Alexianer regional managing director Benjamin M. Koch frames the move as regional responsibility for care provision (reported). — Source: https://lokalklick.eu/2026/07/18/klinikum-leverkusen-und-alexianer-pruefen-uebergang-des-alexianer-st-remigius-krankenhauses/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:5804ee6f:en 2026-07-17T06:00:00Z

On 17 July 2026 Germany's Federal Cartel Office cleared RWE's acquisition of around 47% of M31 Beteiligungsgesellschaft; RWE's effective stake in transmission system operator Amprion thus rises from about 20% to about 55%. The underlying transaction, announced on 22 June 2026 (purchase price around €3.6bn according to media reports), does not give RWE sole control due to a consortium agreement; the cartel office coordinated unbundling questions with the Federal Network Agency. — Source: https://www.energie-und-management.de/nachrichten/ueberblick/detail/kartellamt-genehmigt-rwe-einstieg-bei-amprion-370737

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:a4a6c810:en 2026-07-16T06:00:00Z

On 16 July BASF brought a new production plant for specialty emollients (based on renewable feedstocks, for skin-care and sun-care products) online at its Düsseldorf site — according to the company its largest single investment at the site in ten years; construction took around two years. Update (16 July 2026): BASF has inaugurated its new specialty emollients plant in Düsseldorf, completing the build. (BASF, 16 July 2026) — Source: https://www.basf.com/global/en/media/news-releases/2026/07/p-26-127

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:a4be17bc:en 2026-07-14T06:00:00Z

Kontron has officially started a new production line at its Düsseldorf site for 5G automotive modules (NADs) and industrial 5G M.2 communication modules, including for FRMCS rail applications. According to the company, the goal is to reduce dependence on non-European module manufacturers; the investment amount and job figures were not specified. Update (14 July 2026): Kontron has officially launched a new production line for 5G communication modules in Düsseldorf. (Evertiq, 14 July 2026) — Source: https://evertiq.com/news/2026-07-14-kontron-launches-production-of-5g-modules-in-dusseldorf

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:e32b7e34:en 2026-07-14T06:00:00Z

On 14 July 2026 the European Commission approved €659m in German state aid for four first-of-a-kind semiconductor facilities under the EU Chips Act: €353m for silicon carbide production in Baesweiler (NRW), €214m for power MOSFETs in Itzehoe, €74m for optical metrology equipment in Weilburg and €18m for two specialised facilities in Munich. Beneficiaries are reported to be Element 3-5, Vishay, KLA and KETEK. — Source: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-approves-eu659-million-german-state-aid-four-new-semiconductor-facilities

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:93f39314:en 2026-07-10T06:00:00Z

The 65 km railway line between Cologne, Wuppertal and Hagen was fully closed for about five months from early February to July 2026 for a general renovation: 81 km of track superstructure, 51 switches and 21 km of overhead line were renewed, 12 stations modernised and 3.6 km of noise barriers added. Work finished on schedule and the line reopened on 10 July 2026; work on some S-Bahn stations continues until the end of 2027. Update (16 Jul 2026): An inspection on 10 July 2026 found a crack in a steel bearing plate on the Wupper bridge in Leverkusen-Opladen, built in 1949; since then one track has been usable at reduced speed and the other at normal speed. After about ten weeks of repairs both tracks are due to be usable again from the end of September 2026, one initially at reduced speed; the full renovation planned for the 2030s is being brought forward, with no date yet. North Rhine-Westphalia transport minister Krischer wrote to federal transport minister Schnieder complaining about the lack of reliability after the five-month closure (LOK Report, 16 Jul 2026). — Sources: https://korridorsanierung-nrw.deutschebahn.com/korridore/hagen-wuppertal-koeln.html · https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/aus-den-laendern/nrw-ende-september-wieder-zweigleisiger-verkehr-ueber-die-wupper-bruecke-in-opladen-moeglich.html · https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/aus-den-laendern/nrw-oliver-krischer-kritisiert-zustand-nach-generalsanierung.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3b7fcbc3:en 2026-07-09T06:00:00Z

Deutz is acquiring defence manufacturer FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau (military wheeled and tracked vehicles) for around €1.6bn — about €1.0bn in cash (largely debt-financed) plus about €0.6bn in new Deutz shares; the selling families become anchor shareholders with up to 29.9%. Closing is expected after an extraordinary (virtual) general meeting on 24 Aug 2026 and regulatory approvals between late 2026 and Q1 2027. FFG brings an order backlog of around €1.9bn according to the company. UPDATE (31 July 2026): Germany's Federal Cartel Office cleared the acquisition in phase 1; its president Andreas Mundt said the two companies' business areas do not overlap and the merger raises no competition concerns. — Source: https://www.deutz.com/de/news/pressemitteilungen/news-detail/deutz-beschleunigt-transformation-durch-milliarden-transaktion-im-defense-bereich/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:5f80015b:en 2026-07-09T06:00:00Z

