The Swissprinters printing company in Zofingen plans to cease operations at the end of September. There are currently 144 permanent employees working for the company. The declining demand for printed products is responsible for the decision, it says in a statement.
Swissprinters is a subsidiary of the media companies Ringier and NZZ. The company prints, among other things, catalogs, magazines and brochures. Important orders have now been lost and paper and energy prices remain high, writes Swissprinters in a statement.
All employees would be affected by a cessation of operations. There is still a consultation process. The final number of employees to be laid off will only be determined once the process has been completed. Part of the job cuts could be absorbed within the framework of the existing social plan and through early retirement.
“Swiss Illustrated” from abroad?
The announcement goes on to say that a tender will be held for Ringier and NZZ publications that have previously been printed in Zofingen. However, the orders could be placed abroad because there is no longer enough printing capacity in Switzerland after the closure. The products printed in Zofingen include the “Schweizer Illustrierte” and the “Observer”.
Legend: Until 2012, Swissprinters also had an operation in St. Gallen, where this photo was taken. Keystone/Ennio Leanza
The company emerged from the merger of four traditional printing companies: Ringier Print Zofingen AG (founded in 1833), NZZ Fretz AG (Zurich, 1860), Zollikofer AG (St. Gallen, 1789) and Imprimeries Réunies Lausanne SA (1906).
Swissprinters closed its operations in Lausanne, St. Gallen and Zurich over 10 years ago and moved orders to Zofingen. But now the printing plant in Zofingen will soon be history.