The symbolic groundbreaking ceremony on the Holz-Her production facility in Voitsberg, Austria, signaled the start of an ambitious forward-looking project.
The 22,000 sq m site of the specialist in machines and systems for panel processing is being developed with a 1000 sq m extension specifically designed for the planned new CNC milling machine for framework processing.
The new hall will exclusively accommodate new and pioneering machine technology for the machining of large steel structural components. Holz-Her’s intention is to make its production even more efficient and flexible.
Holz-Her and turnover has risen by 20% over the last two years alone. Just recently, Holz-Her attracted massive attention at Ligna with its Nextec technology for furniture production. As a result of the strong growth, production capacity in Voitsberg has already doubled over the last two years.
The investment of €4.5m is part of a group-wide investment package of more than €15m and will secure the future, long-term growth of the company.
To reflect the significance of the project for the future of the company, the groundbreaking ceremony was attended by both Weinig’s supervisory board, led by chairman Thomas Bach, and Weinig’s management board, represented by CEO Wolfgang Pöschl, chief sales and marketing officer Gregor Baumbusch and CFO Gerald Schmidt.
Together with Holz-Her MD Frank Epple and the MD of the Voitsberg production facility Harald Steiner, the start of the construction project was marked with a small ceremony attended by all personnel.
Currently, 300 personnel are employed in Austria. Thanks to the further expansion of sales activities, the extension of the product portfolio with regard to CNC processing centers, the development of the saw/storage combination segment, the further evolution of edgebanders for industrial applications and the extension of the factory, Frank Epple anticipates further requirements for qualified personnel.
“Holz-Her, like the entire Weinig Group, is on a strong trajectory,” says Wolfgang Pöschl. “Group orders to the end of April showed 17% growth while revenues rose by as much as 21%. The Weinig Group is very confident of achieving the order inflow of €471m targeted for 2017. Owing to this growth, the group’s global personnel will increase to more than 2100 in 2017.
