GERMANY – In a statement released on Friday, ebm-papst announced that it is to expand its Automobile and Drive Engineering business division via a €15 million investment at its St. Georgen / Haagenmoos location. The company revealed that it also plans to increase its production capacity and create additional space for logistics and administration in a second expansion phase.

Rainer Hundsdörfer, the chairman of the board of directors for the ebm-papst Group, commented on the decision, stressing that “Expanding our Black Forest-based subsidiary is a further commitment to Germany as a high-tech manufacturing location. In the decision-making process, we took into account the positive development of the location in the past few years and the promising future of the automotive and drive engineering industry.”

The construction phase of the extension building, which encompasses 10,500 square metres, is due to begin in spring 2016, with the official opening of the first construction phase planned for March 2016. This initial construction phase began nine months ago when the company commenced construction of a new €5 million electronics production facility.

Dirk Schallock, the managing director of ebm-papst at St. Georgen, welcomed the investment, stating “I’m pleased that the outstanding and consistent hard work of the entire workforce has made it possible for us to expand our location. This investment will help us create the necessary capacity to reach our growth targets.”

As is consistent with the company’s commitment to sustainability, the new building will feature innovative energy storage and diverse efficiency solutions. The total cost of the expansion is expected to rise to €90 million in the company’s drive to expand its capacity in research and development, production, logistics and administration in Germany.