Sennebogen Maschinenfabrik GmbH of Germany is expanding the production, warehouse and shipping areas at its Plant II facility at the port of Straubing by roughly 35,000 square meters (376,737 square feet). In addition, the company says it is adding a 6,700-square-meter production facility for the assembly and painting of large components and for finishing work and quality control.
With the investment, occurring on the heels of the construction of the Sennebogen Academy and Erich Sennebogen Museum in 2014, the company says it is preparing for future projects and expanding its capacity to produce large machines. Plant II, opened in 2008, is used primarily for the manufacture and testing of large machines with up to 300 metric ton operating weight. The machines are also prepared for worldwide shipping at this facility.
To accommodate the growing need for space and increased production capacity, the factory premises are being expanded in two construction phases, beginning in mid-2015.
“We’re investing into the future today not only to be able to provide the quality products ‘Made in Straubing’ in the years to come, but also to continue to increase our competitiveness,” explains Managing Director Erich Sennebogen. “As a family-owned company, we feel committed to long-term planning and to adjusting our production facilities to the market requirements of the future. This plant extension ensures optimized logistics, enhanced reliability and an even better working environment for our team.”
During the first phase, the company will add a paved surface south of the current premises for the technical approval of telescopic cranes and rope excavators and for a new noise metering area, Sennebogen reports. A new shipping area for machines and components also is part of the project.
Construction for the first phase has already begun to expand the existing site with the addition of a warehouse and shipping area. Sennebogen says the site will also feature a specially adapted 180-metric-ton Sennebogen 5500 crawler gantry crane from the Star Lifter series. With a working radius of more than 30 meters and a travel range of approximately 170 meters, the Sennebogen crawler crane will be able to hoist and handle heavy components in an area of over 10,000 square meters, the company says. Trucks will be able to directly pass under the gantry crane for safer, faster loading, Sennebogen says. In addition, the site will accommodate technical approval operations for rope excavators and telescopic cranes.
During the second construction phase, scheduled to begin in mid-2016, the company will add a 6,700-square-meter assembly and paint shop for large machines, that will include a large roofed outdoor area. The building will also provide additional space for finishing work and quality control. Another area of the building will be allocated to customizing machines.
The company says the expansion will lead to enhanced production flexibility and reduced lead times.
“The market is trending toward customization and larger machines,” observes managing director Walter Sennebogen. “This can best be seen in our new 300-metric-ton rope excavator, which, due to its size and weight, is always a challenge in our current production halls.
“Long-term investments like these are therefore necessary to meet future market requirements in an optimal manner. Sennebogen products ‘Made in Straubing’ stand for quality and have proved their worth around the world,” Walter adds.