Salzgitter is taking full ownership of Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) in Duisburg (buying the 50% stake of Thyssenkrupp Steel and 20% of Vallourec) and will cut the workforce from about 3,000 to roughly 1,000 by end-2028. The company says the alternative to the cuts would have been complete closure of the steel plant; a switch to an electric arc furnace for low-carbon steel is planned. IG Metall calls the cuts 'bitter' but sees retaining 1,000 jobs as a win. Multiply confirmed reporting (t-online, Rhein-Zeitung). — Source: https://www.t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/id_101336012/salzgitter-ag-schluckt-stahlfirma-hkm-heftiger-jobabbau.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:91a379d2:en 2026-07-08T06:00:00Z

The delegates' meeting of Volksbank Krefeld approved unanimously on 8 July 2026; the new institution will operate as Volksbank Düsseldorf Krefeld Neuss. Technical merger planned for autumn 2026. Update (5 October 2026): The merger has been completed; Volksbank Krefeld absorbed Volksbank Düsseldorf Neuss, and the new Volksbank Düsseldorf Krefeld Neuss has 580 employees and total assets of €4.6bn (Börsen-Zeitung, 5 October 2026). — Sources: https://www.wz.de/nrw/krefeld/krefeld-volksbank-fusion-ist-beschlossen_aid-151232761 · https://www.boersen-zeitung.de/banken-finanzen/rettung-der-volksbank-duesseldorf-neuss-wird-noch-teurer

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:995097ef:en 2026-06-24T06:00:00Z

The supervisory board of the Kreissparkasse and the council of the city of Rheine approved unanimously. Legal merger as of 1 August 2026, technical merger in October 2026; over 1,250 employees, approx. 255,000 customers. Name: Kreissparkasse Steinfurt. Update (16.10.2026): The legal merger took effect on 01.08.2026; total assets are about €10bn, and the technical merger follows at the end of October (CMS, 14 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://www.wirtschaft-aktuell.de/news/kreissparkasse-steinfurt-und-stadtsparkasse-rheine-beschliessen-fusion · https://cms.law/de/deu/publication/update-gesellschaftsrecht-oktober-2026/cms-begleitet-fusion-von-kreissparkasse-steinfurt-und-stadtsparkasse-rheine

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:da40c87e:en 2026-06-18T06:00:00Z

Evonik is extending the 'Tailor Made' efficiency programme and cutting a further 3,200 jobs by the end of 2029, around 2,150 of them in Germany (about 10 percent of the workforce). At the same time, the group is exiting the loss-making polyester business, and the Witten plant will close in 2027. — Source: https://www.evonik.com/en/news/press-releases/2026/06/evonik-extends-efficiency-program-tailor-made.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:7d1a03b6:en 2026-06-18T06:00:00Z

With its exit from the loss-making global polyester business, Evonik is closing its Witten plant in 2027; 266 employees are affected. The closure is part of the extended 'Tailor Made' savings program. Cross-reference: the 266 affected are part of the 3,200 jobs under the 'Tailor Made' programme expanded the same day (layoffs entry of 18 June 2026); the figure is carried there and set to null here to avoid double counting. — Source: https://www.evonik.com/en/news/press-releases/2026/06/evonik-extends-efficiency-program-tailor-made.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:f2ce1101:en 2026-06-12T06:00:00Z

A ceremonial RB 20 run on 12 June 2026 put the Stolberg-Rathaus–Stolberg-Altstadt line back into service for the first time since the 2021 floods and formally reopened Stolberg-Altstadt station; regular service starts with the timetable change on 14 June 2026. The event also marked 25 years of the euregiobahn. Work continues on reactivating the line towards Breinig, the Alsdorf-Businesspark halt is due to be finished in 2026, and electrification of the Ringbahn began with a ground-breaking at the start of 2026; no costs are stated (LOK Report, 12 Jun 2026). — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/aus-den-laendern/nrw-25-jahre-euregiobahn-jubilaeum-sonderfahrt-und-wiedereroeffnung-der-strecke-nach-stolberg-altstadt.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:79ae0f6f:en 2026-06-01T06:00:00Z

Completion of the takeover announced in June 2025: Following unconditional EU approval on 22 April 2026, the acquisition was completed on 1 June 2026. This creates a provider with around 12.3 million paying subscribers (RTL, RTL+, Sky, WOW). — Source: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2026/06/01/rtl-group-closes-acquisition-of-sky-deutschland/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3eb28226:en 2026-05-31T06:00:00Z

