"This investment is a clear and, in the truest sense of the word, an unshakable commitment to Germany as a business location. Together with our employees, we want to continue to shape our future, globally, but also here at the origin of Marquardt," said Dr. Harald Marquardt in his address. The Chief Executive Officer of the Marquardt Group emphasized: "The spatial structure of the new building supports the agile and creative exchange between the departments. This makes the building an architectural answer to the major future challenges of our industries, regardless of whether it involves digital networking, the further upgrading of vehicle interiors, electromobility or smart home solutions.”

Sustainable corporate orientation

Matthias Marquardt, a grandsons of one of the company founders and a member of the advisory board and supervisory board of the Marquardt Group, said at the ceremony: "The Marquardt shareholders - like their ancestors - are counting on the long-term success of the family business. This attitude is reflected not least in the fact that we regularly reinvest profits in order to keep Marquardt fit for the future".

Modern Training Centre

The office and development rooms of the EIZ are organized around two light-flooded atriums, which can be used for informal exchanges, events or town hall meetings. The building also includes a new company restaurant and one of the most modern training centres in the region. The training centre offers space for over 120 young people. On a total area of 1,000 m², theory and practice are closely linked, technical professions can be learned on networked industry 4.0 measuring instruments, on the latest laboratory workstations or CNC milling machines.

"It fills me with great joy and pride that Marquardt has made such a far-reaching investment here in Germany - a great team effort of management and staff. The development and innovation centre is a benefit for the region, the company and our colleagues," says Antonio Piovano, Chairman of the Group Works Council.

Climate-friendly building

Numerous environmental aspects were taken into account during the construction of the new building. For example, Marquardt invested in a combined heat and power plant that reduces annual CO2 emissions by around 100 tons. The company generates additional energy via a photovoltaic system on the roof of the EIZ; at peak times it generates up to 100 kilowatts of electricity - roughly equivalent to the annual requirements of 25 four-person households. LEDs with daylight control are also used in the entire building, which reduces electricity consumption by 60 percent compared with conventional lighting. And instead of an energy-intensive air-conditioning system, environmentally friendly and at the same time more economical concrete core activation for heating or cooling is used.   

The major project is planned and supervised by Plan Forward GmbH from Stuttgart, a subsidiary of Wolff Gruppe Holding GmbH, under the leadership of the managing architect Dieter Deichsel.