FUNKE Media to Close Hagen Printing Center by 2027, Cutting About 70 Jobs

FUNKE Mediengruppe announced that its printing centre in Hagen‑Bathey will be shut down by mid‑2027. The closure will affect roughly 70 employees of Druckzentrum NRW GmbH, pending an agreement on an interest‑balancing arrangement and a social plan with employee representatives.

Deputy works council chair Wolfgang Berlet said the decision was a “blow to the face” for staff, while DJV union head Volkmar Kah called it an “absolute tragedy” and urged FUNKE to fulfil its social responsibilities. The plant, operating since the 1970s, has been a long‑standing printing hub in North Rhine‑Westphalia. FUNKE says the move frees resources for digital business areas, with future printing of regional titles to be outsourced to external providers. Regional media CEO Christoph Rüth thanked long‑time staff for their reliable work.