Union urges 3M to avert Dyneon plant closure

Hanover, Germany – Germany's trade union for mining, chemicals & energy workers IGBCE has urged 3M to drop plans to discontinue production of fluoropolymers in the country.

3M last year announced the phase-out of all per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) – including fluoroelastomers manufactured by its Dyneon subsidiary*.

Located at the Gendorf Chemical Park, in south east Germany, the Dyneon plant is among the facilities to be closed by the end of 2025 and then dismantled.

The US group has rejected options for the resale of its PFAS factories, patents and licenses, according to a statement from IGBCE.

In its statement, the German trade union linked the decision to close the facility to regulatory moves to ban all types of PFAS, including in the EU.

In a resolution 13 June, the IGBCE urged 3M to maintain manufacturing operations at the production site in Gendorf and not to close its Dyneon subsidiary.

"We call on 3M to sell Dyneon GmbH with licenses and patents," said the union, adding that “there are interested parties for a takeover.”

Some 700 employees will be directly affected by the plant closure and “the entire chemical park could falter as a result,” said IGBCE.

Dyneon produces fluoropolymers used in a range of vital industrial applications, including batteries, energy-production and microchips.

According to the union, Dyneon is responsible for 30% of European production volume and is the region's only manufacturer for some product classes.

"Ending production in Gendorf would deprive the German and European industry of one of their most important sources of raw materials," said the IGBCE resolution.

German politicians and 3M, it said, “must take responsibility for the people in the Bavarian chemical triangle and for technological sovereignty in Germany and Europe.”

*According to its website, Dyneon produces 180 kilotonnes per annum of fluorine-based polymers, including fluoroelastomers, PTFE and fluoroplastics as well as polymer additives.