Voestalpine will shut down its production of special wire products in Fürstenberg, Austria, at the end of the year, Kallanish learns from a company statement sent upon request.
The site is part of voestalpine Wire Rod Austria GmbH, a subsidiary of the Metal Engineering Division of voestalpine AG with production plants in Donawitz, Bruck an der Mur and Fürstenfeld. Since 2012, the latter site has specialised in saw wire for the photovoltaics industry, besides other special wire products such as dry reed contacts.
The production of saw wire has been uneconomic for some years already, despite restructuring efforts and investment in research & development, the company says. As reasons it cites the migration of the European photovoltaics industry to China, and the massive increase of power prices since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The subsidiary will therefore relocate the production of dry reed contacts to the plant in Bruck an der Mur. For the 53 employees at Fürstenberg, it has offered alternative positions in Bruck, Leoben, Kindberg and Kapfenberg. According to press reports, Fürstenberg already laid off 30 employees back in 2018.
Christian Koehl Germany
