“It’s a long-term commitment”

Bauerfeind AG is investing around 100 million euros in Zeulenroda by 2028. In addition to the new Energy Center and the expanded Logistics Center, a production hall, a raw materials warehouse, and a Community Center will be built that will also house BIC, the Bauerfeind Innovation Center. We talked to Rainer Berthan, Chief Executive Officer, about this.

What significance does this investment have for the future of Bauerfeind? 

It’s a long-term commitment to our core business, to Germany, to Zeulenroda, and in particular to the people here. 

Looking at Bauerfeind’s history: How can we rate these investments?  

They’re right at the top: As a total amount, it’s the biggest investment in the entire history of our company. 

What does it mean for Bauerfeind’s employees? 

Expanding our site is a real statement in concrete: big, visible, and with impressive dimensions. But a construction site, as imposing as it may be, comes and goes. The crucial question is what happens afterwards. In these buildings, we’re developing and manufacturing. And that’s how we’re creating our actual opportunities for future growth. After all, the products need to go on the market and be sold. We need to keep working on them. That means: Our site expansion isn’t just a building project. It means that there is still a great number of tasks to be completed at our company, new tasks too. This opens up excellent development opportunities for Bauerfeind and therefore for all employees – for those who are already with us and for those who will join in the future. 

What message does the company send with this? 

I would say trust. Trust in the future, in people, and in our own abilities. And self-confidence. Of course, there are also other companies that still invest in Germany. But in the circles we run in, we definitely stand out very positively. This extraordinary development, these huge investments, the trust, as well as the courage being expressed are not exactly commonplace right now. If you look around, you won’t find all this dynamic progress elsewhere that we’re experiencing here at Bauerfeind at the moment. I feel this is a remarkable situation and we’re going to handle it responsibly!

By spring 2028, everything is set to be completed. As the client, what do you have most respect for?

The complexity of it all. Numerous trades will be working in parallel over the coming months, with many interfaces. That requires precise planning and the ability to coordinate processes in advance. The right partners who can implement everything reliably and on time are absolutely crucial. So far, it’s been working really well so I feel confident. Of course, there will always be situations when things don’t completely go according to plan. This is not exactly a routine project. So we need to be flexible and we may have to improvise. But I believe, with our colleagues in the individual project teams and our partners as well as suppliers, we’re well prepared for anything.

What are you looking forward to the most with these construction projects? 

Well, the opening in spring 2028 of course! When we can all see what we’ve created. I look forward to walking across the whole area for the first time, not having to wear rubber boots and a hard hat. And one year later, we’ll be celebrating 100 years of Bauerfeind.