This strategic investment marks the next phase of our company’s growth, driven by the expanding demand for automation solutions, including AMR/AGV’s and tugger trains, both in Germany and globally. The new premises will be situated south of Hamburg just 20 km away from our current location, allowing for a smooth transition.
The Innovation Park has emerged as a hub for high-value jobs and innovative enterprises since its start in 2019 (tip-nordheide.eu). With a current workforce of approximately 250 employees, the park has set an ambitious target to increase this number to 900 within the next few years. Being a part of this thriving ecosystem aligns perfectly with our long-term vision and strategy.
Eero Heinonen, the Executive Vice-President of K.Hartwall, who has been leading the operations from Germany for the past 18 months, emphasizes the advantages of the Innovation Park. “The green field nature of the park allows us to design the building layout according to our specific requirements. By having both the offices and plant under the same roof, we can achieve greater operational efficiency and empower us to continue delivering cutting-edge automation solutions to our clients worldwide,” he explains.
The new infrastructure will bring numerous benefits to K.Hartwall. It will provide access to cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, foster collaboration with universities and facilitate improved connectivity with suppliers. Additionally, the location offers convenient access to transportation, including train and bus routes from Hamburg, just 50 minutes away. This enhanced accessibility is expected to help us attract new talents who can contribute to our ongoing success.
Jerker Hartwall, the CEO of K.Hartwall, highlights the need for larger facilities, stating, “Our current premises in Heidenau were becoming cramped, especially when it came to conducting test runs of our LiftLiner® tugger trains and our star mobile robot, the A-MATE®, before delivering them to our customers.” The new plot in Buchholz spans an impressive 12,500 m2, with approximately 10,000 m2 building construction rights. We anticipate starting construction next year, with completion expected in 2025. We are confident that this expansion will position us for sustained growth and reinforce our position as a leader in the industry.”
We look forward to sharing more updates as we progress with the construction and bring the new facilities in Buchholz to life. Stay tuned for the next chapter of this exciting journey!
