MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) confirmed that it has decided to move forward with the relocation project. The company has inked an agreement with the company's Berlin Works Council to shift 64 support positions from Berlin, Germany to the company's European Shared Services Center (SSC) in Warsaw, Poland.
MSA Safety confirmed that its desire to maintain a significant presence in Germany is unaffected by the relocation initiative. Germany is and will continue to be a significant growth market for MSA, and its presence will allow its total business to become more competitive. After the confirmation of this agreement, the company can now advance its plans to expand and complete its European shared services project.
Furthermore, the Warsaw Shared Services Centre was set up by MSA in 2019. The project is part of MSA's European continuous improvement efforts, and it is offering improved efficiencies as well as better abilities to provide specialized customer assistance in local languages to MSA customers and channel partners across the continent. To support its Asia Pacific region, MSA International has a Shared Services Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The company disclosed that the company's Safety IO subsidiary will continue to have a global presence in Berlin. Safety IO was founded in 2018 to utilize wireless technology and cloud computing to allow a wide range of linked safety solutions, services, and applications that all work together to improve worker safety and accountability.
Additionally, the delegate from the Berlin Works Council expressed their delight at having been able to achieve an agreement on how to proceed with the improvements. The Works Council expresses its disappointment with the decision to shift jobs to Warsaw. Regardless, the role was to support the process for the advantage of all those involved.