Engine manufacturer: Engine manufacturer Deutz wants to reduce staff at the main plant

The engine manufacturer Deutz would like to cut staff again at its main plant in Cologne. After around 100 jobs were recently eliminated, the company is now planning a new reduction program, as dpa learned from informed circles. The “Handelsblatt” had previously reported. A Deutz spokesman did not want to comment on the matter.

The plan is to eliminate 130 to 200 jobs by the end of 2028, according to informed sources. In the maximum case there could be 300 - but it is unlikely that there will be that many. The usual demand cycles are currently at the bottom and things will probably go up again in the coming years. Deutz currently has around 2,600 jobs in Cologne. The project affects the business with small engines, which are installed in tractors and pallet trucks.

Deutz recently took over the Flensburg-based arms company FFG, thereby significantly strengthening its defense division. Staff will now be eliminated in its traditional core business in Cologne.

Engine business is weakening

All in all, Deutz's business with around 6,300 employees worldwide (June 30) has actually developed positively; the engine manufacturer was able to increase its sales by a tenth to around 1.1 billion euros in the first half of 2026 and quadruple its profits to around 34 million euros. In the engines division, however, things went significantly worse than the group average - in the energy, defense and service areas, sales growth was significantly higher and the business was more profitable.

The situation is particularly tight in the small engine segment and demand is low - the new cost reduction program applies to this business area. The weak figures in this division are also due to the fact that competition in this segment is stronger than for larger engines, which are technically more sophisticated and where there are fewer competitors vying for customer favor.