German glass industry asks government for help

The glass industry in Germany is in a difficult position. Many companies may lose workers. What is the reason?

The glass industry in Germany "tightened up". Rising energy prices are affecting the glass industry in Upper Franconia. Companies from the Kronach area have now turned to the federal government for help. Meanwhile, IHK sees a threat to several thousand jobs.

Representatives of the glass industry in Kronach County again appealed to federal politicians for help in connection with a further increase in energy prices. In the video, they call for urgent support. Otherwise, many jobs will be at risk. Meanwhile, Wiegand-Glas, Heinz-Glas and Rösner-Siebdruck have been suffering from a sharp increase in electricity prices for several months. This is reported by the news agency BR24.

Cost Explosion: Energy Prices Rise 500%

“In recent months, energy prices have skyrocketed by more than 500%,” said Frank Hammerschmidt. He is Managing Director of Rösner GmbH. “We will not be able to continue to exist, employees are afraid for their future,” he added. According to him, the policy should help now, not in a few years. So does Nikolaus Wiegand, whose family business has been producing glass bottles in the Franconian Forest for more than 100 years. According to Wiegand, without the company's melting tanks, glass waste containers in cities would overflow. The company also claims to be number one in Germany in recycling used glass.

Electricity consumption per year: 100 million kilowatt-hours

At the traditional Heinz-Glas plant in Kleintettau, two melting furnaces operate 365 days a year. At its sites in Kleintettau in the district of Kronach and Piesau in neighboring Thuringia, Heinz-Glas consumes 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. The same number as private households in the city of Bamberg with a population of more than 77 thousand people.

German glass industry releases call for help via video

The companies posted an online video titled "Red Alert" on Youtube. “The goal is to show politicians how much their existence is threatened by the current situation,” Wiegand said. Already in January, companies from the Rennsteig region wrote a letter to federal politicians.

Energy costs destroy the "financial essence" of companies

According to entrepreneurs, among other things, the financial support of enterprises is being destroyed due to significantly increased electricity costs. High energy prices are already having a clear impact. Heinz-Glas, for example, has suspended the commissioning of a new smelter. Meanwhile, the Upper Franconian Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes that rising energy costs threaten several thousand jobs.

Source: https://aussiedlerbote.de/