Observed Signal · Jul 28, 2026 · Closure · Source: DWDL · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Funke to Close Hagen Printing Plant Mid-2027
Funke Mediengruppe announced it will close its Hagen-Bathey printing plant around mid-2027, leaving only the Braunschweig facility as the group's last in-house printer. Funke previously closed its Essen plant in 2020. The company says it will consider shifting some Hagen print volume to Braunschweig while outsourcing printing for its NRW titles. The closure is subject to agreements on interest reconciliation and a social plan; talks with social partners have begun. Christoph Rüth, Funke's executive responsible for regional media, thanked staff for their long service.
Operational restructuring at a regional publisher reduces in-house print capacity and may change print supply chains and ad inventory for regional titles, but is not industry-shifting for digital AdTech.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Funke Mediengruppe announced the closure of its Hagen-Bathey printing plant, expected around mid-2027.
- Funke had previously closed its Essen printing site in 2020.
- After the Hagen closure, Funke will retain only one in-house printing facility in Braunschweig.
- Funke will consider transferring parts of Hagen's print volume to Braunschweig and plans to outsource printing for its NRW titles.
- Implementation depends on concluding interest-reconciliation agreements and a social plan; initial talks with social partners have begun.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“Funke Mediengruppe announced the closure of the last remaining printing site in North Rhine-Westphalia and that printing in Hagen-Bathey wil...”
“The article is published on DWDL.de and the site footer lists '© DWDL.de GmbH 2001-2026'....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Bettina Steinke leaves Funke Mediengruppe
Bettina Steinke, editor-in-chief responsible for Funke Mediengruppe's regional digital portals, has left the company after eight years. Her departure took effect on September 1, 2026, at her own request, according to the company, as she pursues new professional challenges. Steinke joined Funke in 2018 from Burda Forward and helped build and develop the reach portals "Der Westen", "News38", and "Thüringen24", later also "moin.de" and "Berlin Live". In 2024, the portfolio was expanded with the entertainment brand "schlager.de". Steinke also developed new journalistic formats, including the podcast "SoKo Schlager", which started in 2025. Stephan Thurm, managing director of Funke's digital division, thanked her for the successful construction and continued development of the unit.
Axel Springer ends Welt am Sonntag regional print editions
Axel Springer plans to discontinue the printed regional supplements of its Sunday title Welt am Sonntag for Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, likely by the end of the year, and will dissolve the corresponding regional editorial teams. The move affects the former regional newsrooms in Hamburg and Düsseldorf. The report was published by Horizont on August 28, 2026 and authored by Roland Pimpl. The article frames the change as part of a longer-term consolidation of the group's regional editorial resources.
Funke names Cedric Kroll Head of Sales in Berlin
Funke appoints Cedric Kroll as Head of Sales for its Berlin regional media effective September 1, 2026. The 29-year-old moves from Funke MediaSales NRW, where he served as sales manager with a focus on audio and led the marketing of Funke's local radios since 2025. In Berlin he will be responsible for advertising commercialization of regional brands including the Berliner Morgenpost, Berliner Woche and Spandauer Volksblatt. Christian Schuler, the previous head of Berlin regional sales, will leave the company on October 1, 2026. Görge Timmer, managing director of Funke Regionalmedien in Berlin, commented on Kroll's appointment and praised Schuler's work on digital product expansion and print stabilization.
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