KSB Expands Production of Eta Pumps in Germany Despite Lack of Government Funding

KSB Expands Production of Eta Pumps in Germany Despite Lack of Government Funding

(IN BRIEF) KSB, a leading manufacturer of pumps and valves, has announced plans to expand the production of Eta pumps at its headquarters in Frankenthal, Germany, making it the center of excellence for the latest generation of electronically controlled pumps in Europe. Despite challenging economic conditions and the absence of expected government subsidies, KSB will invest approximately 60 million euros over the next five years in this significant expansion, which includes comprehensive modernization of the Eta production facility to meet the latest technological and energy standards. This investment underscores KSB’s commitment to strengthening the German business location and region in the long term, despite the need to finance the project independently.

(PRESS RELEASE) FRANKENTHAL, 24-Apr-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The decision has been made: The production of Eta pumps at KSB’s headquarters will be expanded to become the centre of excellence for the latest generation of electronically controlled pumps in Europe. KSB will be spending around 60 million euros on this over the next five years – one of the largest single investments the company has ever made. KSB will have to do without the funding applied for from the federal government.

“With this investment, we are making a clear commitment to Germany as a business location, knowing full well that the general conditions in Germany are difficult,” says Dr Stephan Timmermann, CEO. “We would have liked this investment in energy-efficient and sustainable pumps ‘Made in Germany’ to be subsidised. After all, we are strengthening the location and the region in the long term. We regret that this overarching economic policy decision did not come to fruition. We are now taking the investment into our own hands and financing this future-oriented project in Frankenthal with our own funds.”

In order to remain competitive at the Frankenthal site in the future, KSB is comprehensively modernising the growing Eta production facility by 2029 in line with the latest technological and energy standards. New extensions will create space so that processing machines, assembly and logistics can be restructured and older parts of the hall can be completely refurbished before being reutilised. The plans for the energy-efficient redesign of production also include converting the drying of a new colouring system to the local heating network of the new heating centre at the site and installing photovoltaic systems on the roofs. In addition, framework agreements have been prepared so that Eta employees can work more flexibly.

KSB is already manufacturing the new, energy-efficient and sustainably produced EtaLine Pro pump generation for building services applications at the Eta production facility in Frankenthal. Conversions to Eta production are also necessary in order to be able to convert further pump series to meet future energy efficiency requirements.

The measures will strengthen the competitiveness of the Eta site in Frankenthal. The headquarters has won over alternative locations in Eastern Europe, which the company has examined. KSB’s Board of Directors approved the plans in December 2023 – subject to a funding commitment from the federal government. “After carefully weighing up all the pros and cons and taking into account the responsibility for the workforce and the region, KSB nevertheless decided in favour of the investment at its headquarters,” said Timmermann.

KSB is a leading international manufacturer of pumps and valves. Headquartered in Frankenthal, Germany, the Group is represented on five continents with its own sales companies, production facilities and service centres. In the 2023 financial year, the Group generated sales revenue of around € 2.8 billion with around 16,000 employees.

Media Contact:

Sonja Ayasse
Tel. + 49 6233 86-3118
Mobile +49 151 22953838
sonja.ayasse@ksb.com

SOURCE: KSB SE & Co. KGaA