Meyer Burger Halts US Solar Module Production, Threatens Jobs Worldwide
Meyer Burger temporarily ceases manufacturing operations in the United States. - Meyer Burger, a solar panel manufacturer, has halted production in the United States.
Solar manufacturing behemoth, Meyer Burger, has shut down its solar module production in the USA. The company's decision stems from a severe cash crisis, which forced them to halt production in the US, even though it was still in its initial phase, as announced in Thun, Switzerland. The 282 affected employees have been let go. The company's future at the US site remains uncertain.
The Ripple Effect in Germany
The impact on Meyer Burger's sites in Hohenstein-Ernthall, Saxony, and Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Saxony-Anhalt, is still unclear. A company spokesperson responded to a query, stating that negotiations with bondholders are ongoing, and no definite information can be shared as of yet.
In Hohenstein-Ernthal, Meyer Burger operates a research and machinery production site for solar production. Approximately 300 employees have been on short-term work since last year. In Bitterfeld-Wolfen, solar cell production occurs, and short-term work has been in effect for about 300 employees since May.
The US arm of solar cell production, which started in Arizona using solar cells manufactured in Germany, is currently under discussions for a potential restructuring.
A Turbulent Past and an Uncertain Future
Meyer Burger has faced significant challenges for several years, partly due to fierce competition from China. In the autumn of 2024, the company announced a reduction of around 20 percent of its 1000+ workforce, including potential layoffs in Germany. It was assumed then that the US site would be established. In December 2024, the company revealed that creditors had secured a bridge loan of nearly $40 million.
- USA
- Saxony
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Thun
- Germany
- Hohenstein-Ernthal
- Bitterfeld-Wolfen
- Switzerland
- Future
The company's financial difficulties have led to extensive restructuring efforts, including insolvency filings for German subsidiaries—Meyer Burger (Industries) GmbH and Meyer Burger (Germany) GmbH. Although negotiations to save these German sites have been intense, they have not been successful, and insolvency proceedings are now in progress, with a provisional insolvency administrator expected to be appointed by the court. In total, the restructuring and insolvency filings have resulted in job losses for over 600 employees across Germany and the USA, while approximately 60 employees in Switzerland remain unaffected.
- The community policy should address the potential impacts of Meyer Burger's employment policies, particularly the recent job losses in the USA and Germany, to ensure support for affected workers.
- Given the extensive restructuring efforts and insolvency filings, the government technology departments should collaborate with Meyer Burger to leverage their expertise in solar production technology and work towards establishing a more sustainable employment policy for the future.
