“We welcome Valjevo to the Hansgrohe family”. The Hansgrohe Group has opened a new production site for the manufacture of bathroom and kitchen fittings in Valjevo that will employ up to 1 000 people. The grand opening was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, CEO Hansgrohe SE, Anke Konrad, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Serbia and Serbian Government Ministers Sinisa Mali, Goran Vesić and Tomislav Momirović
The Hansgrohe Group continues to focus on growth and opened its new production site in the Serbian city of Valjevo. A plant for the production of bathroom and kitchen fittings has been built here over the past year and a half at a cost of around 85 million euros.
“With this investment, we are strengthening our manufacturing network in Europe,” said Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, Chairman of the Executive Board of Hansgrohe SE, during the opening ceremony.
High level of in-house production expertise
Hansgrohe relies on a high level of in-house manufacturing expertise for its products. “With our employees at all locations, we fulfill our high-quality promise and thus ensure the satisfaction of our customers,” says Kalmbach. “The plant in Serbia further strengthens our competence in the area of valves. Now we have additional capacity, especially for the European market, to be close to our customers.” In the future, mainly hansgrohe brand products will be manufactured in Valjevo.
In June, the Serbian employees already started working in assembly. Other areas will follow in the next few weeks. All new colleagues will be trained in Schiltach for several weeks in advance. “We are delighted to welcome our Serbian colleagues to the Hansgrohe family,” says the Hansgrohe CEO.
During the factory opening ceremony, Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia, pointed out that Hansgrohe is the “jewel of Valjevo” and expressed gratitude to the German investors who came to Serbia to stay and contribute to the growth and development of our country.
“The vision of Hansgrohe is focused on development and innovation, and that’s how they became a global leader in the production of high-quality kitchen and bathroom equipment. The opening of the factory in Valjevo is their largest investment in the past 120 years, which speaks volumes about its significance. I am pleased that Valjevo has gained an experienced employer, and Serbia a major exporter. Hansgrohe products can be found in the most prestigious buildings worldwide, such as the Burj Khalifa, and now these same products will bear the label ‘Made in Valjevo.’ “
In conclusion, Vučič aded that Hansgrohe is an important gem in the crown of successful Serbia, and he expressed special gratitude to the company and exclusively shared the news that Hansgrohe has recommended our country to its neighbors from Schwarzwald, indicating that another major investor from the area is expected in Čačak soon.
He added that currently, 80,000 employees work in German companies in our country, making Germany our largest foreign trade partner.
Currently, just under 100 people work at the new location. In the long term, up to 1,000 jobs will be created in Valjevo.
Best overall package
Valjevo offers the best conditions for the premium manufacturer in the bathroom. “We looked at locations around the world,” adds Frank Semling, Hansgrohe’s production director. “Valjevo offers us the best overall package. This includes both the availability of skilled workers and suppliers. In addition, Serbia has an association agreement with the European Union, which means that internationally high standards apply to investments like ours. At the same time, the infrastructure is convincing. From the new location, we can quickly and well serve the increasing demand for our products in Europe.”
Most sustainable plant
The new Hansgrohe plant was built in the municipality of Valjevo, about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital Belgrade, on a 130,000 square meter site. It is the most sustainable site within the Hansgrohe Group. A photovoltaic system on the roof, a combined heat and power plant to generate electricity, graywater use for the toilets, 26-centimeter-thick roof insulation and triple glazing on the windows are just a few examples of what makes the building and its use sustainable. For this, Hansgrohe receives LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), an internationally recognized certification system for ecological building.
Hansgrohe has production sites in Germany, France, the Netherlands, the USA and China, and now Serbia. With its AXOR and hansgrohe brands, the company from the Black Forest is a leading manufacturer in the bathroom and kitchen sector in terms of innovation, design and quality. A total of around 5,600 people work for Hansgrohe worldwide. The bathroom and kitchen expert was awarded the TOP EMLPOYER AWARD in 2022. The company generated sales of 1.528 billion euros in 2022.
About the Hansgrohe Group – Setting the Beat of Water. Since 1901.
With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, design and quality within the bath and kitchen industry. Founded in 1901 in the Black Forest, the company gives water form and function with its faucets, showerheads and shower systems. In combination with sanitary ceramics and bathroom furniture, the company offers individual design options from a single source for holistic bathroom experiences. The 122-year history of the company is marked by innovations, such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen faucet, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower.
The company holds more than 20,000 active property rights. The Hansgrohe Group stands for long-lasting quality products and for responsibility towards people and the environment. Sustainable production of resource-conserving products is central to the company’s business activities around the globe. By developing innovative technologies for faucets and showers, Hansgrohe achieves the greatest possible effect on protecting water as a resource and limiting and adapting to climate change during the usage phase of its products.
As part of its consistent sustainability strategy, Hansgrohe is equipping all water-bearing products exclusively with water-saving technologies by 2030 within its “ECO 2030” initiative.
With 33 subsidiaries and 20 sales offices supplying products in more than 150 countries, the globally active company in the sanitary industry is a reliable partner to its customers in all regions of the world.
The Hansgrohe Group, its brands and products have won numerous awards, including more than 700 design prizes since 1974.
The products of the Hansgrohe Group are found around the world: on renowned cruise ships, in luxurious 5-star and boutique hotels, in international metropolitan cities, in extraordinary spas, exclusive bathrooms of lodges and luxury villas, public facilities, as well as in countless private homes. The Hansgrohe Group’s high quality standards are ensured by seven wholly-owned production facilities: four in Germany, one each in France, the United States and China. In 2022, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.528 billion. It employs around 5,600 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany.
