Ground-breaking ceremony for new factory
On 11 September, Plasser & Theurer, the global technology leader for track construction and maintenance machines, celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony for its new assembly and commissioning factory at the Pummererstrasse site in the Linz industrial area.
With estimated construction costs of more than EUR 60 million, it is the largest single investment in Austria in the company's more than 70-year history. It is also significant for Upper Austria as an industrial location.
In future, both final assembly and commissioning of track construction and maintenance machines will be carried out in the new workshop, which covers an area of around 12,000 square metres. During final assembly, the last steps in the assembly process are performed: electric cables and hoses are laid, engines and motors are fitted, and the hydraulic and diesel tanks as well as the cabs are installed.
Commissioning is the next step and the final stage of the production process. Our Technical Commissioning specialists “switch on” the machine, so to speak, bringing its electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems to life.
Plenty of space and 180 workstations
There are plans for 15 final assembly stations for machines, each with an area of 8.5 by 30 metres. Three tracks, each 91 metres long, and one 56-metre track are planned for commissioning. The workshop is due to be completed in July 2026, go into operation in early 2027, and provide 180 jobs, 80 of which will be newly created.
Modern infrastructure for high-tech machines
By building the factory, the company is creating modern infrastructure and sufficient space to build and commission its machines – especially E³ high-tech machines with hybrid drive technology – in the best possible way. The planned combination of a photovoltaic system and green roof on the workshop also has positive effects on energy efficiency and the climate. The green roof has a temperature-equalizing effect through thermal insulation, thus ensuring less energy consumption for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning while also improving air quality.
Everything in one place
The new building will also bring production capacities that are currently separated closer together. The new hall will be close to Mechanical Assembly. Additionally, integrating Technical Commissioning into the new hall significantly increases the efficiency of production processes. This shortens transport routes – both for our machines and for our employees.
Investment from private funds during the crisis
More than EUR 60 million will be invested in the project, all of which will come from the owner family's private funds. Plasser & Theurer has imposed a cost reduction programme on itself and is currently carrying out a transformation process lasting several years. For this reason, the owner family does not wish to burden the company, but rather contribute to its future viability.
Committed to the location ...
“Despite the extremely difficult economic situation in Upper Austria, which is currently affecting many companies, including us, we are investing in our future right now and creating new jobs, making a commitment to our employees, our market, and our customers,” says CEO Johannes Max-Theurer.
... despite a difficult landscape
However, the landscape for the industrial location must be improved quickly. “There's a lot to do here. Austria has come under severe pressure as a business location in recent years: comparatively high energy costs, rising non-wage labour costs, a shortage of skilled workers, and a massive increase in bureaucracy. Competition on the global markets, in particular, has recently become increasingly tough for strongly export-orientated companies like us. We feel it enormously, and this is where sensible policy with good judgement is required,” as Max-Theurer emphasizes.
“Our investments prove that we still believe in Austria as a business location. Although we have a shortage of skilled workers, we generally have very well-trained specialists, a high research quota, legal certainty, and a high quality of life. These factors are important.”
“Plasser & Theurer is a success story ‘Made in Upper Austria’ and stands for innovation and vision. An investment of this magnitude, for which I would like to express my thanks, is not a matter of course, especially in challenging times – it demonstrates optimism and is proof that Upper Austria is also an enormously attractive location for globally successful companies. Upper Austria is the land of business, work, and innovation – Plasser & Theurer is a prime example of this, with 31 patents registered last year alone,” says Governor Thomas Stelzer.
“The new Plasser & Theurer factory is an important milestone for Linz as a business location. This investment not only creates numerous jobs, but also strengthens our economic power and innovation capacity. Plasser & Theurer shows that Linz is an attractive location for industry and development,” emphasizes Linz City Councillor for Planning Dietmar Prammer
www.plassertheurer.com
