Lemken’s headquarters in Alpen are undergoing substantial expansion. The new development facility will form an important part of Lemken’s 50 million investment programme. From spring 2015, the facility will comprise 140 state-of-the-art workplaces for our design and electronics engineers, plus a larger testing hall with laboratory and simulation spaces.
The new facility cleverly combines both administration and testing spaces in the same building. According to Associate Nicola Lemken, this makes for short distances and opens up additional options for expansion. “We are delighted that our construction plans, which we have nurtured for a long time, will finally be implemented. We urgently needed more space for design and testing.”
Gottfried Giesen, Lemken’s Head of Development, is among those who are keenest to move to the new facility. Since the sharp increase in sales until 2008 and the subsequent years of substantial growth, numerous extensions of production areas have taken priority. Also, a suitable location needed to be found for the building first: separate, yet close enough to manufacturing.
Gottfried Giesen is not the only one who thinks that it is almost too separate to allow the building’s modern design to be appropriately appreciated. However, ultimately it was all about creating an attractive working environment for designers and being able to recruit talented young engineers for our plant on the Lower Rhine. After all, Lemken is expecting further growth, and the new building is therefore designed for flexibility.
Construction works started in June. The foundations have been laid, concrete supports and structural walls built. Currently the roof is being built. It is planned that the external shell of the building will be completed by mid-October and that internal works will then progress speedily.
Building details: A base area of about 5,800m² comprises 3,100 m² office space over two levels, plus a 4,200 m² testing hall. The integration of design offices into the industrial grid of the hall structure has created wide office spaces that are largely free from internal supports and optimally meet user requirements. Acoustically highly effective, partially glazed dividing walls ensure that engineers can sit down for product team meetings, but are also able to work without being disturbed.
Lemken, a specialist for professional agriculture with annual sales in excess of EUR360 million, and a global company employing more than 1,200 staff, is one of Europe’s leading suppliers. Founded as a blacksmith’s shop in 1780, this family-operated company produces high-quality, high-performance agricultural implements for soil cultivation, seeding and plant protection at its German headquarters in Alpen and its two production plants in Föhren and Meppen. Innovation in the best interest of our customers guides our thoughts and actions.
