Sumitomo Rubber Europe and Dunlop Tech have celebrated the official opening of their European Development Centre campus in an event attended by more than 100 guests. After a construction period of over a year, the 9,144ft² (30,000m²) premises in Hanau-Steinheim, Germany, house facilities for tire development and testing, the production of liquid latex, and the design of tire pressure monitoring systems.
The historic building was sensitively restored in accordance with heritage protection regulations and subsequently converted into offices. All construction works and machinery installation were completed on schedule, enabling operations to start at the facilities in May.
“We are extremely grateful to the Hanau Business Development Agency and head mayor Claus Kaminsky, who provided excellent advice and assistance during our purchase of the property,” said Bernd Schuchhardt, managing director of Dunlop Tech.
“We are delighted to have both companies, Sumitomo Rubber Europe and Dunlop Tech, now operating under one roof, so to speak. The new center will simplify communication and focus expertise.”
Dr Bernd Löwenhaupt, MD of Sumitomo Rubber Europe, commented, “The spacious offices at our new center will open up a host of further expansion opportunities for us. Our new technical and chemical laboratories provide us with the opportunity for testing and analyzing tire compounds and tires in-house for the first time and are readily expandable.
“This will boost the speed and efficiency of our research and development operations in Europe. The tire hall is also more spacious, allowing us to store and fit more tires. These new and enlarged premises cater perfectly to the increased overall growth we have experienced in recent years.”
Commented Claus Kaminsky, head mayor of Hanau, “By attracting these two companies to establish their new center here, we have gained a more than worthy successor for the premises formerly occupied by DS Smith Packaging.
“We are happy that such environmentally aware, future-focused and innovative companies have chosen our region for their new location.”
