Wittmann Battenfeld to open in familiar German location

Last month, injection molding machine and system supplier Wittmann Battenfeld held a Richtfest—German for topping-out ceremony— to celebrate the completion of the roof at its new central facility in Germany. Interestingly, it is in Meinerzhagen, quite near the now-closed factory where Battenfeld large-tonnage molding systems used to be made. Battenfeld became part of Wittmann group in April 2008, the global auxiliaries/automation supplier based in Vienna, Austria.

Another ceremony took place on the day of the topping-out celebration—the naming of “Werner Battenfeld Street,” to honor the founder of the original Battenfeld company, who died in 1972. The new Wittmann Battenfeld building’s address is on that street.

When the new facility is fully occupied, a goal set for early September, it will house the sales and service team for Wittmann Battenfeld injection systems in Germany, as well as the worldwide support, service, and parts operation for the large Battenfeld molding machines previously made by Battenfeld in Meinerzhagen.

The structure, 4600m² of floor space in total, includes a 1000-m² technical center, 1000m² of office space, and 2600m² for production of the company’s Airmould gas-assisted molding systems and a spare parts inventory. The staff includes engineers and technicians skilled in application design and support, system retrofits, and complete injection units for multimaterial molding, as well as regionally-based field engineers offering local support for German molders.

Wittmann Robot Systeme GmbH will continue to sell, service, and support the Wittmann Group’s robot systems and work cells, temperature controllers, and material handling systems in Germany from locations in Schwaig and Gross-Umstadt, and with regional service technicians and engineers. —[email protected]