The groundbreaking ceremony and simultaneously the launch of the project in the Port of Neuss was attended by Lord Mayor Herbert Napp, the Executive Boards of Rheinmetall AG and KSPG AG, and the Management Board of Pierburg.

In the weeks ahead and in preparation for the building work, first of all the 70,000 m² area will be filled up and raised by around 1.5 m. This will involve some 10,000 truckloads of 150,000 m³ soil and recycled materials. In this way, Pierburg will achieve for its new facility the 350-year floodmark-an important factor in making certain that even under conditions of very severe flooding the company will still be able to deliver its products to the global auto industry.

The actual construction work will then start in spring 2013 for completion of the plant mid-2014. Following this, Pierburg will merge at the new location close to downtown Neuss its two North Rhine-Westphalian plants in Nettetal and elsewhere in Neuss. Here some 600 employees will manufacture solenoid valves, exhaust gas recirculation systems and other components for cars and trucks. Within Pierburg's worldwide network, the new plant will be the lead facility for these products.

The KSPG Group's new buildings represent a double-digit million-euro investment. Said Dr. Gerd Kleinert, CEO of KSPG AG, at the groundbreaking ceremony: "The decision in favor of this location was certainly not an easy one but in the end it was clear we would opt for Neuss. Here we have this superb site with its great infrastructure, here we have our central departments and R&D teams. And last but not least, here we have outstanding transport connections for our employees in Neuss and Nettetal."

Source: KSPG AG