11/07/2024 | Press release

On 10 July 2024, Saxony's State Secretary Thomas Kralinski visited the production facility of Rheinmetall subsidiary Pierburg Pump Technology Ltd at its site in Hartha (Mittelsachsen district). Rheinmetall is planning to invest around €31m in this site to ensure production in the industrial sector even in times of transformation in the automotive industry towards modern, sustainable drive forms and “beyond automotive”. On the occasion of the visit, the State Secretary presented the company representatives with a funding notification totalling €7.66m. The funds are from the federal-state programme Joint Task for the Improvement of Regional Economic Structures (ger. Gemeinschaftsaufgabe Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur GRW).

It was only in March 2024, that a new production hall was completed at the site for the production of innovative DC link capacitors, which are superior to standard market technologies thanks to their electrical properties and temperature stability. At the heart of these innovative capacitors are nano-layer units made of plastic and aluminium, which are to be manufactured on site in the future. This involves the development of brand new technologies, as the special high-vacuum chemical process and a product with a layer density of one thousandth of a millimetre constitute uncharted territory. It also requires close dialogue with other sites, experts from the joint venture partner PolyCharge in the USA and machine manufacturers. Once the current process for sample production has been completed this production line will be a ticket to the site's future. This is due to the capacitor’s capability of introducing an entirely new era in the electrification of the automotive and industrial markets, and is therefore one of Rheinmetall's most important strategic projects in the civil sector.

Thomas Kralinski appreciates the innovative strength of the technology group and justifies the funding notification: “Pierburg Pump Technology has recognised the signs of the times. The company is acting foresightedly and is mastering the transformation of the supplier industry with clever concepts by broadening its base and tapping into new markets beyond the automotive sector with new technologies. I am delighted that our GRW funding is supporting this investment in rural areas and strengthening this traditional factory in the long run.”

Christoph Müller (Division Head of Power Systems) is very delighted about the support by the Free State of Saxony and the personal visit of State Secretary Thomas Kralinski: “The site in Hartha has been in existence for over 100 years, and with Pierburg Pump Technology Ltd, has been an important part of the

Rheinmetall Group for more than 30 years. This is where tradition and innovation merge. As a lighthouse company, we will continue to provide impetus for a successful future in the region. Political support however is important in order to be able to provide further highly qualified jobs in the region. The funding helps us to set the course for the future, so that “Hightech made in Hartha” will endure.”
 

About the Hartha Site of Pierburg Pump Technology Ltd

The Hartha site has been part of the Rheinmetall Group for over 30 years. The company has been characterised by its innovative strength for decades. Its first patent developed at the Hartha site in 1996, the electric water recirculation pump (WUP), became a bestseller. The Hydrogen Recirculation Blower (HRB) and the high-voltage cooling media pump CWA 2000 for fuel cell applications also epitomise the modern product portfolio, which also offers potential applications “beyond automotive”. The development of new future fields, such as hydrogen technology, and the achievement of CO₂-neutrality in production by 2035 are further strategic goals to ensure sustainable success. On a total area of 45,000 square metres, around 400 employees currently work in the various areas as well as thousands of people are indirectly employed in the supply area. Various training programmes are also offered. Over the years, the site has been honoured several times for its quality as a supplier. In 2023, Pierburg Pump Technology Ltd won the Ludwig Erhard Award in silver, in 2022 in bronze. This “Excellence Prize” is awarded for top performance in the German economy.