Essen's historic glassworks plant to close after over a century

A pillar of Essen's economy crumbles as Verallia's glassworks shuts its doors. Can the city turn this loss into a chance for reinvention?

, and Administrator

2026 April 25 . 2:03 PM

1 min read

The image shows a black and white drawing of a city street with buildings, people, and smoke... — The image shows a black and white drawing of a city street with buildings, people, and smoke billowing out of the buildings. At the bottom of the image, there is text which reads "The history of the industrial revolution".

February 18, 2026

Essen's historic glassworks plant to close after over a century

In response to today's (February 18) announcement of plans to close Verallia's glassworks plant in Essen—affecting some 310 employees—Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen issued the following statement:

"The intended closure of Verallia Deutschland AG's glassworks is a severe blow to our city. This corporate decision is bad news for Essen as a business and industrial hub, and for the many families tied to the plant. I deeply regret these plans, especially given that the facility has stood for over a century as a symbol of industrial tradition, innovation, and quality jobs in Essen.

Right now, our focus must be on the roughly 310 employees facing this difficult situation. They must not be left to navigate this alone. The city portal, in close cooperation with the EWG (Essen Economic Development Agency), will work hand in hand with the company to develop new perspectives and provide the best possible support and guidance to those affected. Our goal is to mitigate the impact as effectively as we can while creating fresh opportunities for the site. The city will promptly engage with both the works council and management to determine how we can offer the most effective assistance."