The Chinese investor Xu Hongjie has acquired the assets of the insolvent German textile machinery maker Mayer & Cie and restarted operations in Albstadt with a workforce reduced from 270 to 30 employees.
Mayer & Cie relaunches as Mayer & Cie Global after insolvency
The company, which filed for insolvency in September 2025 after a 50 percent drop in revenue, had laid off its entire staff of 270 before the closing was finalized on April 17, 2026, by the insolvency administrator Grub Brugger. The novel entity, Mayer & Cie Global, began production at the original site in Albstadt-Tailfingen under the leadership of Xu Hongjie, who too owns the Chinese firm Huixing Machine Co., Ltd. In Shishi City.
Workforce cut reflects broader pressures on German manufacturing
The restart employs only about 11 percent of the pre-insolvency staff, a reduction driven by both economic necessity and strategic realignment. Dietrich Birk of the VDMA in Baden-Württemberg noted that Chinese manufacturers, backed by state subsidies and aggressive pricing, have intensified competition, while rising US tariffs and geopolitical tensions have further discouraged investment in Europe.
Synergies with Huixing aim to access Asian markets and software development
Xu Hongjie intends to leverage Huixing’s existing operations in China to support Mayer & Cie Global in sourcing components, entering Asian markets, and advancing software integration for knitting machines. Huixing employs approximately 1,000 workers in Quanzhou and produces its own line of textile machinery, creating potential for cross-border collaboration in technology and distribution.
Former employees face uncertain prospects despite localized restart
While 30 former workers have been rehired under the new structure, the majority of the 270 affected staff remain unemployed, with regional media earlier reporting expectations of up to 45 positions before the final headcount was confirmed. The emotional toll persists among the former workforce, many of whom received termination notices in February 2026 after months of uncertainty.
What caused the original decline in Mayer & Cie’s business?
<!– wp:paragraph />The company experienced a 50 percent drop in revenue, prompting the insolvency filing in autumn 2025, as global demand shifted and competition from lower-cost producers intensified.
/wp:paragraph –>Is the restarted operation considered a continuation of the old company?
<!– wp:paragraph />No, the restart is structured as a new entity, Mayer & Cie Global, which acquired the assets of the insolvent Mayer & Cie GmbH & Co. KG and operates under fresh incorporation.
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