You have to celebrate the wins as they come. The topping-out ceremony of Kögel’s new state-of-the-art office building is the perfect opportunity to raise a glass together. What’s more, a representative of the town of Burtenbach recognised the company for its importance as a local employer.
The sun is shining and the sky is blue. Today, in late July, Burtenbach is enjoying perfect T-shirt weather. Numerous beer benches are lined up between the administration building and production hall, where the workforce has gathered. The smell of barbecued meat is in the air. Kögel's management has invited employees to gather on behalf of company owner Ulrich Humbaur. After all, there’s good reason to celebrate at Kögel headquarters. The construction of the new administration building is progressing at a rapid pace. Administrative staff are expected to be able to move into the new building this December, where 1,800 square-metres of spacious, state-of-the-art open-plan office space and meeting rooms, as well as social areas, await them.
But first, it’s time for the topping-out ceremony. The tree is already on the roof of the three-storey building and the carpenter raises his glass. He fires up the atmosphere with humorous speeches to the building developer and the future occupant of the building
Kögel CEO Christian Renners emphasises that Kögel not only holds its products to the highest standards, but its work facilities too. “Kögel offers innovative transport solutions that provide customers with economic and ecological benefits – according to the company principle ‘Economy meets Ecology – Because we care’.” According to Renners, the promise “Because we care” is also aimed at employees. In Burtenbach, they will find a perfect, modern work environment that will motivate them and foster outstanding results.
“May the new office space be home to community spirit and constructive teamwork for the benefit of Kögel, its customers, and its employees,” wishes Hugo Ganser, second mayor of Burtenbach, in his celebratory speech to all the attendees.
The new office building also fulfils the requirements for sustainability. “These include the energy-saving building design and a photovoltaic system on the roof,” explains Josef Schuster, Managing Director of Schuster engineering. His company is responsible for the build.
The move into the new building will not be the last of the modernisation measures in Burtenbach. Once the workforce has relocated from the old administration building to the new one, the old building will be fully renovated. Over the coming year, the space will be brought up to the high standards of a modern work environment.
The new administration building is only part of Kögel's extensive investment plans at its headquarters in Burtenbach. The company has invested tens of millions in the modernisation and expansion of its administration and production. As well as the new administration building, this includes a new 2,600-square metre factory for SKD loading, where “Semi-Knocked-Down” trailer assembly kits are packed and loaded for export to international export markets. The building houses a publicly accessible commercial vehicle workshop, also opening in the near future, where all customers can receive professional service for their trailers.
Meanwhile, the largest part of the investment will go towards a new factory for insulated box bodies, which is currently in the final stage of planning. The factory will produce an innovative and thus far technologically unique refrigerated semi-trailer. “The production of the new refrigerated trailers will open up a new market and secure jobs for people in the region,” says second mayor Hugo Ganser. The large investment will also strengthen Kögel's competitiveness and prove that Kögel is one of the most important employers in the economic region of Günzburg and beyond. “The heart of south German trailer manufacturing beats so loudly in Burtenbach that it can be heard across Europe,” says CEO Christian Renners. This is in no small part down to Kögel's employees, who are digging into bratwurst and steak, while the band plays upbeat music. Because those who work hard get to play hard too!