Haier Europe announces Business Transformation Plan for Europe
Haier Europe today presented its business transformation plan to the Unions (OO.SS. and RSU), which includes the streamlining of its manufacturing activities in Europe.
This plan aims to consolidate capacities in a few large-scale and strategically located sites and conduct an in-depth review of costs and processes to improve operational efficiency and continue investing in innovation as well as product and brand leadership.
The plan includes the discontinuity of production activities at the Aricestii Rahtivani facility in Romania by March 2025 and the cease of production activities at the Brugherio facility in Italy by June 2025, followed by a repurpose project that will be launched to minimize social impact and ensure the Brugherio site’s strategic role.
During today’s meeting, the company also signed an agreement with the unions (OO.SS. and RSU) to extend the voluntary separation plan for employees at Vimercate and Brugherio, involving 100 employees – 64 of which are HQ-based people – and aiming to provide a fair and voluntary pathway for those who wish to explore new opportunities outside the company.
Regarding the cease of production activities at the Brugherio site, the company, aware of the consequences of its decision, informed the Unions of its commitment to a site conversion project – details of which will be presented at a later stage. The goal is to ensure significant employment continuity and preserve the strategic role of Brugherio and Italy for Haier Europe. The company continues to operate its European headquarters here in Italy, along with the European hub for aftersales and spare parts, the European design center (Milan Experience Design Center), and the research and development laboratories for product lines, with a focus on IoT and connectivity.
The streamlining process undertaken by Haier Europe stems from the challenging context currently affecting the home appliance industry across Europe. As shared with the Unions, the past three years have seen a significant decline in demand, accompanied by a gradual erosion of profit margins. This situation has been further exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and inflationary pressures, which have negatively impacted consumer confidence, making the adoption of structural measures necessary.
In this context, Haier Europe’s priority is to safeguard the people who have contributed to the company’s growth, their families, and the local social fabric, managing the transformation with utmost transparency and care.
