"Apologies for the situation: Franki's industrial business concludes operations after a span of 77 years"

Friedrich Mechanical Workshops GmbH Shuts Down After Nearly 80 Years

After nearly 80 years in operation, Friedrich Mechanical Workshops GmbH, a metal processing company based in Fürth, has ceased operations due to insolvency. The company, which was founded in 1948, had been a significant player in the production of small series, assembly groups, and contract manufacturing around metal processing.

The closure of the company is a part of the current crisis in Franconia's automotive sector. The significant decrease in orders, primarily due to the increased energy costs, has been a major contributing factor to the insolvency. Some major customers, who had previously brought in a lot of turnover, have either relocated their business or set up their own plants, such as a former major customer now operating in Turkey.

Claus Igel, the CEO of Friedrich Mechanical Workshops since 2017, reported that he had put all his money into the company, but nothing helped. Igel is disappointed with the politics and warns that if this continues, it will drive Germany into the wall. He sees a problem in the bureaucracy, which he believes has "increased dramatically". Office work has been significantly inflated to meet all the regulations, he complains.

The economic situation of the company became increasingly precarious, leading to the need for both company and personal insolvency. Secure orders unexpectedly collapsed in 2023. Some customers have even looked elsewhere due to the massive increase in electricity prices.

Before the Corona pandemic, the company had 14 employees. Despite managing relatively well with the pandemic and having more than enough inquiries, the economic situation did not improve. Various factors contributed to the insolvency and closure of the company.

The founder or former owner of the insolvent company is not identified in the available search results. In 1991, the company moved from Burgfarrnbach to its current location at Heinrich-Stranka-Straße 16 in Fürth. The company's competencies included the production of CNC-turned and milled parts.

Igel attributes partial blame to the state's framework conditions. He complains that the political environment is not conducive to businesses, citing the increased energy costs and bureaucratic red tape as major obstacles. He warns that if these issues are not addressed, more companies will face the same fate as Friedrich Mechanical Workshops.

"Apologies for the situation: Franki's industrial business concludes operations after a span of 77 years"