Panattoni, the most active industrial real estate developer globally, tailored another manufacturing plant for a global player. Developer's BTS division officially opened the Knorr-Bremse factory – a leading manufacturer of brake systems for rail and commercial vehicles – in Rzeszów on October 17. The facility will employ at least 400 people and serve many European markets.
The opening took place on the premises of the investment – in the Rzeszów-Dworzysko Economic Activity Zone. Besides representatives of Panattoni, the ceremony was graced with the presence of KB SfS Board Members: Dr Peter Radina, Mr Harald Schneider, Mr Bernhard Winkler – Vice President of KB SfS Railway Production, Mr Thomas Rappl – Vice President Supply Chain & Service Operations, Mr Fernando Hazeu – Managing Director of Knorr-Bremse Spain and Mr. Gianluca Crippa – Chief Operating Officer of Microelettrica Scientifica.
The event was also attended by representatives of the City of Rzeszów: Mr Konrad Fijolek – the Mayor, the Marshal's Office of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, the Podkarpackie Voivodeship Office: Mrs Ewa Leniart – the Governor and the Poviat Office in Rzeszow: Mrs Joanna Nieroda – Director of the Science and Technology Park and Promotion Department and other local institutions. Representatives of universities and technical schools from Podkarpacie and Krakow as well as many guests from institutions and associations of the railroad industry in Poland and, above all, customers of Knorr-Bremse in Poland and Europe also graced the ceremony with their presence.
The hosts of the event were Mr. Jacek Biłas – President of the Management Board of Knorr Bremse in Poland, and Damian Kasza – Director of the Plant in Rzeszów.
"Today's opening is the culmination of several months of hard work, not only on the construction site. We supported Knorr-Bremse at every stage, starting with finding the ideal location – in the Rzeszów-Dworzysko Economic Zone, where we already carried out investments, which allowed for optimal conduct of the developer process. The comprehensive, flexible, and proactive approach of the dedicated BTS team at Panattoni enabled the smooth completion of the project and set Knorr-Bremse on another strategic investment of continental reach," commented Marek Foryński, BTS Managing Director at Panattoni, on the day of the event.
During the official opening ceremony, invited guests were given a tour of the plant. They were presented with three already functioning Business Units: HVAC, which is engaged in the production of air conditioning systems for rail vehicles along with a service available in the future; Power Electric specializing in the production of electrical equipment for rail vehicles; and the Service Center for pneumatic and hydraulic brake systems for rail vehicles. Knorr-Bremse utilizes 19,000 square meters of manufacturing space and as much as 4,000 square meters of office space of very high standards. The space was designed according to Knorr-Bremse's guidelines under the supervision of the company's architect, and Panattoni ensured, among other things, additional glazing, ergonomic workstations, and windows overlooking the manufacturing area.
Within the facility, Knorr-Bremse will use, among other things, functional and technological rooms inside the hall, including testing rooms, industrial painting rooms, and areas where the dry ice-cleaning process will be carried out. Additionally, Panattoni implemented advanced ventilation systems, high-quality low-voltage installations, and compressed air installation, and also adapted the area for rail duct installation. The developer also guaranteed an elevated standard of the entrance elevation and lobby.
"The very high standard of the manufacturing and office parts resulted from Panattoni's deep understanding of Knorr-Bremse's needs, despite the lack of previous joint realizations. It is another facility in the BTS portfolio, which combines very different functions: from research and development, through production, to testing, and also perfectly fulfills a representative function. A facility adapted on so many levels is an ideal foundation for further cooperation," comments Michał Chodecki, BTS Development Director at Panattoni: "This is an important investment for Rzeszów and the surrounding area, which will not only provide at least 400 jobs but can also become a kind of business cluster, gathering suppliers operating in the region" - he summarizes.
Rzeszów attracts international tycoons. The Rzeszów region has been gaining importance and attractiveness in recent years. The location offers good access to both low and highly skilled workers. It also provides proximity to two international transport routes – the A4 motorway and the S19 road, which is part of the 'Via Carpatia' route – the most important road connection in the eastern part of the European Union. Therefore, more and more companies dealing with highly specialized production, including from the aviation, electronic, or automotive industries, are betting on the Rzeszów region.
In the Rzeszów-Dworzysko Zone, Panattoni BTS implemented, among others, a factory for Phoenix Contact E-mobility, where on 15,000 square meters ultra-modern charging systems for electric vehicles are manufactured and tested for global recipients and infrastructure operators of electro-mobility. A year earlier, Panattoni completed a cross-docking facility for DB Schenker within the zone, which received a positive opinion on innovation, issued by the Rzeszów Regional Development Agency.
Knorr-Bremse (ISIN: DE000KBX1006, stock symbol: KBX) is a global leader in the market for braking systems and a leading supplier of other systems for rail and commercial vehicles. Knorr-Bremse products contribute to the increase in safety and energy efficiency in rail and road transport worldwide. In over 30 countries at more than 100 locations, about 32,600 employees use their expertise and motivation to ensure that customers around the world are fully satisfied with the offered products and services. In 2022, both divisions of the Knorr-Bremse Group achieved revenues totaling 7.1 billion EUR. For over 115 years, Knorr-Bremse has been leading in the field of innovative solutions within its product range, contributing to the development of mobile and transport technologies, and also gaining an advantage in the field of networked system solutions. Knorr-Bremse is one of the most successful German industrial conglomerates, which benefits from the most important global megatrends such as urbanization, ecological efficiency, digitalization, and automated driving.
Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems Poland Sp. z o.o. has been present on the Polish market since 1999, offering braking systems for all types of rail vehicles as well as door systems, sanitary systems, vehicle control systems, and air conditioning devices. Thanks to a 24-year presence in the market, it has a strong and established position. The key to the company's success is its presence in local markets, where, thanks to high flexibility, it is able to meet the expectations and requirements set by customers.
