Overview
- Employees were told of the decision this week, and more than 100 people demonstrated outside the site after the briefing.
- Roughly 210 metal-production roles are slated to go, while about 60 LED specialists have been offered positions in Regensburg that many are unlikely to take.
- Executives point to steep order declines and mounting price pressure from Asian competitors, noting a prospective sale fell through shortly before signing.
- Legally required consultations are underway, with negotiations on a social plan with the works council and IG Metall set to begin in early November.
- Worker representatives describe a phased shutdown ending molybdenum-wire output in late 2026 and wolfram in late 2027, after which halls would be sealed and guarded.