Palfinger has held an official opening ceremony this week for its upgraded and updated aerial lift facility in Löbau, Germany. Around 200 people attended the event, including the local mayor and other state and regional dignitaries.
How the Löbau will look when fully completed
The company has invested more than €14 million in expanding and improving the site to turn it into its European hub for aerial work platforms. It now includes a 78,000 square metre state of the art production hall, an in-house test area, a service centre and offices, all of which employs 300 people an increase of 20 percent over the past two years. The move followed the decision in 2021 to close its main access division facility in Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia - the old Wumag plant and centre production at what was previously the Bison factory in Löbau.
The opening ceremony
All of Palfinger’s German built platforms will now be built in Löbau, including the ‘Light NX’ range, ‘Premium’ models, ‘Jumbo NX’ units, and the highest models in the ‘Top’ class, with working heights from 18 to 90 metres. So far 10 models are being produced in Löbau, including the 90 metre P 900, and all electric 28 metre P 280 CK eDrive. Machines are also built in Cadelbosco, Italy, and Köstendorf in Austria.
Chief operating officer Alexander Susanek said: “Our goal is to expand the access platform division into a second strong product line in addition to our main product, the loader crane. That is where the Löbau site plays a very special role. Here, we have made investments specifically in product development, know-how and quality. With a larger capacity assembly line and our focus on service, we are now hitting the ground running.”
Cutting the ribbon (L-R) Palfinger apprentice Tim Fidler, Harald Hauser, Armin Schlamp, Matthias Bulda, Maria Koller and Alexander Susanek, of Palfinger with Thomas Kralinski of minister of state for Saxony, Hannes Palfinger and Jana Müller of Palfinger with the mayor of Löbau Albrecht Gubsch, Stephan Meyer, of the district of Görlitz and Palfinger apprentice Michelle Schmidt.
Thomas Kralinski, Saxony state secretary of the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport, spoke at the opening ceremony this week stating: "Today is a very good day for Upper Lusatia, because Palfinger, as a true hidden champion, is committed to growth in the region. The mechanical engineering site in Löbau has a long history. With today's reopening of the site for access platforms, Palfinger proves that the location not only has tradition, but also a bright future. Despite the current economic challenges, companies in Saxony continue investing - even outside the urban centres. In doing so, they are creating qualified jobs in the Free State of Saxony and contributing to the positive development of entire regions.”
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