Astron is specialised in metal construction, such as multi-level car parks. Last February, it inaugurated the first solar car park in Esch-sur-Alzette. (Photo: Astron)

Astron is specialised in metal construction, such as multi-level car parks. Last February, it inaugurated the first solar car park in Esch-sur-Alzette. (Photo: Astron)

French group Briand is set to take over Astron, which has a production site in Diekirch, a move that has caused concern within trade unions.

Briand, a major player in metal construction, is in the process of finalising the acquisition of Astron, a specialist in the construction of warehouses and metal car parks.

Astron has been present in Diekirch for many years and employs between 170 and 200 people in the north of the country. The company also has two other production sites in the Czech Republic and Russia. The completion of the takeover of Astron by Briand is currently awaiting the approval of the Russian Competition Authority.

"It may take three to four months before we get a positive response from the Russian Competition Authority," said Michaël Gouin, administrative and financial director of the Briand group. Without this agreement, the French group does not yet wish to communicate on its future strategy.

"We are a family group rooted in the industrial sector, and our approach is long-term. We are not an investment fund with a short-term vision. While waiting for the finalisation of this acquisition and the green light from the competition authorities in certain countries, including Russia, I can only stress that Astron and Briand are geographically complementary, and that we have the will to continue the activity in the countries where Astron is present", added Gouin.

Unions are concerned

But the OGBL and LCGB labour unions have raised several concerns about the future of the Diekirch site. First, the takeover and transitional period jeopardise the renewal of the collective work agreement. "We were in the process of negotiating its renewal and now management is asking us to wait for the arrival of the future buyer,” said Alain Rolling of the OGBL.

Manon Wilhelm of the LCGB spoke of a shared concern, particularly about the future activity of the site and therefore the jobs. "The French group Briand has found an interest in Astron's activities. This can be a good thing as the company seems to be a family group. But we have fears, particularly about a future drop in production and therefore the eventual disappearance of the workshops and jobs, in addition to the know-how," she said.

The two unions have sent a joint letter to the Briand group in order to be able to talk to the management of the French group and to have guarantees about the future, particularly in terms of employment.

Another subject of concern: the Nordstad project. The Astron factory in Diekirch is located on land belonging to the state, which has a project to re-urbanise several districts north of Luxembourg City by 2030. This reinforces union concern about the future of the Astron production site.

Astron has a turnover of €95m and produces 70 custom-made buildings per week on its three sites. A total of 650 people are employed. For example, Astron is behind the construction of the Biohealth solar car park located in Esch-sur-Alzette, next to business incubator House of Biohealth. Inaugurated last February, this multi-level car park with 772 solar panels installed on its roof was the first of its kind to be built and put into service in Luxembourg.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.