Around 18 months after its takeover by the Kostal Group, German charging station manufacturer Compleo Charging Solutions plans to cut jobs and consolidate operations, with reports suggesting production at two sites will be shut down.
According to German news outlet come-on.de, Compleo intends to cut about 20% of its workforce, or roughly 60 positions, and close production sites in Dortmund-Wickede and Dortmund-Wambel. The headquarters in Dortmund-Dorstfeld could become the only remaining site in the city. Compleo’s international offices, mainly focused on sales, are also expected to “contribute to consolidation,” the report said.
The company had previously sought to reduce staff numbers through voluntary programmes, but “apparently without the desired effect,” according to come-on.de. Negotiations over a social plan are reportedly pending. Compleo may also scale back its charging station business and instead focus on the emerging field of bidirectional charging.
Neither Compleo nor its parent Kostal has confirmed the restructuring plans. In December 2022, Compleo filed for debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings after financing talks failed, before Kostal announced a takeover in May 2023. Since then, charging software activities have been merged under Kostal’s Vaylens brand.
The report also highlighted a shift in management oversight within Kostal. “The situation at Compleo is serious. One indication is that Andreas Kostal, Managing Partner of Kostal Holding, has now made Kostal Energy Solutions, one of the group’s key future areas, his direct responsibility and has also taken charge of operational management,” come-on.de reported. It added that Andreas Kostal had assumed leadership of Kostal Industrie Elektrik, Compleo and Vaylens, while former managing director Gregor Schmeken would now focus on strategic alignment within the holding company.