New chapter in Gifhorn: Stiebel Eltron Starts production for heat pumps

In Gifhorn, Stiebel Eltron plans a comprehensive reconciliation and expansion of manufacturing capacities for environmentally friendly heat pump heaters. The changes affect the production line for internal modules of the heat pumps at the location dominated by Continental Teves. This change is part of a larger project that is expected to last over several years and is expected between 2028 and 2029.

The renovation measures require adjustments in production, social spaces, office oaks and fire protection. As part of this planning, the work of Continental is gradually shut down, while Stiebel Eltron begins with preparatory work. For the project, the state has already promised funding of 5 million euros, available from 2024. In view of the current sales flaut in heat pumps, however, no temporary time pressure is felt, so that the first preparations are expected to start in the first quarter of 2025.

planned personnel structure and qualification

According to Dr. Kai Schiefelbein, Managing Director of Stiebel Eltron, is sought to build the production at the Gifhorn location with competent employees. Continental employees are to be brought to new jobs in order to assume the assembly of the heat pump inside parts. The start of the assembly work in mid -2025 is planned, while the first number of employees is stopped in the context of partial production.

The exact number of personnel will depend on the general market development, while up to the full final level by 2029, 200 to 300 employees at the location will be expected. However, no personnel structure is currently being carried out during the preparations.

dr. Ariane Reinhart, Continental Officer for Personnel and Sustainability, and Athanasios Kokotos, Chairman of the Works Council in Gifhorn, emphasize the importance of the conversations between Continental and Stiebel Eltron as an important step for the employees. They emphasize that binding contracts must be developed from the willingness to cooperate. In addition, Continental refers to extensive qualification options in the company's own further training institute for technology and transformation (CITT), which has qualified over 8,500 participants by the end of 2022.

The automotive production in Gifhorn is not closed without prior notice; Continental had already announced in July 2023 to gradually hire business activities at the location by the end of 2027. The cause of this decision is increased costs in the automotive industry and declining automotive markets that have a high, non -competitive cost structure.

For more information, use the reporting of waz and Continental .