Mortsel, Belgium – Agfa is considering the potential redevelopment of its site in Mortsel, Belgium. The company aims to find a sustainable new use for part of the site, tailored to the needs of the local community.

The plan is in line with Agfa's strategic transformation. The company is increasingly shifting its focus to growth activities such as IT solutions for healthcare, membranes for green hydrogen production, and printing systems for industrial and large-format applications. At the same time, volumes of traditional film-based products such as medical X-ray film are declining. In addition, the Offset Solutions division was sold in 2023. These developments imply that Agfa needs less space and fewer buildings in Mortsel. The adjustment of the infrastructure is a logical step in optimizing the operations and the future-oriented development of the company.

Agfa emphasizes that it will remain active in Mortsel. The head office, various R&D and production departments, and a newly opened factory for hydrogen production membranes will remain on the site. The intended repurposing therefore goes hand in hand with Agfa's continued presence as an employer, manufacturer, and product developer in Mortsel.

Agfa is in close consultation with the City of Mortsel, the City of Antwerp, and other relevant authorities to draw up and implement a sustainable redevelopment plan for the relevant part of the site. As a first step, Agfa will submit a request to the Flemish government to start negotiations with a view to concluding a Brownfield Covenant. Such a covenant creates a formal framework in which all parties involved can work together on a supported and future-oriented redevelopment. More information about the Brownfield Policy is available on the website of the Flemish government's Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Pascal Juéry, CEO of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, says: “We want to work towards a win-win situation for our company and for the neighborhood where we are located. On the one hand, we want to optimize our footprint with this project. On the other hand, the intention is to repurpose the vacated sites in a way that creates economic, ecological, and social added value for local residents and the wider community. We are investigating this step by step, in full transparency and in consultation with all stakeholders."