Hettich is extending its production space for drawer runners at its Kirchlengern headquarters. The turf was cut for the company group’s largest production facility worldwide on 6 April 2016. Expanding and optimising production is part of the Hettich Group’s growth strategy and commitment to Germany as a manufacturing base. It is investing over € 40 million.

Under the “Building Venice style” banner, Dr. Andreas Hettich placed the first of 1,300 steel piles at the groundbreaking ceremony on the 30,000 or so square metre site in Kirchlengern. Owing to difficult subsoil conditions, the load absorbing supporting structure is being developed on around 13 metre long foundation piles driven into the ground. An interlinked building concept made up of three structures is planned for completion by April 2017. This comprises the main building, the incoming and outgoing goods departments as well as the components warehouse as the central logistics unit. On a floorage of some 24,544 sq.m. and enclosing a space of about 158,000 cbm, new production areas are being constructed for drawer runners and a state of the art toolmaking operation.

Two levels will produce extremely effective and innovative production processes and also optimise available space. The ground floor will accommodate the production facility in the form of a steel reinforced concrete structure, the upper production level will be a largely self supporting, highly insulated timber frame construction with external pylon structure. The reduced residual supply of heat needed will be provided through a local heat supply line from Hettich’s existing system.

In terms of production logistics, energy efficiency and building typology, the Hettich Group is making a contribution to responsible industrial construction with this building project too. As part of project planning, the primary energy requirement was calculated in line with the specifications of Germany’s 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) and falls 46 percent below them.

“The new production facility and outdoor areas will give our staff a modern and attractive work environment. For our highly automated production processes we need the very best skilled staff who we preferably train ourselves”, Dr. Andreas Hettich says.