For a large portion of the employees of the insolvent machine manufacturer Schoen+Sandt, a new perspective has emerged. The Ring Group, also based in Pirmasens, has reached an agreement with the insolvency administrator for the acquisition of assets. More than half of the current employees are expected to transfer directly to Ring.
Schoen+Sandt filed for insolvency at the end of April 2026. The transaction now agreed upon is an asset deal. The specific assets being acquired and the purchase price were not disclosed.
With the acquisition, Ring aims to expand its business with stamping machines. Both companies have many years of experience in mechanical engineering and are closely linked to the industrial location of Pirmasens. The transfer of employees ensures that a significant portion of the technical expertise remains in the region. It remains unclear what will happen to the employees who were not retained and the insolvent company.
Schoen+Sandt looks back on a company history spanning more than 150 years. Its origins date back to the founding of the mechanical engineering company by Jakob Sandt in 1867 and the machine factory Schön in 1910. The two companies merged in 1996. Following a previous insolvency, a fresh start was made in 2007 under private investors. The company developed and produced stamping machines and automated systems for various industries.
Ring intends to expand its business with die-cutting machines primarily through the acquisition. The owner-managed company, founded in 1921, employs around 400 people worldwide, according to its own figures. Its portfolio includes perforating and die-cutting machines, special-purpose machines, automation solutions, and machines for shoe manufacturing. The group also operates as an equipment supplier for the automotive industry, among other sectors.
