Wittmann Battenfeld: Traditional „Richtfest“ celebration in Meinerzhagen

Wittmann Battenfeld (www.wittmann-battenfeld.com) has entered a new era in Germany with a traditional Richtfest on May 11th, 2009 celebrating the completion of the roof of their new 4,600 m² building in Meinerzhagen, Germany. Not unlike a Topping Off Ceremony for the last steel girders on a building, a Richtfest brings together all those involved in building a new facility and those that will benefit from it. Officials from the city of Meinerzhagen, other officials and invited guests, the building contractors, Wittmann Battenfeld personnel and Dr. Werner Wittmann were on hand to mark this very important event.

Given the fact that Meinerzhagen in Nordrhein-Westfalen is the birthplace of Battenfeld injection molding machines and that Germany has over 4,000 companies in the plastics field, Wittmann Battenfeld has a lot to celebrate about. Germany is clearly without doubt one of the most important markets for injection molding machines, auxiliary equipment and fully automated systems.

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Occurring simultaneously with the Richtfest celebration was the official naming of “Werner Battenfeld Street”, the street leading to the new facility named in recognition of the achievements as a pioneer in the then fledgling plastics technology and a highly respected citizen in the city of Meinerzhagen. The event was attended by Mrs. Margarethe Battenfeld, the widow of the late Werner Battenfeld who passed way in 1972, and their son Heinz Werner Battenfeld.

Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH & Co. KG, who joined the Wittmann Group in April 2008, serves as a sales and service organization not only for the German market but also worldwide for the machinery previously manufactured in Meinerzhagen. Currently, they are located in rented offices of the former Battenfeld large tonnage production facility and will move in a couple of months a short distance to their own halls and office space in the new facility.

The new building for the sales and service subsidiary will include 2,600 m² for spare parts inventory, assembly and production of Airmould®, in addition to a 1,000 m² Technical Center and approximately 1,000 m² of office space. Completion is expected in stages with move-in to the production hall beginning the end of May followed by the Technical Center in August and the offices and all customer services by September 1st, 2009.

Photo: Inauguration of Werner Battenfeld Street (from left to right): Zoning Planner Gerhard Schriever, Heinz Werner Battenfeld, Mayor Pierlings, Margarethe Battenfeld, Dr. Werner Wittmann and Klaus Ehlig, Managing Director of Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH & Co KG.

Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH, Kottingbrunn, Austria

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