• Contact
• Locations
• German

Dürr campus relies on forward-looking energy concept

Groundbreaking for office complex

04/28/2008

• 40% lower energy costs than with conventional concept
• 2,100 metric tons less CO2 emissions per year
• Utilization of regenerative energy

Bietigheim-Bissingen, April 28, 2008 – In the presence of Tanja Gönner, Baden-Württemberg’s Environmental Affairs Minister, Dürr CEO Ralf W. Dieter has presented “Campus Energy 21”, the sustainable energy concept for the Dürr campus in Bietigheim-Bissingen. At today’s groundbreaking ceremony for the 26,000 m² office complex, he explained the use of regenerative energy and the energy-efficient design of the new office building.

By moving from Stuttgart to Bietigheim-Bissingen in mid-2009, Dürr will concentrate its activities in the areas of paint, assembly, and environmental systems. To that end, Dürr is expanding its existing location and becoming the largest employer in Bietigheim-Bissingen, with about 1,500 employees. At the campus, the mechanical and plant engineering group is relying on a forward-looking energy concept that integrates resource-conserving energy generation and reduction of CO₂ emissions. This approach connects with the Dürr product philosophy, which relies on resource conservation.

“In comparison with a conventional approach, our “Campus Energy 21” concept generates about 2,100 metric tons less in CO₂ emissions per year. At the same time, our energy costs are 40% lower than on a conventional approach,” said Ralf W. Dieter. Two elements contribute to that. First, there is the energy-saving design of the new building complex, which is characterized by very good heat insulation and smart building technology. Dürr thus beats the values prescribed by the German government’s Energy Conservation Ordinance (EnEV, as of 2004) by 60%. Second, a combination of five energy sources makes the key contribution to conserving resources. They are block heat and power plants, geothermal power, earth heat exchangers, process heat recovery, and photovoltaic.

Environmental Affairs Minister Tanja Gönner praised the innovative concept of the building project. "We view it as positive when companies take new paths by deciding in favor of sustainable resource utilization." The complex approach of “Campus Energy 21” is, according to Gönner, an exemplary model for forward-looking energy supply systems. "Beacon projects like the Dürr campus help pave the way for modern environmental technologies to enter everyday practice,” she added.

The campus is a 70,700 m² site of short paths to improving internal work processes. Thus, related departments are arranged in spatial proximity in the office complex, and meeting points for informal talks are planned. “The work stations feature first-class equipment based on the latest operational and scientific knowledge,” said Ralf W. Dieter at the groundbreaking ceremony, in which Bietigheim-Bissingen Mayor Jürgen Kessing also participated.

Construction of two buildings already began on the campus in November, a modern logistics center and a 2,500 m² extension for testing facilities that add to the world’s largest technology center of its kind. It is where Dürr develops products and processes involved in painting systems and conducts customer trials. Further components of the campus include a new customer center equipped with state-of-the-art technology, which offers even more room for training sessions, e.g. on painting robots, and the already existing production hall. Altogether, Dürr is investing about € 50 million.  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ENERGY CONCEPT 

1.   Block heat and power plant: Two company-owned power plants on the campus serve to recover heat and generate power. The heat is used directly in winter, and converted into cold with the aid of absorption equipment in summer. When possible, the block heat and power plants are driven with biogas, and otherwise with natural gas.

2.   Geothermal power: Earth probes that go to depths of up to 99 m absorb heat in the winter and give it off in the summer. The energy is transmitted with water, which serves the purpose of cooling or – after further warming – that of heating. The utilization of groundwater, which is captured by production wells and put back into the earth with injection wells, also operates according to this principle.

3.   Earth heat exchanger: Air flows through at a 240-m earth canal and is tempered there with the help of earth heat and earth cold. Afterwards, it is used in building ventilation, where additional warming is needed in winter.

4.   Process heat recovery: Heated exhaust air from the technology center is fed into heat exchangers to temper air or water.

5.  Photovoltaic: On 2,700 m², Dürr generates clean electricity to be fed into the public power grid.

Dürr is a mechanical and plant engineering group at the top of the world market in its areas of activity. It generates about 85% of its sales in business with the automotive industry. It furthermore supplies sectors such as the aircraft, machinery, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries with innovative production and environmental technology. The Dürr Group operates in the market with two divisions. The Paint and Assembly Systems division supplies production and painting technology, especially for car bodies. Machinery and systems from the Measuring and Process Systems division are used in engine and transmission manufacturing and in final vehicle assembly, among other areas. Worldwide, Dürr has 47 business locations in 21 countries.