German Uvex Group plans to close an independent Uvex subsidiary, B-S-A Gesellschaft für Kunststoffverarbeitung und -handel mbH (BSA), based in Obernzell, where bicycle, riding and winter sports helmets have been produced for 30 years, by the end of 2024. All 190 jobs are to be affected by the closure. Uvex explained the reasons behind the decision: BSA has been in deficit for many years. Production costs have exploded due to a sharp rise in labor and energy costs. High material costs also burden the operating result. The continued consumer reluctance and cut-throat competition with low-cost suppliers from the Far East have meant that sports helmet production in Obernzell is no longer economically viable.
“Even though the situation in the sports and leisure sector is difficult at the moment, we believe in a bright future for the sports sector with its Uvex, Alpina and Hiplok brands,” said Michael Winter, Managing Partner of the Uvex Group. “We have made changes to the organizational structure and, at the same time, assume that market demand will recover from the second half of 2024.”
In addition to the Uvex Sports Group, the Uvex Group also includes the Uvex Safety Group, the Filtral Group and the UD2C Group for the virtual DTC business. Uvex Sports Group said it will, in the future, be purchasing the products previously manufactured by BSA from qualified third-party suppliers on the global market.
