The Schunk Group has used the crises of recent years to position itself for the future. Investments will continue at a very high level in 2023. In Heuchelheim alone, the technology company has invested a quarter of a billion euros over the past ten years.
"We have not only weathered the challenges and crises of recent years well. We have also used them to better position ourselves for the future," says Dr. Arno Roth, CEO of the Schunk Group. In 2023, the technology company headquartered in Heuchelheim wants to finally leave the crisis in the global economy caused by Corona and the Ukraine war, among other things, behind it and is looking to the future with confidence thanks to full order books.
This upswing is flanked by high investments worldwide: The Schunk Group will invest 125 million euros in its locations around the globe this year.
Heuchelheim headquarters benefits in particular
The Heuchelheim site, where the company is headquartered, will benefit in particular. In 2023 alone, 54 million euros will be invested here, among other things for the completion of a state-of-the-art hall including production technology for carbon products such as plain bearings or seals. Including the investments for 2023, Schunk has invested a quarter of a billion euros at the Heuchelheim site in the last ten years alone. The most important individual investments in recent years include a highly automated new production facility for sintered metal products, new logistics, new production processes for the manufacture of metal-containing carbon brushes, a clean room for the manufacture of production equipment for microelectronics or the innovation center for new materials and technologies - such as bipolar plates for the use of hydrogen. Another focus is on investments for more sustainability, such as the reconstruction of the company parking lot with the installation of a photovoltaic system including charging columns.
"Schunk has had its headquarters in Heuchelheim for over 100 years. As the largest and oldest location and headquarters of the company, Heuchelheim has a special significance for us. That is why we will continue to develop our "Windhof" in the future with sustainable and continuous investments and drive forward the retreading of the site," emphasizes Dr. Roth.
Central Hesse is and remains the heart of Schunk
But that's not all: In addition to Heuchelheim, the technology company is investing a lot of money in the other locations in Central Hesse. Since 2016, Schunk has invested around 75 million euros in the largest site of its subsidiary Weiss Technik in Reiskirchen-Lindenstruth, where a new logistics center will start operations this year. And around 40 million has gone into the Wettenberg site since 2016, including a new production facility for its subsidiary Schunk Sonosystems. "Central Hesse is and will remain the heart of Schunk," said Dr. Roth. "About half of our employees worldwide work in the region."