Groundbreaking ceremony: SCHLEGEL launches largest construction project in company history

Electrical engineering company invests in growth and innovation at its Dürmentingen site

Electrical engineering company SCHLEGEL has officially marked the start of construction on a new building at its headquarters in Dürmentingen with a groundbreaking ceremony. “The new building will strengthen our competitiveness and provide the infrastructure we need for further innovation,” said Managing Director Christoph Schlegel.

At the ceremony, Schlegel welcomed numerous guests of honour, including Members of the German Bundestag Wolfgang Dahler (CDU) and Martin Gerster (SPD), Member of the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament Berat Gürbüz (Greens), District Administrator Mario Glaser, Mayor Dietmar Holstein and Petra Engstler-Karrasch, Chief Executive Officer of the Biberach Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

In his speech, Christoph Schlegel described the new building as a clear commitment to the Dürmentingen site and to Germany as a business location. “We are investing in our site with full conviction,” he emphasised.

Built on more than 80 years of company history

The Managing Director also looked back on the family-owned company’s more than 80-year history. “Today, my thanks go to the generation that founded the company and to the generations that followed. They guided SCHLEGEL through both successful and challenging times, took responsibility and paved the way on which we are now able to build.”

Company founder Georg Schlegel laid the foundations for today’s product portfolio with terminal blocks and control devices. Under Eberhard Schlegel, the company expanded internationally and placed greater emphasis on design. The current generation is focusing in particular on digitalisation, connectivity, automation and electronics.

Largest construction project in the company’s history

SCHLEGEL is investing millions of euros in the new building, making it the largest construction project in the company’s history. The new building mirrors the extension completed in 2015 on the opposite side of the original headquarters, creating a harmonious overall appearance.

Around 2,350 cubic metres of concrete and 550 tonnes of steel will be required for the main structure, explained architect Axel Munz of JKLM. The expansion will increase the company’s usable floor space by almost 50 percent to 8,500 square metres. The additional space will accommodate production, logistics and office areas, as well as a new reception area.

Space for growth and automation

“With the new building, we are creating the space we need to meet growing demand for our control and operating components – particularly for modern connected interfaces such as RFID, IO-Link and EtherCAT,” explained Christoph Schlegel. At the same time, the expansion will provide the necessary conditions for further automation of production. This is essential to safeguarding the long-term competitiveness of the Dürmentingen site.

The strength of the region: a strong SME sector

In their addresses, the guests highlighted the strengths of the region’s business community: a strong SME sector, family-owned companies and a high level of innovation. District Administrator Mario Glaser described SCHLEGEL as a hidden champion: successful worldwide, highly innovative and firmly rooted in the region. He also said that the new building sent a positive signal in challenging times and called for greater confidence in Germany as a business location. Germany has important advantages as a location, he noted, including reliability and legal certainty.

Petra Engstler-Karrasch, Chief Executive Officer of the Biberach Chamber of Industry and Commerce, likewise called for greater confidence in the region’s economic strength. The IHK region is one of the most dynamic regions in Germany, she said, while the district of Ulm-Biberach is a particularly strong economic centre. Germany may sometimes be slow, she added, but it is reliable.

Commitment to the local community

Mayor Dietmar Holstein described SCHLEGEL as an important member of the municipality’s business community. The company is not only economically important, he said, but also actively involved in the local community. “We, too, as a municipality can be proud to have a company like this here,” Holstein said.

A hands-on mentality

Christoph Fritschle, representing the construction company carrying out the project, praised SCHLEGEL’s strong hands-on mentality. He thanked the company for its trust and for the good cooperation, which had already proved successful during the previous extension project in 2015.

Senior Managing Director Eberhard Schlegel recalled that the Schlegel name has its roots in mining. Fittingly, he quoted the traditional German miners’ greeting “Glück auf” – wishing everyone good fortune and a safe return from the mine.

To conclude the ceremony, the guests, members of the management team and project partners put on their hard hats and took part in the symbolic groundbreaking. Construction can now begin.

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