Siemens Smart Infrastructure is investing €100m to expand its switchgear plant in Frankfurt as it focuses on environmentally friendly construction and digital transformation
The company has acquired a 3.5-hectare site in the Ostend district to provide the Smart Infrastructure division with additional capacity to ensure a secure energy transformation, the company said.
Production in the new buildings is expected to begin at the start of 2025.
The investment was announced as Siemens inaugurated a new smart high-speed warehouse and expanded production area at the existing switchgear plant.
The new property is around 1km from the current plant.
Around 13,000 sq m of the total 15,000 sq m building area will be used for production halls. The remaining space will be used for offices.
The site has both rail and port access.
Together the two production facilities will make up the Frankfurt switchgear plant and form a closely integrated unit, Siemens said.
Paving the way for climate-neutral power distribution
The expansion will give Siemens more production capacity for the 8DAB – blue GIS medium-voltage switchgear.
This gas-insulated switchgear is deployed in transformer and switching stations and uses the climate-neutral Clean Air insulating medium, which consists exclusively of natural components of the ambient air.
This demonstrates Siemens’ commitment to moving away from sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and producing sustainable medium-voltage switchgear. As a result, Siemens is focusing on technologies that reduce carbon emissions and create sustainable grids for future generations.
“For 40 years now, our plant in Frankfurt-Fechenheim has been a global center of competence for gas-insulated medium-voltage switchgear,” says Mark Backhaus, Site Manager of the Siemens switchgear plant in Frankfurt.
“Our second expansion in a short period of time is an investment in our future and paves the way for climate-neutral power distribution.”
Sustainable design and futureproof infrastructure
The new plant buildings will be designed to be sustainable. The purchased buildings the expansion site have already been certified with the DGNB Gold sustainability seal.
“Our additional investment in the site will enable us to open a plant with a sustainable and futureproof infrastructure,” says Stephan May, CEO of Electrification & Automation at Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
“Sustainability and the objective of achieving a carbon-neutral supply chain is a key element of our strategy. It is deeply rooted in our daily business and in investment decisions – and it goes hand-in-hand with the increased digitalization and automation of the site. This promise is reflected in our latest investment.”
Stephanie Wüst, head of economic affairs at the City of Frankfurt, said: “Siemens is making a valuable contribution to the transformation of Frankfurt’s Ostend district as a development area for industry and commerce.
“I’m excited about the progress the switchgear plant in Fechenheim has made since the ground-breaking ceremony in March 2023 and the value Siemens has created there.”
