Tschernitz Glass Manufactory in Crisis: Is a Savior Coming?

Tschernitz Glass Manufactory in Crisis: Is a Savior Coming?

Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg (GMB) from Tschernitz has been in insolvency proceedings for around two months. Managing director Nico Succolowsky said that an investor had shown interest in the company. However, concrete details about this potential investor have not yet been published, as a public statement will only be made after a concrete agreement has been reached. It is expected that a decision on the return to full production or the future of the company will be made by the end of September 2025. The insolvency administrator and company management are working intensively to find suitable investors in order to be able to resume production.

The glass factory is the only factory in Europe that produces solar glass for photovoltaic systems. Despite this unique selling point, the company faces significant competition, particularly from Asia, where production costs are significantly lower. Succolowsky also criticized the fact that neither the federal government nor the state of Brandenburg had provided any support to date, which further exacerbated the situation for the glass manufacturer.

Crisis in the solar industry

The GMB insolvency is part of a larger crisis that has hit the German solar industry. This industry has seen a dramatic decline after a boom in 2022 and 2023. The collapse in demand for photovoltaic systems began at the beginning of 2024 and will continue in 2025. Experts warn that there will be unrest in the next 12 to 36 months as market conditions deteriorate - particularly due to aggressive pricing of cheap Asian products. Around 94% of the PV modules offered in Germany now come from Asia, which puts massive pressure on local competition. The market was rocked by numerous bankruptcies in 2024, with companies such as Eigensonne and Amia Energy also filing for bankruptcy.

Another example is the Swiss company Meyer Burger, which filed for bankruptcy for its German subsidiaries at the end of May. These companies are now negotiating with potential investors to save their plants in Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony. The provisional insolvency administrator Lucas Flöther reports a positive response to the investor process, which offers hope for restructuring at least for some companies. As with GMB, a takeover by investors could allow it to operate without legacy liabilities.

Political support and regional importance

There are also demands to support the solar industry at the political level. District Administrator Harald Altekrüger (CDU) called for the regional glass industry to be rescued as early as January 2025. It remains to be seen whether and in what form political measures will be taken to support the industry that deserves protection in view of the current challenges. While there are chances of restructuring for some companies, there are major economic concerns due to the market decline and increasing competition.

The coming months will be crucial for the future of the Brandenburg glass factory and the entire solar industry in Germany. The industry may face a long and challenging period as competitive conditions continue to tighten from Asian markets. There is still hope for a recovery, but this will probably only occur gradually and not at the level of previous years.