Hansgrohe Expands Capacities for Faucets and Invests in a New Manufacturing Plant in Serbia
Valjevo/Schiltach, 15 October 2021. Hansgrohe SE has invested in a new manufacturing plant in Serbia to expand its capacities for faucets. The company thereby continues to follow its path of growth. At a cost of up to 85 million Euros, the faucet and shower manufacturer is building a manufacturing facility in the city of Valjevo, where faucets will be manufactured starting in late 2023. "The investment strengthens our manufacturing network in Europe," says Hans Juergen Kalmbach, Chairman of the Executive Board, Hansgrohe SE. “It is part of our global manufacturing strategy to keep supply chains and transport routes short and safe." On October 15, 2021, the agreement to support the new plant in Valjevo was signed in the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Lazar Gojković, Mayor of Valjevo, Hans Juergen Kalmbach, CEO Hansgrohe SE, and Frank Semling, Member of the Executive Board of Hansgrohe SE.
Hansgrohe relies on a high level of in-house manufacturing expertise for its products. "With our employees at all of our worldwide locations, we fulfill our high-quality promise, and thus, we ensure customer satisfaction," says Kalmbach. "The planned manufacturing facility in Serbia will further strengthen our competencies in the faucet sector. Now we are creating additional capacity, especially for the European market, which will allow us to be even closer to our customers. And we are focusing on further growth." In the future, Valjevo will primarily manufacture hansgrohe branded products. The existing faucet plant in Schiltach will then focus entirely on the manufacturing of products by the Hansgrohe Group’s design brand, AXOR. "With this investment, we are aligning Hansgrohe for the future and strengthening all national and international sites." Currently, Hansgrohe produces faucets in Schiltach and Shanghai (China). The manufacturing facility in Offenburg particularly specializes in plastic products such as showerheads, surface technology and the assembly of faucets for bathrooms and kitchens. It also produces cartridges and thermostats. The company has further manufacturing facilities in Willstaett and Bad Bentheim (Germany), Wasselonne (France) and Atlanta (USA).
Best Overall Package
In the municipality of Valjevo, about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital Belgrade, the manufacturing facility is being built on a 130,000 square meter site. In the final expansion stage, 1,000 jobs are to be created here. Commissioning is planned for late 2023. "We looked at sites around the world," explains Frank Semling, Hansgrohe's Chief Production Officer. "Valjevo offers us the best overall package. This includes both the availability of skilled workers and suppliers. In addition, Serbia has an association agreement with the European Union, which means that internationally high standards apply to investments such as ours. At the same time, the infrastructure is convincing. From the new location, we can quickly serve the increasing demand for our products in Europe."
The new production facility is planned as one of the most modern manufacturing sites in Europe. "Of course, our current production sites in the Black Forest will remain a strong pillar for Hansgrohe in the future," Semling said. A double-digit million-Euro amount has been invested in the Schiltach West site alone over the past two years. "Over the next 12 months, we will continue to convert this, in order to continue manufacturing our high-quality faucets," Semling said. In the future, only AXOR faucets will be manufactured here. The Offenburg plant with its approximately 1,000 employees remains the competence center for plastic products, surface technology and the assembly of faucets for bathrooms and kitchens. In 2018, 30 million Euros were invested here in a new plastics electroplating plant. A total of 4,700 people work for Hansgrohe worldwide (as of Dec. 31, 2020), including more than 2,500 at the Schiltach and Offenburg/Willstaett sites. The company generated sales of 1.074 billion Euros in 2020. "With our investments, we are strengthening our manufacturing network and proximity to the customer," said Kalmbach.
About the Hansgrohe Group – Setting the Beat of Water. Since 1901.
With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, design and quality within the bath and kitchen industry. Founded in 1901 in the Black Forest, the company gives water form and function with its faucets, showerheads and shower systems. The 120-year history of the company is marked by innovations, such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen faucet, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower.The company holds more than 15,000 active property rights. The Hansgrohe Group stands for long-lasting quality products and for responsibility towards people and the environment. Sustainable production of resource-conserving products is central to the company’s business activities around the globe. With 32 subsidiaries and 22 sales offices supplying products in more than 146 countries, the globally active company in the sanitary industry is a reliable partner to its customers in all regions of the world. The Hansgrohe Group, its brands and products have won numerous awards, including more than 600 design prizes since 1974. The products of the Hansgrohe Group are found worldwide: on renowned cruise ships, in luxurious 5-star and boutique hotels, in international metropolitan cities, in extraordinary spas, exclusive bathrooms of lodges and luxury villas, public facilities, as well as in countless private homes. The Group’s high quality standards are ensured by five wholly-owned production facilities: two in Germany, one each in France, the United States and China. In 2020, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.074 billion. It employs more than 4,700 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany.
