Insolvency shock for Lusatia: glass factory in Tschernitz at the end!

Insolvency shock for Lusatia: glass factory in Tschernitz at the end!

In Tschernitz, Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH (GMB) filed for insolvency today, July 7, 2025. The company, once known as one of the best solar glass manufacturers in the world, has struggled in recent months with significant international price pressure and further economic difficulties, which led to a short-time working situation. The responsible economics minister, Daniel Keller, regrets the decision and criticizes the framework conditions for solar glass production in Europe.

Keller urges caution regarding dependence on imported products, particularly from China. “Politicians must act urgently here,” said the minister. He points out the need to secure the Tschernitz location and debated with various stakeholders about possible support offers to strengthen the glass manufacturer. Political initiatives to reduce energy prices and support for short-time work were also considered. As early as February 2023, Keller turned to the federal government and the EU Trade Commissioner to demand a resilience bonus and the extension of anti-dumping measures. Similar letters come from his predecessor in office, Prof. Dr. Steinbach.

The impact on the region

The district administrator of the Spree-Neiße district, Harald Altekrüger, is concerned about the effects of the bankruptcy on the region. “The loss of the glass industry in Lusatia is difficult to imagine,” he says, given the economic consequences. His fears are reflected in the general trends currently evident in Germany: in 2023 there were approximately 110,200 bankruptcies, a decrease compared to 2013, but corporate bankruptcies, particularly in the service sector, are showing a worrying increase.

The Federal Employment Agency has already announced that it will take care of placing GMB employees in new jobs. At the same time, the Brandenburg Economic Development Agency will advocate for commercial reuse of the site in Tschernitz in order to keep the economic damage to the region as low as possible.

Resistance to bankruptcy

Borosil, the Indian shareholder of GMB, remains optimistic and hopes for an improvement in the framework conditions in the EU so that the Tschernitz location can flourish again. “GMB has been supported by various grants over the years, including GRW funding, and we have always invested in the quality and innovation of our products,” said a company representative.

Collecting insolvency information is a necessary step to give affected companies and their creditors a fair chance. This is done through registration in insolvency registers, which are accessible in most EU countries. The accessibility of this information varies by country and the public has the opportunity to access a wide range of data.

The situation in Tschernitz is another example of the challenges that companies have to overcome this year. Even if the figures show a slight decline in insolvencies overall, uncertainty remains noticeable, particularly for industries that are heavily dependent on international markets. Whether the GMB will get back on its feet remains to be seen, but voices from politics and business are calling for haste. A rethink is necessary so that the future of solar glass production in Europe is not put at risk.

For deeper insights into the development of insolvency proceedings in Germany and Europe, those interested can visit the website E-Justice visit or view current statistics Statista read up.