The expansion of the Grüsch / Prättigau facility as a center of competence for mechatronic drive components within the WITTENSTEIN group is making good progress. Following the successful establishment and expansion of rack manufacturing, the second phase will entail the construction of a modern production shop for high-precision, high-tech components to meet intra-Group demand. “The machining expertise we’ve acquired and built up over the last few years and the excellent conditions we enjoy here were fundamental aspects in our decision to further enlarge the Grüsch facility”, said Andreas Tinner, Managing Director of WITTENSTEIN Switzerland.

The overall complex on the Grüsch site, which has a total area of about 10,000 square meters, will be completed in three separate construction phases and is designed in a modern architectural style throughout. Whereas the first phase in 2010 comprised an office wing and production shop, the second phase is mainly concerned with adding more value creation spaces. The most conspicuous feature of this project section will be the elegant, covered outdoor area. Inside the building, apart from a production area of 1150 square meters and offices for administrative activities integrated with production, the 90 or so employees in Grüsch will particularly profit from spacious recreation rooms.
 

Scheduled for completion in October 2019

The construction work started immediately following the ground-breaking dig on November 9, 2018. The intensive building work and tight schedule will hopefully allow production to get off the ground in October 2019.The total investment in the construction project and the production lines will amount to approximately 22 million Swiss francs – leading to around 20 new jobs in the Lower Prättigau Valley region by 2020.

The Grüsch project marks a further milestone in the WITTENSTEIN Group’s expansion plans. “The envisaged investments will not only establish a second pillar at our Swiss site; the intention is also to ensure our future ability to deliver in our core segment. It’s a win-win situation for our Grüsch subsidiary and for WITTENSTEIN as a whole”, emphasized Dr. Anna-Katharina Wittenstein of the WITTENSTEIN SE Management Board in Igersheim (Germany).

To date, the project has been distinguished by constructive collaboration on the part of the Swiss-German planning team as well as pragmatic and unbureaucratic cooperation with the local authorities in Grüsch and the Grisons canton. “The client, the planners and the contractors have worked together so far without any problems at all. I’m absolutely confident that the team will get the construction project finished on time and on budget”, Tinner continued.

Dr. Anna-Katharina Wittenstein (Management Board, WITTENSTEIN Group) has been joined at the symbolic ground-breaking dig by Dr. Ulrich Immler, Manfred Dalhof and Michael Soeding (Board of Directors), Andreas Tinner and Gerhard Horn (Managing Directors, WITTENSTEIN Switzerland), Thilo Brandel (Head of Facility Management, WITTENSTEIN Group) and Hans Vetsch (architect). 


Photos: 
Photo 1: Exterior view 1 of WITTENSTEIN AG in Grüsch 
Photo 2: Exterior view 2 of WITTENSTEIN AG in Grüsch  
Photo 3: Exterior view 3 of WITTENSTEIN AG in Grüsch
Photo 4: Symbolic ground-breaking dig 1 of WITTENSTEIN AG Grüsch 
Photo 5: Symbolic ground-breaking dig 2 of WITTENSTEIN AG Grüsch