Insolvency shock: Solar glass manufacturers from Tschernitz meet the region hard!

Insolvency shock: Solar glass manufacturers from Tschernitz meet the region hard!

In a difficult blow for the Lausitzer region, Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH in Tschernitz has filed for bankruptcy. The application for this was submitted to the Cottbus district court today. The company, which is considered the last specialized solar glass manufacturer in Europe, is thus threatened in its existence. Around 240 employees are directly affected, which not only endangers their future, but also the economic stability of the region.

Brandenburg's Minister of Economics Daniel Keller expressed a deeply affected manner about the situation and blamed political failures at the EU level. "There is no market for solar glass from Tschernitz under the current conditions," he said, while district administrator Harald Altkrüger described bankruptcy as a "severe blow for the Lausitzer region". Support for the employees concerned has already been assured and the Federal Employment Agency is involved in the process to create new perspectives.

background to bankruptcy

The main reason for the bankruptcy of the glass manufacturer is the hard competitive conditions due to cheap solar modules from China. This development has significantly restricted the production options on site. The Indian majority owner Borosil, who previously took over the Interfloat Corporation, had already warned a warning to the federal government in February. In a letter to leading politicians, he called for support for the European solar industry, in particular a resilience bonus to secure competitiveness. Companies such as Meyer-Burger in Freiberg, Saxony, which are dependent on the care from Tschernitz, are already planning to hire their production if there is no help.

The Brandenburg government had tried in the past to support the glass manufacturer with funding. Discussions to stabilize the location took place, including energy policy relief and help to finance short -time work. Nevertheless, the efforts have so far been unsuccessful, as Alteskrüger regrets.

The glass industry in Germany

The German glass industry is an important industry that includes several segments, including flat glass and hollow glass. In 2023, around 54,659 employees worked in this industry, with over 50% of companies being small and medium -sized companies. Despite the challenges, such as the decline in sales since 2018, the industry in 2022 recorded record sales of 12.7 billion euros. In international comparison, Germany is a leader in the production of glass and glassware.

The bankruptcy of Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH could not only have local effects, but also represents another setback for the entire glass industry. The challenges, especially through international competition and suboptimal framework, are the focus of the current discussions. "We have to find a solution before it is too late," Keller appeals to politics. Talks on the future of the location should now be continued in the bankruptcy proceedings, in the hope that the traditional location in Tschernitz will not be completely lost.