Between Oberhausen and Emmerich am Rhein (the German border with the Netherlands), DB InfraGO carried out a general renovation of the line from November 2024 to May 2026, with sections repeatedly closed for construction. The goals are a third track, a speed increase to 200 km/h, and ETCS signalling to connect with the Dutch Betuweroute; between Friedrichsfeld and Wesel only one track remained usable at times due to embankment reinforcement work for the canal bridge. Full completion of the three-track expansion extends beyond the general renovation phase itself. Update (13 Jan 2026): DB InfraGO puts the cost of the Emmerich–Oberhausen general overhaul, including a risk buffer, at EUR 65 million, which includes EUR 7 million of its own funds (federal government reply, 21/3460). For 2021 to 2024, the reply lists 9,759 m of track, two switches and 3,152 sleepers renewed within the general overhaul, plus 300 km of tamping work with heavy machinery. (LOK Report, 13 Jan 2026) — Sources: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahnstrecke_Oberhausen%E2%80%93Arnhem · https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/verkehr/64374-bundestag-generalsanierung-der-bahnstrecke-emmerich-oberhausen.html · https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/21/034/2103460.pdf · https://www.deutschebahn.com/de/presse/presse-regional/pr-duesseldorf-de/presseinformationen-regional/Zieleinlauf-am-Niederrhein-DB-InfraGO-hat-80-woechigen-Baumarathon-zwischen-Emmerich-und-Oberhausen-erfolgreich-beendet-13881428

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:dbe05b36:en 2026-05-12T06:00:00Z

The large bakery (Golden Toast, Lieken Urkorn) is closing its plant in Essen-Borbeck by the end of 2026; around 120 employees are affected. The move is attributed to a difficult market environment and high energy costs; the NGG union sharply criticized the approach. — Source: https://www.t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/wirtschaft/id_101251302/lieken-grossbaeckerei-mit-marke-golden-toast-schliesst-werk-in-essen.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:decadda3:en 2026-05-07T06:00:00Z

The AI translation company is cutting around 250 jobs, about a quarter of its 1,000-strong workforce, primarily at its Cologne headquarters. CEO Kutylowski wants to reposition DeepL as an 'AI-native' organisation with fewer hierarchical levels. — Source: https://sifted.eu/articles/deepl-cuts-250-jobs

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:e3663e35:en 2026-04-17T06:00:00Z

Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln (HGK) has started building its new depot (Am Volkspark site) in Brühl-Vochem with a ceremonial first spade-cut and is investing about EUR 7 million in it. Around 180 employees of its Infrastructure and Maintenance division, currently spread across Cologne-Godorf, Wesseling and Brühl-Vochem, are to work together at the site; no new jobs are announced. Construction has been under way since the first quarter of 2026 and handover is planned for summer 2027; HGK operates about 250 km of its own track around Cologne, which also carries Stadtbahn lines 16 and 18 (LOK Report, 17 Apr 2026). — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/industrie/hgk-startschuss-fuer-den-neuen-betriebshof.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:9526857a:en 2026-03-19T06:00:00Z

Sparda-Bank West eG and PSD Bank Rhein-Ruhr eG, both headquartered in Düsseldorf, are exploring a combination up to a full merger in open and open-ended talks. A union would create one of Germany's largest cooperative credit institutions with combined total assets of around €18.5 billion. Sparda-Bank West is more than three times the size of PSD Bank Rhein-Ruhr. The background is the ongoing consolidation pressure in the cooperative banking sector – in 2025 PSD Bank Nord and PSD Bank Hannover had already announced a combination. Update (19 Jun 2026): The two institutions declared their merger talks over in a joint statement, saying they could not agree on a common course on key strategic questions; the extraordinary representative assemblies planned for September will not take place (Börsen-Zeitung, 19 Jun 2026). — Sources: https://www.nwzonline.de/wirtschaft/sparda-bank-west-und-psd-bank-rhein-ruhr-pruefen-fusion_a_4,2,4211910733.html · https://www.boersen-zeitung.de/banken-finanzen/psd-bank-rhein-ruhr-und-sparda-bank-west-blasen-fusion-ab

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:8e7dcd2b:en 2026-03-19T06:00:00Z

