Plasman to close Ghent plant, affecting over 300 jobs

Canadian bumper maker Plasman is permanently closing its plant in the port of Ghent, which produces plastic parts and bumper systems for Volvo Cars and BMW/Mini; the notice of intent for collective redundancies was announced at an extraordinary works-council meeting on 24 September 2026. More than 300 jobs are lost in total: a first phase announced back in June affects 95 permanent employees and about 60 temporary/agency workers (loss of the Volvo contract), while the remaining 210 employees lose their jobs after the BMW orders fell away; the dismissals will take place between late December 2026 and late June 2027 (VRT NWS, 24 Sep 2026).