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Penicillin from Tyrol: Europe’s last plant battles cheap imports from China
A crucial aspect of Europe’s pharmaceutical supply will be determined in June 2026 in the Austrian town of Kundl. It is there that Sandoz operates Europe’s last major plant capable of manufacturing penicillin entirely—from raw material to finished medication. The company accuses Chinese producers of engaging in state-subsidized price dumping for amoxicillin active ingredients; consequently,…
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Heidelberger Druckmaschinen moves successful model to China and cuts 450 jobs
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen is further expanding its international manufacturing operations in the 2026/2027 fiscal year. The group now manufactures its best-selling model entirely in Qingpu, China. It is also expanding assembly operations in North Macedonia, where costs are lower. High costs, weaker order intake, and a decline in operating margins are driving this restructuring. At the…
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Study: Number of industrial workers falls to ten-year low
According to a study, the number of people employed in German industry fell to a ten-year low of just 6.6 million in 2025. The industrial sector’s share of the overall labor market dropped from 22 percent in 2014 to 19 percent, as the service sector and other areas grew during the same period, the Bertelsmann…
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Federal Network Agency significantly increases grid reserve: Power plant capacity from abroad required
The Federal Network Agency has set the requirement for the winter of 2026/2027 at 7,407 megawatts. This is an increase of 914 megawatts compared to the previous winter. Bottlenecks in the German transmission grid are the decisive factor. At the same time, several domestic reserve power plants are missing from the planning. Consequently, grid operators…
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Agrola is closing all its own hydrogen filling stations in Switzerland
Agrola will discontinue its hydrogen service in Switzerland at the end of December 2026. The filling stations in Schötz, Rothenburg, and Zofingen are affected. The responsible Landi cooperatives cite low sales volumes as the reason for the move. Consequently, drivers of hydrogen cars and fuel-cell trucks will lose three key refueling locations. However, the companies…
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DIY chain Hellweg files for insolvency: 68 stores and 2,900 employees affected
The home improvement chain Hellweg has filed for insolvency under self-administration with the Essen District Court. Based in Dortmund, the chain operates 68 stores nationwide and employs around 2,900 people, with eleven branches located in Berlin and Brandenburg. However, business operations and the online shop are continuing for the time being. Employee wages are secured…
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Hamburg’s heat plan: The gap between target and reality is widening
Hamburg has adopted a heat plan aimed at achieving a climate-neutral heat supply by 2040. The plan is based on federal heat planning legislation and Hamburg’s own climate targets. District heating networks are intended to cover 57 percent of heating demand in the future, yet they will still only serve a portion of the city’s…
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Batteries on wheels: Electric cars supply power to a city block in Sweden
When they return home, residents of the small housing development on the outskirts of Hudiksvall, Sweden, plug their electric vehicles into charging stations—but not just to charge them. They also use them to supply power to their homes. Thanks to so-called bidirectional charging, the eight families living there save significantly on electricity costs. “We use…
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VW leadership sees the group’s existence at risk – business model requires fundamental restructuring
Volkswagen’s leadership views the Group’s economic situation in June 2026 with unusual severity. Six of the nine senior executives surveyed see an existential threat, while three describe the situation as strained. Declining profits, high costs, overcapacity, and a loss of market share in China are undermining the existing business model. In addition, US tariffs, weak…
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Deadly Danger: Employers’ Liability Insurance Association Warns of Solar Boom Risks
A total of 74 workers died on German construction sites in 2025. Of these, 26 lost their lives due to falls, with 15 of these fatal accidents occurring on roofs. The relevant trade association is therefore warning of additional risks arising from the boom in photovoltaic systems, as an increasing number of installers, electricians, and…
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Thousands of violations of fuel price rules – states launch stricter checks
Recent analyses reveal thousands of violations of the fuel price rule that has been in effect in Germany since April 1. Around 3,800 of the nearly 15,000 service stations were flagged at least once during a nationwide data analysis; analysts recorded approximately 60,000 suspected unauthorized price hikes over a three-week period. However, service stations are…
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Industrial park without a secure power supply: Rommerskirchen plans without connecting to the grid
Starting in 2026, a new industrial park is being developed in Rommerskirchen next to the Neurath lignite-fired power plant, even though the necessary power supply has not been secured. The municipal council has granted planning permission for the initial site, which is intended to host facilities such as data centers, AI companies, and industrial operations.…
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Iran War: US oil reserves at 40-year low
Amid the conflict involving Iran, the US strategic oil reserve has fallen to its lowest level in more than 40 years. As of June, the United States held 340.3 million barrels of oil in reserve—according to the Department of Energy in Washington—the lowest amount since July 1983. A barrel is equivalent to approximately 159 liters.…
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Sweden’s power grid in critical state: Collapse averted only through emergency reserves
Sweden’s power grid faced an exceptionally strained operational situation on Monday, June 8, 2026. People climbed high-voltage pylons near Bollnäs, prompting the grid operator to shut down a key transmission line. Shortly thereafter, the 500-megawatt Swe-Pol Link connection to Poland also failed. As a result, the grid frequency dropped to 49.80 Hertz. At the same…
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Car toll back on the agenda: Motorists to fund Germany’s crumbling transport infrastructure
In Berlin, the construction industry has proposed a passenger car toll to fund Germany’s transport infrastructure. The proposal is driven by the need to renovate bridges, the susceptibility of railway lines to disruption, and investment shortfalls regarding waterways. Although the federal government plans to allocate around €34.4 billion for transport infrastructure in 2026, approximately €22…