Wärtsilä will start the execution of restructuring measures in the Netherlands following positive advice from the works council and approval of a social plan. The restructuring includes the closure of the propeller production in Drunen and component production in Zwolle. Adjusting the whole organisation to the current market developments means 570 jobs to be reduced in the Netherlands from a total of 1,500, as announced in January. The entire restructuring of the production will be finalised by the end of 2010.
The future focus in the Netherlands will be on R&D and services. Wärtsilä will develop a technology and services centre in the Drunen area. In addition, the Dutch training centre of Wärtsilä will be part of this centre. This unit will employ approximately 300 people.
On 19 January 2010 Wärtsilä announced a plan to reduce its industrial footprint in Europe with the target of reducing 1,400 jobs globally and transferring activities to China due to market developments. Part of the global plan was the closure of the propeller facilities in Drunen and engine component production DTS in Zwolle.
Other restructuring
Various restructuring measures in other locations have been carried out during the spring. Temporary lay-offs are currently underway in Finland and Norway. In France Wärtsilä recently announced a plan to close the Mulhouse workshop and reduce the workforce by 116 jobs. In addition to this re-adjustment programmes are ongoing in a number of countries globally.