Tuttlingen: Joined by an assembly of distinguished guests from the worlds of politics and business, plus employees and friends of the company, Tuttlingen-based BINDER GmbH hosted an official ceremony on Friday, September 29 to celebrate the opening of its new BINDER COMPETENCE FACTORY. The state-of-the-art production hall was constructed in record time – in fact, it was completed in less than twelve months. Now, over an area spanning approximately 8,300 m2, BINDER boasts a factory that is kitted out with cutting-edge production technology whose entire infrastructure has been fine-tuned right down to the tiniest detail – and designed with maximum efficiency in mind. Through this large-scale expansion at the site of its headquarters in Tuttlingen, the company – the world’s largest specialist in simulation chambers – is not only setting itself on a course for yet more growth, but is also demonstrating its firm commitment to the region. Company CEO Peter Michael Binder extended his welcoming address to the guests invited to the ceremony, who included numerous key players from the realms of politics and business. Among them were S.E. Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Guido Wolf, Minister of Justice and European Affairs for the German state of Baden-Württemberg; Tuttlingen District Administrator Stefan Bär; Michael Beck, Lord Mayor of Tuttlingen; and Prof. Klaus Mangold, the Russian Federation’s Honorary Consul for Baden-Württemberg.

“This is the dawning of a new future for us, and that is the theme of today’s celebration marking the completion of the BINDER COMPETENCE FACTORY. It also represents what we have achieved in concluding other landmark projects, such as the launch of SAP as our company software, our in-depth product strategy for 2025, and the structures we have built in order to secure external growth. With this new factory building, we have laid the foundations for establishing automated processes and making a gradual move toward Industry 4.0 over the next few years.” Peter M. Binder also stressed that staying the course in global trade over the long term would rely on fully automated production that is able to create small-scale and single-figure quantities. S.E. Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, then gave a keynote address about the opportunities that could be seized from collaboration between EU countries – Germany and Hungary in particular. While emphasizing his awareness that Hungary’s position within Europe and in relation to Germany was still facing some difficulties, he said that “rather than rushing to judgment, it is important that we seek dialog, achieve mutual respect, and discuss one another’s points of view – even if countries take up different positions on subjects”. He then joined Guido Wolf, Minister of Justice and European Affairs for the German state of Baden-Württemberg; Prof. Brun-Hagen Hennerkes, Chairperson of the Executive Board of the Foundation for Family Businesses in Germany and Europe; and Peter M. Binder for a panel discussion on globalization and free trade in an era of growing protectionism. Renowned German business journalist Roland Tichy was there to chair the discussion. The panel agreed that global trade and a global economy form the pillars for an environment that supports international competition. “We export at a rate of around 80 percent, to 135 countries, so free global trade is essential to the survival of our business”, said Peter M. Binder. There was yet more agreement on the view that the foreign trade policy adopted by US President Trump has caused Europe to start closing ranks and refocusing on its own strengths.

Just before 7 p.m., it was time for the opening celebration’s festivities to begin. Spectacularly lit for the event, the new factory building exuded a magnificent atmosphere in which guests and company employees took their places at long, banquet-style tables. To kick things off, Peter M. Binder thanked his staff through words that were filled with emotion: “Without you, it would not have been possible for us to gather this evening and celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art factory facility – a real milestone in our route toward BINDER’s future. BINDER’s success is all down to our amazing employees. Not only do they have years of expertise under their belts, but their outstanding commitment and innovation are among the driving forces that will keep our company developing and staying fit for the future over the long term.” Volker Kauder, the parliamentary group leader of the CDU/CSU faction in the German Bundestag, also gave an opening address to those assembled: “What we are seeing here is something outstanding that has been achieved by the collective effort of a company and its employees. Businesses like this are what keep our state moving forward. The future is here in Tuttlingen.”

District Administrator Stefan Bär was amazed by the new production facility, as he expressed: “This hall shows BINDER at its very best. It represents continuity, but also change – because it has the ability to adapt continually to its circumstances.” Lord Mayor Michael Beck also spoke, praising the company’s dependability. Peter M. Binder said that the company had “kept its promise, creating around 400 jobs in total – with just under 350 of those based in Tuttlingen alone.” The large-scale construction project, he said, would also secure several more jobs within the region over the long term. Germany’s Minister for the Economy, Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, then took the floor, thanking BINDER for the fact that its latest investment had made a significant contribution to securing Baden-Württemberg’s future as a hub for business: “The opening of this new COMPETENCE FACTORY is a positive sign of things to come for business, Tuttlingen, and the state as a whole. BINDER is among those family-owned, medium-sized enterprises that serve as models for the business world. These companies are highly specialized, demonstrating stronger growth and managing their operations more efficiently than listed companies. What’s more, they recruit new staff members at a higher-than-average rate and reinvest much more of their profits back into their own businesses.” At BINDER, she added, a “long-term, cross-generational perspective” is the driving force in how the company operates. Businesses like BINDER, she said, put Baden-Württemberg on the map as a hub for innovation and create the conditions needed for prosperity and employment. An emotion-packed film with a time-lapsed shot of the COMPETENCE FACTORY being built was then shown, marking the official opening of the site. Father George, a priest who was also in attendance, blessed the building with a prayer. The guests were then invited to embark on a culinary journey around the world. A spectacular show was staged, raising goosebumps and kicking off the informal part of the evening’s events. Celebrations continued until past midnight, with a good time had by all.