Jungheinrich recently celebrated the 50 anniversary of its plant in Norderstedt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The Hamburg-based intra-logistics company has been producing industrial trucks and storage technology for the global market in the district of Friedrichsgabe since 1967. The Group has since invested over €230 million in the plant.
Jungheinrich assembles electrical high-lift trucks, reach forklift trucks and low-platform trucks on this site across 214,000sq m. In 2016 alone, 47,380 Jungheinrich vehicles left the production line in Norderstedt. Together with the shareholder family, the Board of Management, Supervisory Board and employees celebrated the 50 birthday of the company’s plant as part of a large family festival. The highlight was the unveiling of the millionth forklift truck by the two daughters of company founder Dr Friedrich Jungheinrich.
“At 50 years of age, the Jungheinrich plant in Norderstedt is older than the town of Norderstedt itself, which was established three years later. From the very beginning, Jungheinrich focused on solid growth,” commented Hans-Georg Frey, chairman of the Board of Management of Jungheinrich. “Production of our millionth vehicle is evidence of the success and importance of our oldest plant outside Hamburg. Without the fantastic commitment of everyone at the site over the past five decades, this development would not have been possible.”
The facility has approximately 1,300 employees and around 600 young people have been trained in various skilled trades in Norderstedt since 1967, over half of whom still work at Jungheinrich.
“Our employees’ training ensures the quality of our products,” added Nils Sander, managing director of Jungheinrich Norderstedt. “Jungheinrich in Norderstedt has for 50 years focused on sound training as a foundation for the professional and personal success of the people working here.”
In addition to the production lines, the plant also accommodates the Jungheinrich Training Centre. Training rooms with modern equipment and large spaces for working on and learning about vehicles and storage racks on all Jungheinrich lines have been created across almost 8,000sq m. Up to 5,000 people can train here every year.
The company’s research and development centre for electromobility and modern lithium ion batteries is also accommodated at Norderstedt.
Jungheinrich is said to be currently the only manufacturer of industrial trucks that produces its own lithium ion batteries. The batteries are manufactured in the Norderstedt plant. Due to the globally growing demand, the Group is planning to significantly expand its manufacturing capacities.
Speaking about Jungheinrich’s continued commitment to energy efficiency Jan Lorenz, managing director, Jungheinrich UK, said: “We will continue to refine our maintenance-free, long life lithium-ion batteries, which we plan to apply more widely across our entire product range. Lithium-ion batteries are not only cost-effective and more eco-friendly, but save customers time, reduce the need for battery changing equipment and improve safety through easier handling.”
