The Downfall of Solar Giant Meyer Burger's German Subsidiaries
Daughters of Meyer Burger, a German company, initiate bankruptcy proceedings - Pending Decision on Launching Proceedings over Aid Grants
In a surprising turn of events, the German branches of Swiss solar power titan Meyer Burger, employing roughly 600 workers, have plunged into insolvency proceedings. The solar cell production facility Meyer Burger Industries in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Saxony-Anhalt, employs 331 people, while Meyer Burger Germany in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Saxony, houses 289 personnel, specializing in mechanical engineering and advanced tech development.
A restructuring plan to save these locations has unfortunately failed, according to the company stationed in Thun, Switzerland. The interim insolvency administrator will take charge of these sites in the upcoming proceedings, as stated by the company.
Originally, Meyer Burger was supposed to release its 2024 annual report by May 31st. As financial discussions for restructuring continue, the company has requested an extension of time.
While subsidiaries based in Switzerland and the USA are expected to carry on, production recently ceased at the soon-to-be-completed solar module production facility in the USA. The intended solar cells for this operation were meant to be crafted in Germany.
- Meyer Burger
- Restructuring
- Switzerland
- Insolvency
- Thun
- Germany
- Bitterfeld-Wolfen
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Hohenstein-Ernstthal
- Saxony
- USA
- Background Insights:Meyer Burger Technology AG's German subsidiaries, Meyer Burger (Industries) GmbH and Meyer Burger (Germany) GmbH, have filed for insolvency proceedings since early June 2025. The subsidiary in Thalheim, which falls under Bitterfeld-Wolfen, operates a solar cell manufacturing facility with 331 employees. The Hohenstein-Ernstthal site, with 289 employees, focuses on mechanical engineering and technology development.
The Roots of Insolvency:- Asian Competition: The insolvency filings are largely attributed to severe competition from low-cost Asian imports, which have significantly threatened the viability of Meyer Burger's German operations[3][5].- Operational Challenges: Despite strenuous restructuring negotiations, these challenges have proven insurmountable, leading to the insolvency filings[4][5].
Status update:- Ongoing Restructuring Attempts: Meyer Burger is actively pursuing ways to keep the German sites running under the oversight of a provisional insolvency administrator appointed by the court[4][5].- Global Operations Unscathed: The company's global operations remain unaffected, with subsidiaries such as Meyer Burger (Switzerland) AG and Meyer Burger (Americas) Ltd. continuing their activities amid recent layoffs in the Americas[3][4].
- The troubling insolvency of Meyer Burger's German subsidiaries, specializing in solar cell production and advanced tech development, can be traced back to intense competition from low-cost Asian imports, as well as operational challenges within the industry.
- To address this matter, Meyer Burger is pursuing a restructuring plan under the guidance of a provisional insolvency administrator. Simultaneously, the company is striving to maintain the viability of its global operations, particularly in Switzerland and the USA, while undergoing financial discussions for restructuring and recent layoffs in the American sector.
