Ueckermünde Iron Foundry Faces Shutdown as 320 Jobs Hang in the Balance

Breyden plans to shut its Ueckermünde iron foundry at the end of 2026, affecting around 320 jobs, as locals hold a vigil against the closure.

Residents, workers and city officials gathered outside Ueckermünde's iron foundry this week for a peaceful vigil, signalling broad local opposition to operator Breyden's plan to abandon the long-established industrial site.

Police in Neubrandenburg put the crowd at roughly 200 people when it assembled around midday; media accounts placed attendance between 200 and 250. The gathering lasted about half an hour and was monitored by officers.

A Closure Announced in October

Breyden informed its workforce on 2 October 2026 that it intends to shut the Ueckermünde plant at the end of 2026. According to the company, all of the roughly 320 positions at the site are affected — a figure covering 260 permanent employees together with fixed-term staff and agency workers. An NDR report cited 290 workers set to lose their jobs.

Ueckermünde is the only Breyden Group site earmarked for closure, according to available information. Management has said it will enter talks with the works council on a reconciliation of interests and a social plan.

Falling Volumes, Rising Energy Bills

The foundry mainly produces components for vehicle brakes and automotive braking systems. Its output has shrunk noticeably over time: where the plant once processed 50,000 tonnes of iron a year, the most recent volume stood at 35,000 tonnes.

Breyden attributed the decision to a persistently declining market, weakening demand and insufficient utilisation of the plant. Site costs were another major factor.

Management said industrial electricity prices in Germany run at 20 to 25 cents per kilowatt-hour, while competitors in China and India benefit from energy costs of 6 to 8 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Crisis Team and Further Meetings

At municipal level, the closure announcement has met with united resistance. Ueckermünde's mayor, Tino Spiegelberg, announced the formation of a municipal crisis team, with initial consultations on supporting the site and its workers due to begin the following week.

Labour representatives, meanwhile, intend to keep up the pressure in order to examine alternatives to the shutdown. Further meetings at the Ueckermünde foundry are already scheduled from 4 October to discuss the way forward.