Hansgrohe relies on a high level of in-house manufacturing expertise for its products. "With our employees at all of our worldwide locations, we fulfill our high-quality promise, and thus, we ensure customer satisfaction," says Kalmbach. "The planned manufacturing facility in Serbia will further strengthen our competencies in the faucet sector. Now we are creating additional capacity, especially for the European market, which will allow us to be even closer to our customers. And we are focusing on further growth." In the future, Valjevo will primarily manufacture hansgrohe branded products. The existing faucet plant in Schiltach will then focus entirely on the manufacturing of products by the Hansgrohe Group’s design brand, AXOR. "With this investment, we are aligning Hansgrohe for the future and strengthening all national and international sites." Currently, Hansgrohe produces faucets in Schiltach and Shanghai (China). The manufacturing facility in Offenburg particularly specializes in plastic products such as showerheads, surface technology and the assembly of faucets for bathrooms and kitchens. It also produces cartridges and thermostats. The company has further manufacturing facilities in Willstaett and Bad Bentheim (Germany), Wasselonne (France) and Atlanta (USA).
Best Overall Package
In the municipality of Valjevo, about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital Belgrade, the manufacturing facility is being built on a 130,000 square meter site. In the final expansion stage, 1,000 jobs are to be created here. Commissioning is planned for late 2023. "We looked at sites around the world," explains Frank Semling, Hansgrohe's Chief Production Officer. "Valjevo offers us the best overall package. This includes both the availability of skilled workers and suppliers. In addition, Serbia has an association agreement with the European Union, which means that internationally high standards apply to investments such as ours. At the same time, the infrastructure is convincing. From the new location, we can quickly serve the increasing demand for our products in Europe."
The new production facility is planned as one of the most modern manufacturing sites in Europe. "Of course, our current production sites in the Black Forest will remain a strong pillar for Hansgrohe in the future," Semling said. A double-digit million-Euro amount has been invested in the Schiltach West site alone over the past two years. "Over the next 12 months, we will continue to convert this, in order to continue manufacturing our high-quality faucets," Semling said. In the future, only AXOR faucets will be manufactured here. The Offenburg plant with its approximately 1,000 employees remains the competence center for plastic products, surface technology and the assembly of faucets for bathrooms and kitchens. In 2018, 30 million Euros were invested here in a new plastics electroplating plant. A total of 4,700 people work for Hansgrohe worldwide (as of Dec. 31, 2020), including more than 2,500 at the Schiltach and Offenburg/Willstaett sites. The company generated sales of 1.074 billion Euros in 2020. "With our investments, we are strengthening our manufacturing network and proximity to the customer," said Kalmbach.
About the Hansgrohe Group – Setting the Beat of Water. Since 1901.
With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, design and quality within the bath and kitchen industry. Founded in 1901 in the Black Forest, the company gives water form and function with its faucets, showerheads and shower systems. The 120-year history of the company is marked by innovations, such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen faucet, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower.The company holds more than 15,000 active property rights. The Hansgrohe Group stands for long-lasting quality products and for responsibility towards people and the environment. Sustainable production of resource-conserving products is central to the company’s business activities around the globe. With 32 subsidiaries and 22 sales offices supplying products in more than 146 countries, the globally active company in the sanitary industry is a reliable partner to its customers in all regions of the world. The Hansgrohe Group, its brands and products have won numerous awards, including more than 600 design prizes since 1974. The products of the Hansgrohe Group are found worldwide: on renowned cruise ships, in luxurious 5-star and boutique hotels, in international metropolitan cities, in extraordinary spas, exclusive bathrooms of lodges and luxury villas, public facilities, as well as in countless private homes. The Group’s high quality standards are ensured by five wholly-owned production facilities: two in Germany, one each in France, the United States and China. In 2020, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.074 billion. It employs more than 4,700 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany.
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