Webasto SE is investing in a new administration and development center at its headquarters in Stockdorf, Germany, said the car roof manufacturer, which produces polycarbonate roof systems as well as metal and composite systems.
“This new building, in which we are investing almost 40 million euros ($44.8 million), is a cross-generational project that will make its mark well into the future”, said Holger Engelmann, chairman of Webasto's management board, at a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction project July 22.
In the new building, Webasto will bring together diverse functional departments that are currently at different locations, in order to improve interdisciplinary cooperation among its international teams.
“The new facility, in which nearly 450 of the overall 900 workplaces will be resident, will also house the prototype construction and testing departments,” said Webasto in a news release.
The combination of different disciplines in one building “creates the framework for delivering improved global and local cooperation, a creative atmosphere and greater job satisfaction,” it said.
Webasto also announced plans for its focus during the Frankfurt Auto Show Sept. 17-27, with a special emphasis on its lighter weight technology not only for its traditional sunroof system, but into other potential applications.
The company said it has identified a range of new potential applications that extend beyond roof systems, particularly for polycarbonate — as a result of the material's excellent product characteristics, such as safety and free formability.