BP is selling its three Ruhr region sites – the Gelsenkirchen-Scholven refinery, the Gelsenkirchen-Horst refinery and a tank depot in Bottrop – to the international refining group Klesch Group (USA/UK). Around 1,800 employees are to transfer to the new owner upon the change of ownership; completion is planned for the second half of 2026. The purchase price was not disclosed. BP justifies the sale with the sites' lack of competitiveness. Existing fuel supply agreements secure regional supply. Klesch already operates the Heide refinery (acquired from Shell in 2010). Gelsenkirchen's mayor Andrea Henze (SPD) is calling for a long-term outlook for the site and the workforce. — Source: https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/ruhrgebiet/bp-verkauft-raffinerie-gelsenkirchen-100.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:a90efcfb:en 2026-03-19T06:00:00Z

The specialty chemicals group Lanxess is cutting around 550 jobs worldwide, a large proportion of them in administrative functions at the Cologne and Leverkusen sites (production and technology are less affected). CEO Matthias Zachert describes the situation as a 'perfect storm': weak industrial demand, rising energy prices and higher raw-material and production costs are hitting at the same time. The cuts are to be carried out in a socially responsible manner – via voluntary programmes, early retirement, staggered redundancies and severance payments; in addition, temporary salary cuts (e.g. short-time work) are planned. Lanxess is a leading supplier of specialty chemicals with around 12,000 employees worldwide. — Source: https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/rheinland/lanxess-stellenabbau-chemiebranche-100.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:73e3ed96:en 2026-03-09T06:00:00Z

On the logport I site in Duisburg-Rheinhausen, Duisport laid the foundation stone on 9 March 2026 for a new assembly hall of 20,000 m²; Siemens Mobility will be the long-term tenant and plans to assemble rail vehicles there. According to the report the existing rail connection was decisive for the choice of site. Mayor Sören Link and representatives of Duisport, Siemens Mobility Real Estate and Goldbeck attended the ceremony, and a time capsule was buried; the report gives no figures on investment, construction time or new jobs. (LOK Report, 9 Mar 2026) — Sources: https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/industrie/65721-duisport-spatenstich-auf-logport-i-siemens-erweitert-produktionsflaechen.html · https://duisport.de/modernisierung-auf-logport-i-spatenstich-fuer-neue-produktionshalle/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:bbf226ee:en 2026-03-03T06:00:00Z

CAF began construction of a new rail maintenance depot in Neubeckum with a symbolic foundation-stone ceremony on 3 March 2026. On about 13,000 sq m it will build a two-track workshop hall, an exterior train-washing plant and electrified stabling tracks; the depot will service the battery-electric trains for the reactivated Münster–Sendenhorst and Harsewinkel–Verl lines. The Spanish group is investing a double-digit million euro sum, complementing the likewise newly built depot in Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck; jobs are not quantified (LOK Report, 4 Mar 2026). — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/aus-den-laendern/65595-nrw-grundsteinlegung-im-bahnbetriebswerk-neubeckum-caf-startet-den-neubau.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:84c92ef5:en 2026-02-24T06:00:00Z

Straßenbahn Herne – Castrop-Rauxel (51%) and Transdev (49%) have founded a joint company to operate a future urban cable car in Herne. The line of about one kilometre is to link Herne-Wanne-Eickel main station with the former Blumenthal XI colliery site and would be Germany's first cable car integrated into the local transport network, running under the brand Blumenthal Airline. The city council is expected to decide on the tender in summer 2026; no opening date is given (LOK Report, 24 Feb 2026). — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/aus-den-laendern/65380-nrw-transdev-gruendet-mit-stadt-herne-seilbahngesellschaft-fuer-blumenthal-airline.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:f83d73b6:en 2026-02-17T06:00:00Z

Ergo Versicherung, a subsidiary of the reinsurance group Munich Re, is cutting around 1,000 jobs by the end of 2030. The job cuts are part of a savings programme by the parent company Munich Re. Ergo operates in more than 30 countries with around 40,000 employees and is Germany's second-largest insurance group. — Source: https://www.handelszeitung.ch/insurance/munich-re-tochter-ergo-baut-bis-ende-2030-rund-1000-arbeitsplatze-ab-909432

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:052e333d:en 2026-01-28T06:00:00Z

Kiepe Electric of Düsseldorf has transferred its trolleybus electrical systems unit to Carrosserie HESS, with which it has worked for years and which makes electric bus solutions; Kiepe will in future concentrate fully on systems and components for rail vehicles (new vehicles and modernisations). The company says this lets it invest specifically in technological innovation. Existing customers keep their current contacts; in Italy the local Hess company provides technical support for the existing trolleybus fleets as an approved service partner. The report gives neither a purchase price nor the handover date, so the date of the report is used. (LOK Report, 28 Jan 2026) — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/industrie/64745-kiepe-carve-out-des-trolleybus-geschaefts-abgeschlossen.html