New production planned in Saarland

Attendorn/Homburg, 12 May 2025 

Attendorn/Homburg, 12 May 2025 – The Viega Group is investing around 150 million euros in the construction of a new production site in the Saarland municipality of Kirkel near Homburg. The internationally active family business, headquartered in Attendorn, North Rhine-Westphalia, has taken over the former logistics halls of Michelin Reifenwerke AG & Co. KGaA, including the land. The purchase agreement was signed on 10 May 2025. In the first expansion phase, around 150 new jobs are to be created at the new site. Production of pipe connectors for the international market is scheduled to start as early as the end of 2025.

"In order to continue our growth, we need additional production capacity," explains Markus Brettschneider, CEO of the Viega Group. Demand for metal press connectors for sanitary and heating applications in particular – the company's core business – remains high despite economic challenges in many markets. "Germany was our preferred choice for setting up another production facility – not least because we can organise the technology transfer between our plants particularly quickly and effectively here."

Great potential for skilled labour

Instead of focusing on a new building on a greenfield site, Viega specifically looked for existing industrial sites that could be utilised in the short term. "At our Viega sites in South Westphalia and Thuringia, we are not only reaching the limits of our capacity despite ongoing expansion measures but are also facing an increasing shortage of skilled labour," says Andreas Brockow, Chief Manufacturing Officer of the Viega Group. That is why they were looking for a region with a large potential for skilled labour.

Convincing expertise and infrastructure

A Germany-wide site screening ultimately led to Saarland. "A high proportion of the region's working-age population is employed in the metalworking industry. This level of expertise is rarely found in Germany," explains Andreas Brockow.

The traffic-friendly location was also convincing: The direct motorway connection offers the best conditions for smooth logistics. "The approximately 18,000 square metre halls and the 70,000 square metre site offer ideal conditions and long-term prospects for the expansion of the site,” Brockow is convinced. In a second step, the company plans to acquire additional land adjacent to the current property. The site is currently owned by the Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation. The signing of the purchase agreement is scheduled to take place at the company’s headquarters in Attendorn at the end of May.

Positive signalling effect for the region

Markus Winnes, Director of the Michelin plant in Homburg, welcomes the development: "We are delighted that Viega, a well-established German company, is settling in Kirkel and thus helping to strengthen the industrial location in Saarland. We at Michelin feel close to the community of Kirkel and the surrounding region. With Viega, we are now gaining an important opportunity to create new jobs in the region – our top priority as part of the restructuring of the site. We warmly welcome Viega to Kirkel and wish them every success in their endeavours."

Before the sale to Viega, the Michelin warehouse in Kirkel was used for the logistics requirements of new tyre production. At the Homburg site, Michelin will continue to focus on retreading truck tyres and processing RFID chips.