We delivered a BTS facility for Weber, US manufacturer of grills and accessories. The approximately 50,000-square-metre manufacturing and distribution hub in Zabrze is Weber's first production plant outside the United States. The facility is certified under BREEAM.
Weber is a global leader in outdoor cooking innovation, technology, products and will produce high-quality barbecue grills here. The facility also features modern office space, a Weber Grill Academy Experience Center, and multiple green space areas for team members to enjoy. The Weber Grill Academy Experience Center is a hands-on learning space dedicated to the art and skill of barbecuing through culinary classes, interactive chef’s tables, private parties, and corporate team building events held virtually or in person.
Marek Foryński, BTS Managing Director w Panattoni explains: - „This investment was a challenge - from finding the right site, to the very construction of the facility, following the strict requirements of the client. And all this in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. I am convinced that Weber's facility meets all the company's expectations. Its location provides access to qualified staff as well as excellent transport infrastructure, which will facilitate the distribution of the company's products to various markets. Let me mention that the FDI Business Financial Times 2019 named the Katowice Special Economic Zone the best industrial zone in Europe and the second-best worldwide last year. The pro-investor approach of Zabrze and economic zone authorities plays an important role in it.”
The facility was built on time, despite the challenges of a global pandemic. - “Through novel technologies like virtual reality and creative approaches, our local team in Poland worked closely with our US manufacturing leaders to navigate this facility's construction and ensure every square meter of the plant was designed to tight specifications” – says Chris Scherzinger, Chief Executive Officer of Weber, and adds: - “Our new manufacturing and distribution center marks an important milestone in Weber’s global expansion and European growth. It brings high-quality Weber barbecue products closer to our retail customers and consumers, improving our delivery and service speed. We also gain considerable efficiencies operationally and a new level of flexibility to respond and react to local market dynamics and needs.”
From Zabrze Weber will serve customers and consumers across Europe. Within a radius of an hour’s drive here there are three international airports (Katowice, Krakow, Ostrava). The site has direct access to the A1 motorway (Gdańsk – Łódź – Czechia – Austria), and the intersection of the A1 and A4 (Germany – Wrocław – Kraków) is just a 10 minutes’ drive away.
