Chief executive Peter Fenkl said: “During the 2008 global economic crisis, our sales fell 17 per cent and then increased by more than 20 per cent in the following year – that was only because we have very good products as well as motivated and qualified employees.

“When the corona and resulting economic crisis is over, we will be able to ‘hit the ground running’ once again. The new building offers us the opportunity to increase the current number of employees at Ziehl-Abegg in the Hohenlohe Business Park from just over 800 to more than 1,000.

Minister for Economic Affairs Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut praised the investment at the official groundbreaking ceremony. She said: “The new construction project is a clear commitment to Baden-Württemberg state as a location for manufacturing and innovation. Our state needs companies like Ziehl-Abegg SE that take on a leadership role in our economy, particularly during difficult times.'

In the new building, an additional approx. 8,400m² of production area will be created for the manufacture of the state-of-the-art generation of energy-efficient electric motors. Overall, Ziehl-Abegg is expanding its production facilities or optimising existing plants worldwide: both in Schöntal-Bieringen where the aluminium casting operation is based, as well as at its locations in America and Asia.