After the flood disaster in the Ahar Valley, automotive supplier ZF does not want to rebuild its location in the risk zone. There has been criticism from trade union IG Metal, which sees this as further weakening of the sector.

NS auto supplier ZF wants out of fear of the future Flooding Move away from the Ahar flood zone – but this approach has faced criticism. For about 280 workers at a flood-damaged plant in Rhineland-Palatinate Bad Neuenher-Ahrweiler ZF spokesman Florian Tausch announced on Wednesday that a new location within a 50-kilometer radius is being sought with high pressure to keep jobs in the region.

It is still unclear when any steps will be taken and whether expansion of the existing ZF location in Koblenz may also be considered. Other media had reported about it earlier.

“At our plant in Ahrweiler, near Ahar, the water was two to three meters high in July. Some caravans were washed away and machines were destroyed,” said Taush. The flood line of a new hazard map for the state of Rhineland-Palatinate runs directly through the plant. This suggests that the flood may re-enter here.

According to a ZF spokesman, employees in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, some of whom were also with their homes, were affected by severe flooding on 14 and 15 July. short time work did not exist.

IG Metal: Koblenz is not a solution

NS IG Metal Criticized: “A replacement location within a 50-kilometer radius, such as at the company’s own location in Koblenz, is not a solution. A new plant should be built in the immediate vicinity of the current location. Local politicians offer areas for it.” These proposals should be followed with the highest priority and with the work council and staff.

ZF is one of the largest automotive suppliers in Germany and, according to its own information, has more than 150,000 employees in approximately 270 locations in 42 countries, with sales of 32.6 billion euros in 2020.