Ziehl-Abegg Technology Center Kuenzelsau
Symbolic groundbreaking
The symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the future Ziehl-Abegg AG Technology Center took place on 2 May 2007. Chairman of the Board Peter Fenkl inaugurated the celebration, emphasizing the innovative strength and the significance of the German location for the company. Chief Technology Officer Norbert Schuster then led an imaginary tour of the building. Such a major project is, of course, not only interesting for the press: representatives from politics and society were also present at the ground breaking ceremony. For instance, the CDU Member of German Parliament Christian von Stetten began the welcome speeches. Both he and the County Commissioner Jahn and Mayor Lenz emphasised their joy over the decision in favor of this location for the Technology Center; after all, Ziehl-Abegg AG is one of the main employers in the region.
Those who want to reach the top trust Ziehl-Abegg. Wherever buildings or plants are air-conditioned, wherever an elevator moves, usually state-of-the-art technology from Ziehl-Abegg is working in the background. For nearly one-hundred years, the company history of the medium-sized family enterprise in the north of Baden-Wurttemberg has been proving a constant upward trend: With 262 million Euros, the Ziehl-Abegg Group managed to attain a new record turnover in 2006. The secret of success and the constant upward trend lies in increasing globalization: the company has generated two thirds of its sales abroad. Ziehl-Abegg is convinced: to survive in the global competition it needs to be the technology leader. So the motto for the future continues to be progressive technology at reasonable prices. This will continue to be facilitated by, for example, the construction of a modern Technology Center in the Kuenzelsau location.
„The people in our company are the core and driving force of our success“ reads one of the Ziehl-Abegg corporate mission-statement guiding principles. Ziehl-Abegg AG employs more than 2200 employees worldwide, over 1500 of them in the Künzelsau/Hohenlohe region. Ziehl-Abegg with its staff is one of the largest employers in the Hohenlohe region in northern Baden-Württemberg. This was one of the main decisive factors in favor of erecting the future Technology Center in Germany in the Künzelsau location.
Spread over an area of over 5000 square meters, a 97 meter long, 45 meter wide and 10 meter high development center will arise in which more than 100 engineers and technicians will work together under one roof. „This will surely contribute to improving the cityscape“, explains Chairman of the Board Peter Fenkl who values the three-part complex at „over 10 million Euros“. The future Technology Center will be divided into three wings: the first section will accommodate the central ventilation and noise test-bench for fans; the motor test-bench and experimental area will be located in the middle section. The employees, who will work in immediate proximity to the test-benches, are accommodated in the third section which is embellished by a glass facade. It is really the combined size of the two ventilation and noise test-benches that take on overwhelming proportions: The 1250 ton concrete structure is supported by springs to reduce vibrations and external noises during the sensitive noise measurements carried out on the Ziehl-Abegg fans. Airflows of up to 100,000 cubic meters of air per hour and pressures of over 3000 Pascal will be generated in a 325 ton measuring path, located in the upper floor of the Technology Center. The three wings surround a park; the atrium: „New ideas can mature during sunny breaks in the atrium with its green spaces and seating area“ is how Chief Technology Officer Norbert Schuster imagines how this park could be put to use. Currently, only two ‘under-construction signs’ attest to the future Technology Center, but at Ziehl-Abegg we are confident that the new construction can be occupied in spring 2008.
Despite its cosmopolitan outlook and power of expansion, Ziehl-Abegg has always stood by its roots in the Hohenlohe region along with Hohenlohe’s people and infrastructure and has remained well aware of its origins. “Germany and the Hohenlohe region are the heart of our company and will continue to be the supporting pillars for Ziehl-Abegg in the future”, the Board of Directors clearly avows. The new Technology Center clearly underscores this statement.
In the year 2010, the innovative company will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
