Siemens is investing 30 million euros to expand its switchgear plant in Frankfurt-Fechenheim. A smart, fully automated high-speed warehouse and a 1,200 square-meter extension to an existing hall are being built on the 160,000 square-meter site.
For years, the plant has been experiencing steady growth in incoming orders and is working at its capacity limit. The additional production area will support a third assembly line for switchgear, boosting the site and creating new jobs in the region.
Sustainability is an essential consideration: The plant is expanding its production of environmentally friendly medium-voltage switchgear, and the two new buildings will have roofs with photovoltaic systems.
Power switching technology
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Martin Betzmann, Site Manager of the Frankfurt-Fechenheim switchgear plant, Stephanie Wüst, member of the city council and Head of Economic Affairs of the city of Frankfurt am Main, Stephan May, CEO of Electrification & Automation at Siemens AG, and Steffen Rümmler, Head of the German Business at Siemens Real Estate, symbolically opened the construction site.
The Frankfurt-Fechenheim switchgear plant is an international center of competence
The Frankfurt-Fechenheim switchgear plant is an international center of competence for gas-insulated switchgear and has an almost 40-year history.
“We are the only company in the world that develops load and power switching technology, tests it in an accredited test laboratory, and produces it all in one location,” said Martin Betzmann, adding “This is something we’re very proud of. Our investment will secure the sustainable future of our production facility and the employability of our staff.”
Receiving personalized consultation
Customers from all over the world visit the Siemens site in Frankfurt am Main. The Customer Center, which underwent extensive modernization in 2022, offers them the opportunity to see the switchgear in person and receive personalized consultation.
“The expansion of Siemens' capacity in Fechenheim is an important contribution to the transformation and sustainability of Frankfurt am Main as an industrial location. The forward-looking investment in development and manufacturing will create attractive jobs and help develop the eastern part of the city as a major industrial zone,” said Stephanie Wüst, Head of Economic Affairs of the city of Frankfurt am Main.
Stephanie Wüst adds, “Siemens' clear commitment to Fechenheim strengthens the attractiveness of this business location – one of the city’s goals. That’s why I’m so excited about this project. It sends an important message and proves that we’re on the right track.”
Medium-voltage switchgear
The warehouse will supply pre-picked material to production lines on a just-in-time basis
Construction of the smart, fully automated high-speed warehouse is scheduled for completion by spring 2024. The warehouse will supply pre-picked material to production lines on a just-in-time basis, making production even more efficient.
In addition, a new hall is being built to increase capacity for the production of environmentally friendly medium-voltage switchgear. The Frankfurt-Fechenheim plant has been manufacturing this type of gas-insulated switchgear since 2018.
The switchgear uses the climate-neutral Clean Air insulation medium, which consists exclusively of natural components of the ambient air. This demonstrates Siemens’ commitment to moving away from sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and producing environmentally friendly medium-voltage systems. The site itself will also be made sustainable: The two new buildings will have green roofs and photovoltaic systems.
Comprehensive training program
Around 1,600 Siemens employees work in Frankfurt-Fechenheim, drawing on the expertise built throughout the site's decades-long history. Because of the increased digitalization and automation of the plant, the requirements for job profiles are also changing.
In addition to investing more than 30 million euros in expanding the plant’s capacity, Siemens is also creating a comprehensive training program to prepare its employees for new or changing tasks. An additional 200 employees are expected to be hired by 2025. The construction project in Frankfurt-Fechenheim is being implemented under the leadership of Siemens Real Estate (SRE), the real estate arm of Siemens, together with Runkel Hochbau GmbH.