With increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions, Ball needed to establish a modern production facility in the Central European region that would meet the requirements of a technologically advanced operation with a high level of automation in line with Industry 4.0 principles.
The key objective was to find a location offering:
a strategic position with access to major European transport routes,
availability of a qualified workforce,
space for the long-term expansion of production capacities,
and a solution aligned with high sustainability standards.
Opportunity
The project represented an opportunity to create a logistics and manufacturing base capable of supporting not only Ball’s current operational needs, but also its long-term strategic growth plans.
At the same time, it offered the possibility to establish a new benchmark in modern industrial development, with a strong focus on technological sophistication, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
The brownfield site located in the Borská Pole industrial zone in Pilsen provided Ball with a unique opportunity to combine modern manufacturing, research, light logistics, and long-term growth within a single location.
Covering approximately 28 hectares, the site represents around 7% of the total industrial development in the area and benefits from excellent transport accessibility – from EuroCity and InterCity rail connections to direct access to the E50/D5 motorway linking Germany and Prague. Another major advantage is the proximity of secondary schools and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (2 km away), creating a strong talent base for technologically oriented operations.
Solution
A modern hi-tech production facility was developed for Ball within the Panattoni Pilsen Digital Park project, designed precisely according to the client’s requirements.
As part of the project, Panattoni:
prepared the site for the construction of a technologically advanced manufacturing plant,
designed, permitted, financed, and delivered the majority of the transport infrastructure within the area,
modernized and relocated utility networks for the entire zone, including district heating, high-voltage power lines, and water infrastructure,
and delivered a new street network, public transport stops, and trolleybus infrastructure.
Private investment into the expansion and construction of infrastructure for the City of Pilsen exceeded EUR 5.2 million, with implementation taking 23 months from launch to handover to the city.
The production hall itself covers 47,843 sq m, while the total investment, including the client’s technology, reached approximately EUR 170 million. Despite its complexity, the construction of the manufacturing facility was completed in just 13 months.
The light-colored southern façade helps reduce the urban heat island effect, the truss-frame structure references the industrial history of the location, and the remaining façades are complemented by trellises designed for climbing plants.
Benefits
The project provided Ball with a modern and scalable facility for a technologically demanding operation while also creating room for future growth.
In addition to operational efficiency, the project also contributes to sustainability:
it was developed on a brownfield site without consuming agricultural land,
originally non-existent greenery was transformed into 25% landscaped green areas,
the site supports electromobility and car-sharing,
and the project follows high sustainability standards and long-term ESG objectives.
The park originally targeted BREEAM Excellent certification; however, the client ultimately opted for the Very Good level.
Project Context
The Ball project was developed as part of Panattoni Pilsen Digital Park, prepared on a brownfield site within the Borská Pole industrial area in Pilsen. The park naturally integrates with the surrounding industrial development, delivers new capacities for hi-tech manufacturing, and simultaneously enables further development of the area without the need for additional land consumption.
While one of the plots hosts Ball’s manufacturing facility, another serves as a reserve for future expansion, and the third plot (Plot C) is prepared for future projects in line with the park’s overall philosophy.
Panattoni Team
Land Acquisition: Pavel Sovička, Matěj Hejma
Commercial Management / Negotiation: Vladimír Müller, Jiří Zita
Project Director: Jan Andrejco
