WITTE Automotive continues to expand in the Karlovy Vary region. The company is opening its new manufacturing facility in Ostrov with hundreds of new jobs
WITTE Automotive Czechia is opening another manufacturing plant in the Karlovy Vary region, this time in the Park Ostrov South industrial zone. It is the first tenant to occupy a part of the new site with a planned area of 65,000 square meters. The modern 27,000 sqm manufacturing facility, which will offer up to 350 new jobs, is located in close proximity to the company's existing building. The developer of the industrial park is Panattoni, the investor is Accolade.
"The opening of this plant represents a really important step for our company. The new premises will allow us not only to expand production, but also to increase its efficiency thanks to a higher level of automation and digitalization. The new plant will also offer better facilities and working environment for our employees and will enable us to better respond to the needs of our customers," saysJiří Šamša, Managing Director of WITTE Automotive Czechia.
The company, which specializes in the development and production of locking and access control systems for the automotive industry, today employs more than 2,000 people and is one of the largest employers in the Region of Karlovy Vary. The new plant will be used for the specialized production of exterior painted door handles for key customers. This is the third location of WITTE Automotive in the Czech Republic, which complements the existing plants in Nejdek and Ostrov.
"We are pleased to be part of another milestone in the growth of WITTE Automotive, which is one of the key players in the Region of Karlovy Vary and at the same time an important employer in the region. For their expansion, we have helped to build a completely new facility that builds on the industrial tradition of the place while benefiting from the existing transport and technical infrastructure of the region. The Karlovy Vary region, where we have long been the largest investor, is very special to us - for many years we have focused mainly on the Cheb region, but now we are also growing in the Ostrov area or even in nearby city of Karlovy Vary. We thank WITTE Automotive for their cooperation and look forward to seeing how this project will contribute to the further economic transformation of the region," says Milan Kratina, CEO of Accolade.
"The Region of Karlovy Vary has been striving to strengthen its industrial base for a long time and is succeeding in building on its historical tradition. Modern industry can drive the economic transformation of the entire region. WITTE Automotive is the first tenant in the newly erected building in Panattoni Park Ostrov South. WITTE is a stable employer in the region and we greatly appreciate the trust that allows us to be a partner for such a company in its expansion. The decision to expand within the area underlines the attractiveness of the Region of Karlovy Vary for foreign investment," says Pavel Sovička, Managing Director of Panattoni for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The new manufacturing facility will play a role not only in production, but also in logistics and internal development. Part of the company's strategy is also to optimize production and logistics processes between the new plant and the company’s plant in Nejdek, where WITTE Automotive is also expanding the Spare Parts Center. This will create an additional 50 jobs, and the company is emphasizing the inclusion of people with limited ability to work shifts and workers in the 55+ age group. "Our goal is not only to grow, but also to create a fair and sustainable working environment for all. We support the development of our employees' expertise and deploy modern technologies that contribute to production efficiency and better working conditions," adds Jiří Šamša.
The production building also meets modern environmental standards. Sustainable measures include, for example, heat pumps for energy savings, photovoltaic panels to reduce dependence on external energy sources, or systems for heat recovery and water management efficiency. The infrastructure also includes charging stations for electric vehicles. The whole project aims to achieve BREEAM New Construction certification at the ‘Excellent’ level, which confirms the high standards of environmental responsibility and energy efficiency of the new building.
The new plant also benefits from its advantageous transport location within the Region of Karlovy Vary and Central Europe. The site is located a short distance from major industrial and logistics centers. The proximity of the D6 motorway (Prague - Karlovy Vary - Cheb) provides an efficient connection to the motorway network in the Czech Republic and Germany. In addition, the region is well connected to Saxony, which provides efficient connections to suppliers and partners in German industrial hubs.