Solar Manufacturer Meyer Burger Halts U.S. Production, Leaves Future Uncertain for German Sites
Meyer Burger, solar manufacturing company, halts production in the U.S. - Meyer Burger halts manufacturing operations in the United States.
Hey there! Let's talk about a shakeup in the solar industry. Solar manufacturer Meyer Burger, operating in several locations across Germany, including Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, has made a surprising move. They've put a halt on their solar module production in the United States. Financial constraints seem to be the culprit, as the company announced the decision in Thun, Switzerland. Unfortunately, this means 282 jobs have been lost. They've left the future of the site open-ended.
Now, the fate of their German sites in Hohenstein-Ernthall and Bitterfeld-Wolfen is uncertain. A company spokesperson wasn't ready to spill the beans just yet, stating that negotiations with bondholders are still ongoing.
In Hohenstein-Ernthall (Saxony), you'll find a research and machinery production site for solar production. The roughly 300 employees have been on short-time work since last year. Meanwhile, in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (Saxony-Anhalt), solar cells have been rolled out since May, with the same number of employees under short-time work.
It's worth mentioning that they recently set up production in Arizona using solar cells manufactured in Germany. Meyer Burger is currently engaging in talks with bondholders to restructure, with two convertible bonds due in 2027 and 2029 on the line.
Meyer Burger has been wrestling with financial woes for some time, with cheap competition from China playing a part. In the autumn, they announced a job cut of around 20 percent, possibly in Germany, too. It was assumed back then that the US site would be built up. In December, they announced that creditors guaranteed a bridge loan of nearly $40 million.
- USA
- Saxony
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Thun
- Germany
- Hohenstein-Ernthall
- Bitterfeld-Wolfen
- Switzerland
Timeline of Events
Drilling deeper into the situation, recent happenings include:
- 2025 May: Meyer Burger announced the halt of production at their 1.4 GW heterojunction solar module facility in Arizona, resulting in the layoff of 282–283 workers.
- 2025 December: Creditors approved a bridge loan of close to $40 million for the company.
- 2024 Autumn: Meyer Burger announced a reduction of around 20 percent of its jobs, possibly including those in Germany.
Possible Impact
While the primary announcement focuses on the Arizona production halt, the broader financial troubles of Meyer Burger might put additional pressure on their European operations, including those in Germany. No official announcements of a production stop or layoffs have been reported yet at Hohenstein-Ernthall or Bitterfeld-Wolfen. Stay tuned for updates as the negotiations with bondholders progress.
- The employment policy of Meyer Burger could potentially be affected by the company's financial troubles, as the future of their sites in Hohenstein-Ernthall and Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany, is uncertain due to ongoing negotiations with bondholders.
- The halt of production at Meyer Burger's 1.4 GW heterojunction solar module facility in Arizona signifies a significant shift in employment policy, with 282 jobs lost and potential impact on the company's global operations, including its European sites. The role of technology in solar manufacturing, such as the production of solar cells, will likely play a crucial part in shaping future employment policies.
