KION Group plans to expand production at Reutlingen site

The plan is to expand the existing production halls and relocate the factory bypass. The aim is to expand the production area to the south. The wooded site is currently owned by the city of Reutlingen and is to be acquired by KWS. With this solution, internal production processes could be significantly optimized with a small footprint. The expansion covers a total of at least 2,600 square meters, including around 2,200 square meters for the expansion of the production hall. In addition, extensive investments in existing plant and machinery as well as a general modernization of processes at the site are planned. Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2023 - following approval by all committees - with expanded production set to start in 2025.

"KION's location policy and corporate strategy are characterized by adaptability and reliability. With the expansion of production, the intralogistics group is once again sending a positive signal to the economy, the labor market and, in particular, to Reutlingen as a business location," says Thomas Keck, Mayor of the City of Reutlingen.

More than 400 jobs

The expansion of production capacity has also had an impact on employment at the site: The workforce has already grown from 250 employees in 2010 to more than 400. Around 130 of KWS' employees currently come from the city of Reutlingen and around 280 from the district of Reutlingen. The expansion will secure existing jobs and also create new ones.

"Reutlingen is the largest and most important location for our global business with high-rack stackers," says KWS Managing Director Volker Bonk. The planned investment clearly shows: "Our heart beats here in the city. This expansion will further increase our flexibility and ensure that KWS remains optimally positioned in the dynamic intralogistics market."

A development plan procedure and an amendment to the land use plan are required to create the legal planning conditions for the southern expansion of the plant site. The development plan will be on the agenda of the Mittelstadt district council today, November 28, 2022. KWS is already in close contact with the city's committees. The planned expansion will also be carried out in close coordination with nature conservation regulations. As part of the development plan process, external areas must be found for the necessary forestry and nature conservation compensation. Suitable reforestation areas in the city of Reutlingen have already been identified in preparation. As a result, the following areas are particularly suitable for reforestation: in the "Hinterer Zaun" or "Eichwäldle" district of Reutlingen and in the "Oberer Auchtert" district of Mittelstadt.