Major investment at sfm medical devices GmbH in Wächtersbach
Purchase of land from the Main-Kinzig district utility company
sfm medical devices will expand in Waechtersbach. The purchase of the neighboring property of Kreiswerke Main-Kinzig a few years ago made this possible. To meet the continually growing needs of the medical device market, plans were made to expand the current technical facilities. Step one is the construction of a new building dedicated to sterilization as well as new logistics area connecting the new building and current facilities.
Investment in the future
At 20 million euros, this is the largest investment in the history of sfm.
sfm plant 2
The current sfm headquarters, which includes production and administration employing roughly 250 people, is Plant 1. Plant 2 is the construction of a new sterilization facility. Connecting Plant 1 and Plant 2 will be a new logistics center for more efficient handling of incoming and outgoing goods.
New logistics area with around 600m²
New sterilization building with a floor area of 1,080m².
Sterilization capacity will be increased from 8-pallets to 12-pallets
New chemical-microbiological laboratory with offices on about 100m²
Occupational safety, environmental protection and sustainability
Occupational safety, environmental protection, and sustainability played key roles in the installation of one of the most modern sterilization plants in the industry. Permits for the operation had to be checked and approved by Darmstadt Regional Council to comply with the strict Federal Emission Control Act. Design took into consideration numerous harmful environmental effects (eg. Water, air, noise, etc) and numerous expert reports were prepared to ensure the environmental protection laws and guidelines were followed. Furthermore, Plant 2 is planned according to high energy efficiency house standard 40, requiring only 40% of the primary energy demand. To help achieve this, solar panels will be installed on the roof, promoting sustainably with renewable energy.
Construction started in October 2023. Due to the high level of mechanization, we anticipate a construction period of 1.5 years.
PREPARATORY MEASURES
First, the large piles of gravel from the demolition of the old building have to be moved so that further soil investigations can be carried out underneath. In addition, an old gasoline separator must be excavated and disposed of properly.
Site preparations for the construction of the new sterilization plant will start in May.
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TO LAUNCH THE SHELL CONSTRUCTION
We are pleased to announce that we have broken ground on the construction of our new production building! This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our history.
The shell of the new building will be realized by the renowned company Lupp as general contractor. Their experience and commitment to quality will ensure that our new building meets the highest standards.
The ground-breaking ceremony by the sfm project and management team and the management of Lupp launches the construction of the shell of the new company building.
We look forward to the next steps of the project. Stay tuned for further updates on our construction progress!
THE FOUNDATION STONE IS LAID FOR THE NEW SFM PLANT 2
We are pleased to announce the official laying of the foundation stone for the expansion of sfm medical devices GmbH in Wächtersbach. This step marks a further milestone for the company, the town of Wächtersbach and the Main-Kinzig district as a business location.
In a speech, Managing Director Mr. Peter Strötgen expressed his pleasure and pride in this significant step, thanked all those involved and wished all partners a safe and smooth construction process. The new building represents a modern and efficient factory building with highly developed building technology for one of the most advanced EO sterilization plants in the world.
The new facilities are based on the safest technologies and meet the highest standards of environmental protection and sustainability. The integration of the new building and the existing structures is skillfully achieved through a new incoming and outgoing goods cross-docking area.
The Mayor of Wächtersbach, Mr. Andreas Weiher, and the District Administrator, Mr. Thorsten Stolz, expressed their delight at the development of the project and praised the company as the largest and most important employer in the region.
The building is scheduled for completion in October 2024. The start has been made, now we are moving step by step in the right direction.
THINGS ARE PROGRESSING IN HUGE STEPS! CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS AS OF 08.02.2024
A lot has happened since the foundation stone was laid, despite the adverse weather conditions. The following milestones have been reached:
Completion of basement shell before Christmas
Excavation pit filled before Christmas
Concrete supporting columns erected and connected with concrete girders and steel cross beams
First floor of the technical laboratory part of the building shell erected
Foundations of logistics center completed
Foundations for connecting structure completed
First concrete formwork for upper floor laboratory rooms erected
With our goal in mind, we are moving in the right direction every day, step by step. A big thank you to everyone who has made this possible to date.
AFTER ONLY 6 MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION, THE TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY FOR THE NEW STERILIZATION BUILDING WAS CELEBRATED ON 16TH APRIL 2024.
It was a memorable event during which we were able to inspect the completed shell and appreciate the hard work of everyone involved.
Cool temperatures and rain did not deter sfm and the contractors from celebrating the topping-out ceremony. The partially covered building shell was prepared with radiant heaters and temporary lighting for ceremonial speeches and a hearty buffet. For the topping-out ceremony, the responsible foreman, the project manager from Lupp and the CEO of sfm took to lofty heights to toast the accomplishment under the topping-out wreath.
CEO Mr. Peter Strötgen and shareholder Mr. Peter Wagner thanked the construction workers and managers of the general contractor Lupp for their excellent work. Despite rain, wind and weather, as well as frost and occasional snow, the schedule was adhered to.
The first meeting with the architect Mr. Hagen took place in March 2021. The first concepts for the new building were developed in the subsequent workshop. Despite all the plans and simulations, the finished shell turned out to be much more impressive than anyone involved could have imagined.
Another significant milestone was reached in the realization of the new building.
Construction work on the new sterilization plant is progressing rapidly. The outer shell of the building is almost complete: The roof is covered, the façade is in place and the windows have been installed. Work is now concentrating on the technical building equipment and the interior fittings. As a result, the large, highly visible construction crane has now been dismantled.
This created the conditions for installing the heart of the new building, the sterilization chamber. This was delivered to Wächtersbach on June 18, 2024. In automotive manufacturing, a "marriage" is when the engine of a new car is joined to the body shell. The installation of the sterilization chamber in the new building was a similarly significant moment.
The specialist companies moved the 15-ton sterilization chamber and other large plant components into the building with remarkable precision and care. Seeing the equipment in its rightful place is the result of a fantastically efficient project team.
We’re excited to share an update on our ongoing construction project. The work is progressing rapidly, and there are some exciting developments:
- Technical Installations: The sterilization technical systems are in place.
- Energy Supply: Our combined heat and power plant has been installed.
- Transport: The freight elevator is already in position.
- Safety: All sprinkler systems have been successfully installed.
- Building: The building façade is closed, and most of the drywall partitions are up.
- Electrical Work: Electrical installations are currently being laid out.
- Flooring: The floors have been coated.
- Storage: The warehouse shelves are being assembled.
- Conditioning Chambers: The chambers for pre- and post-conditioning are being set up.
- Roof Central: Components for the roof central unit with cladding are in place.
- Exterior Work: The exterior work has begun.
Our project continues to take shape, and we’re looking forward to sharing more progress with you soon. A big thank you to our dedicated team and partners who are making this possible!
Stay tuned – we’ll keep you updated!
