• Groundbreaking ceremony for a new technology center
• Engineering expertise to be consolidated
• Röchling Automotive Group grows internationally

Worms, Germany, May 10, 2016 ... At a groundbreaking ceremony today, Röchling Automotive laid the foundation stone for the new Technical Center Worms. By spring 2017, a technology center will exist on the Company premises on Floßhafenstraße. It will bring together approximately 230 employees, who are working at the Worms location on new developments and in project management. Röchling Automotive is investing EUR 9 million in this “think tank.”

The key reasons for the investment are the Group’s worldwide growth, requirements for production space and logistics space, and the lack of office capacity at the location. From Worms, Röchling Automotive manages seven plants in Germany, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. In addition, at the Technical Center Worms, which will serve as an important R&D location, product innovations and serial projects will be developed for all Röchling Automotive’s sites worldwide – from Europe to Asia and North and South America.

Along with the management of Röchling Automotive, participants in the groundbreaking ceremony included the Mayor of Worms Michael Kissel, economic development representatives, neighbors, as well as representatives of architectural firms and the general contractor. “With the new technology center, we are creating ideal conditions to impress our customers with innovative solutions,” said Mirco Brusco, General Manager Engineering of Röchling Automotive. He noted that the main challenge facing automotive manufacturers is to reduce weight, fuel consumption, emissions, and costs. “We are developing integrated systems here,
such as our innovative controlled shutter systems, underbody systems, and solutions for thermoacoustic engine encapsulation, which make a significant contribution to achieving these goals,” said Brusco.

Worms Mayor Kissel underscored the Company’s key long-term significance as one of the town’s largest employers. At the Worms location, Röchling Automotive employs approximately 650 workers, including 320 in production. “I am pleased that Röchling is economically successful and intends to continue to grow here,” said Kissel. Last but not least, with this new building, the Company is demonstrating its faith in the Worms location and the town. In addition, Kissel welcomed the fact that Röchling Automotive is relying on companies in the region for the project’s implementation.

Two old administrative buildings were torn down to make room for the 4,500-square-meter, three-floor building. With the new office design, which is based on an open-room layout, collaboration among employees as well as Corporate Communication should be further optimized. “With a modern work environment, we want to appeal to the specialists and engineers of today and tomorrow,” said Evelyn Thome, Commercial Manager of Röchling Automotive Germany SE & Co. KG. She indicated that there were plans to hire 15 to 20 new engineers in 2017.

In the “think tank,” employees will be brought together from the areas of innovation/engineering, business development, project management, quality planning, process technology, industrial engineering, sales, and purchasing, who previously worked in separate locations in the plant. “This will also make it possible to create additional space for manufacturing and logistics,” said Commercial Manager Thome.