Inauguration of new SMS Campus in Mönchengladbach: A new era for SMS group

On Saturday, May 25, 2024, SMS group celebrated the official opening of its new, ultramodern headquarters in Mönchengladbach-Dahl. The ceremony was attended by renowned figures from industry and politics, including Mona Neubaur, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Mayor Felix Heinrich, Jochen Burg, CEO of SMS group, and the company’s owners, the Weiss family.

Mona Neubaur, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, on the inauguration of the SMS Campus commented in her speech: “The new SMS Campus is an impressive example of innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. The investment illustrates that, as a location for business, North Rhine-Westphalia offers the best conditions for globally successful companies. I am particularly pleased that SMS group continues to commit to shaping the global transformation to climate-neutral production from the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia. In this way, it is the people from North Rhine-Westphalia who are providing a vital impetus for the sustainable and innovative development of the industry that stretches far beyond the state itself.”

“The opening of our new SMS Campus is a significant stride toward the future for SMS. This investment underlines our commitment, not only to our employees, but also to the innovative strength of our company. Here, we have created a working environment that lays the foundation for future developments in the metallurgical industry. The SMS Campus is an expression of our dedication to actively promote the decarbonization of metal production processes. With this Campus, we are investing in the people who support our innovations and in the technologies that will revolutionize our industry. We are ready to take on tomorrow’s challenges and lead the metallurgical industry into a sustainable future,” says Jochen Burg, CEO of SMS group.

Following a construction period lasting around four years, SMS group has opened its new Campus in Mönchengladbach-Dahl, which offers around 1,500 innovative workplaces on an area covering 44,000 square meters. The Campus architecture is characterized by five building sections arranged in a circle and grouped around a central plaza. This plaza is spanned by a transparent membrane roof with a unique design, featuring a cable support structure, an outer pressure ring, and 40 air cushions, which together weigh about 300 tons. The roof, custom-made for the Campus, represents an innovation in the commercial sector and fosters an atmosphere of open interaction.

The working environment on the Campus is designed to promote flexibility, movement, and employee satisfaction. With different room types – from enclosed think tank areas for concentrated work to ergonomic meeting rooms and open booths for temporary work – the Campus offers the right space for every task. The traditional company kitchenette has been replaced by inviting modern lounges that can used for informal exchanges. All workplaces are equipped with state-of-the-art IT technology. In line with the clean desk principle, the office space is used efficiently and a paperless, environmentally friendly way of working is promoted.

A special focus is placed on health and sustainability: The Campus is equipped with components to promote health and wellbeing, including standing mats and padded wall boards, enabling a healthy working environment with ergonomic furniture. Wi-Fi and 5G network coverage throughout allows staff to work both inside and outside the building.

The Campus promotes an international character and progressive digitalization using virtual reality technology, which enables employees around the world to meet and interact in a digital twins of equipment and even train customers on them.

The cooperation with the city of Mönchengladbach is reflected in the improved accessibility of the Campus by an extended bus line that stops directly in front of the premises, thus ensuring a good connection to the city’s infrastructure.

SMS group’s roots in Mönchengladbach go back to the year 1872, when brothers Michael and Peter Meer founded a machine factory and iron foundry here. In 1926, the company became part of the Mannesmann Group and from then on operated under the name Maschinenfabrik Meer, with the location becoming particularly known for equipment for seamless tube production. Until the end of the 1990s, “Meer” remained an integral part of the Mannesmann fold. Following its integration into SMS group, the company continued its tradition of technological innovation. In 1999, the company merged with SMS Siemag to form SMS group. The history of SMS group is deeply intertwined with Mönchengladbach and reflects the unabated thirst for innovation that continues to shape the company’s future to this day. With the new SMS Campus, SMS group is now heralding a new era at the location that not only honors its deep historical roots, but also shows a future-oriented path for innovation, technological progress, and sustainable growth.

Source and Photo: SMS group