09-09-2011 Premium AEROTEC to construct new engineering centre for cutting edge technology in Augsburg

“Bavaria is an outstanding aerospace cluster within Germany. We intend to maintain and extend this advance“, said Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer. „Premium AEROTEC is a leader in its industry and a symbol of progress. Innovation and the dedication to technological progress guarantee our economic success and are major drivers to secure the future of our country.“

The building complex now taking shape at the Premium AEROTEC plant in Augsburg will be the new focal point for the company’s engineering activities. It will enable Premium AEROTEC to bring its existing engineering capabilities in Augsburg together in one place more than ever before. Premium AEROTEC is investing some € 7 million in building the new modern high-tech centre.

“This investment underlines the great importance of the Research & Development sector for the future of the company,” said Joachim Nägele, member of the Board of Management of Premium AEROTEC. “At the same time the new engineering centre provides the basis for focussing and further expanding our competencies in cutting edge technologies. This project therefore makes a crucial contribution to the growth and competitiveness of Premium AEROTEC,” continued Nägele.

The aim of the engineering centre is to pool the engineering resources and know-how needed for innovative, advanced technologies. The new building now under construction will not only bring Premium AEROTEC’s Research & Development activities physically closer to its production but will also help to further accelerate its engineering processes with integrated teams of experts.

“This new building is a visible sign of our growing role in the development of aircraft structures: ever since the establishment of Premium AEROTEC we have continuously expanded our engineering capabilities,” said Reinald Pfau, Head of Engineering at Premium AEROTEC. “In future we will be able to bring the various disciplines even closer together at the new engineering centre and thus intensively drive the technological shift in aircraft construction, particularly with regard to lightweight construction and composite materials.”

The new engineering centre covers an area of roughly 1,200 m², and will offer about 3,200 m² of floor space for offices and meeting rooms on five levels. From the end of 2012 more than 300 engineers will be working there, mainly on the development and improvement of aircraft structures. A two-storey bridge (on the second and third floors) will link the new engineering centre to the adjacent building. An atrium is planned on the ground floor of the new structure which will give the company an event space extending over 180 m² in future.

Premium AEROTEC generated revenues of about 1.3 billion euros in 2010. Its core business is the development and manufacturing of metal and carbon composite aerostructures and the associated equipment and production systems. The company has production plants in Augsburg, Bremen, Nordenham and Varel in Germany, and in Braşov, Romania.