Insolvency shock: Glass manufacturer GMB in Tschernitz meets 300 employees!

Insolvency shock: Glass manufacturer GMB in Tschernitz meets 300 employees!

In a bitter crisis for the solar industry, Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH in Tschernitz filed for bankruptcy on July 8, 2025. Around 250 to 300 jobs are affected, which also contains the already tense economic situation in the region. The company had been fighting financial problems for some time, which were exacerbated primarily by the strong competition from Asia and the subsidized competition from China. This reports Merkur .

The GMB was the last remaining solar glass manufacturer in Europe and responsible for the production of special glass with a capacity of up to 350 tons per day. The bankruptcy is not only a difficult chapter for employees who have been in short -time work since March, but also has an impact on suppliers and service providers in the entire region, which further destabilizes the economic structure.

causes of bankruptcy

The drop in prices through cheap imports from China brings the German solar industry to falter. In 2024, solar systems worth 1.8 billion euros were imported to Germany, of which 86 percent came from China. This procedure led to an enormous price pressure on the domestic manufacturers, said Brandenburg's Minister of Economic Affairs Daniel Keller, who also mentioned that there was no market for solar glass from Chernitz under the current conditions.

The political efforts to save the location were unsuccessful. Applications for auxiliary measures, such as a resilience bonus, were not well received. District Administrator Harald Altkrüger emphasized the important role of the glass industry for the region and announced support for the employees concerned. GMB's fate reflects the tense situation in the entire German solar supply industry, which has become under increasing pressure since 2024.

A look at the industry

The solar and photovoltaic industry in Germany has been struggling with a number of bankruptcies since 2024. Companies such as special sun, Amia Energy and Enersol have already closed their gates. The demand for photovoltaic systems fell last year, which led to a slump in demand in the industry. A survey among installers showed that more than two thirds of them felt a decline in demand.

The dominant prices on the market come from Asia, while European and US manufacturers share the remaining 6 percent market share. Therefore, it is checked which measures can be taken to ensure the competitiveness of the European solar industry in the long term. However, many experts are optimistic that the market will recover in the medium to long term, although for the next 12 to 36 months will be expected with further unrest, such as fr.de reported.

The GMB's bankruptcy is a clear signal that the solar industry in Germany urgently needs to reform in order not to lose more jobs and to further strengthen the dependency on international supply chains. Brandenburg's Minister of Economic Affairs therefore calls for extensive measures to support industry and not to endanger the goals of the energy transition.

In this difficult situation, not only the employees in Tschernitz are affected, but also a long-lasting impact on the entire economic structure of Lusatia and thus on a region that is dependent on the glass and solar industry. The big concern remains whether it will be possible to strengthen domestic production and thus ensure sustainable development in the solar industry.