Meyer Burger Ceases U.S. Production Operations
Germany Braces for Impact: Meyer Burger Halt US Production, Job Cuts
Meyer Burger, a solar energy company with operations in Germany, has announced it is stopping solar module production in the United States due to financial difficulties, leading to the dismissal of hundreds of employees in the Arizona site.
The company, which also operates in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, has faced financial challenges that have forced it to halt production in the US, where it planned to expand its operations. The future of the US site remains unclear, and negotiations with bondholders are ongoing.
In Saxony, the Hohenstein-Ernstthal site, which houses research and machinery production for solar production, currently employs around 300 individuals on short-time work. Bitterfeld-Wolfen, in Saxony-Anhalt, produces solar cells, with around 300 employees on short-time work since May. The impact on the German sites is yet to be determined, but the company has declined to comment while negotiations with bondholders continue.
Meyer Burger has been struggling with financial troubles for some years due in part to fierce competition from China. In the autumn of 2025, the company announced a decrease of about 20% of its approximately 1000 jobs, with the possibility of cuts in Germany. However, the company still assumed that the US site would expand. In December, the company secured a bridge loan of almost 40 million US dollars from creditors.
The repercussions for Meyer Burger's sites in Germany could be significant. With the closure of the Arizona factory, the company might face strained financial resources, leading to potential cost-cutting measures, resource reallocation, and changes in its operational strategy. The company is currently in discussions with bondholders about restructuring, which could impact all its facilities, including those in Germany.
Solar energyIndustryUSAPhotovoltaicsArizona
Source: ntv.de, lar/dpa
[1] Short-time work announced for Thalheim facility in April 2025:
The company's financial troubles and the halt in solar module production in Arizona may necessitate reevaluation of the community policy at the Thalheim facility in Germany, potentially leading to vocational training programs to upskill employees. The financial restructuring discussions with bondholders could also influence the vocational training programs offered at the Hohenstein-Ernstthal and Bitterfeld-Wolfen sites in Germany, as industry-related skills may become more critical in the face of industry changes.
