The new Plant W serves to extend the production capacities of B. Braun division Avitum in Melsungen. The new structure is located on the Domäne Fahre grounds situated across from the existing Pfieffewiesen site. B. Braun Avitum made these investments in response to the marked increase in demand for infusion and syringe pumps recorded by the Hospital Care division, as well as for B. Braun dialysis monitors for the world market. As the production capacity at the location being used to date in Melsungen (Schwarzenberger Weg) is no longer sufficient to meet this demand, the company’s management has decided to build a new structure near the existing Pfieffewiesen plant. “With this step, we intend to expand our production capacities while at the same time preparing for further growth. To this end we will not only be transferring production functions to the new facility, but will also be relocating Development to the vicinity of Manufacturing in the new plant. In doing so, we are responding to increasing demand among our customers for innovative and efficient medical technology for their everyday clinical work, such as the new ‘Space’ infusion pump for the ICU”, says Dr. Wolfgang Feller, Management Board member and Head of B. Braun Avitum.

Both the existing product range and new products from the fields of infusion pumps and dialysis monitors will be produced at a new plant, which will be approx. 15,000 m² in size. The plant itself will be constructed with a modular design – should demand continue to rise, it will be possible to further increase production as well. It is also planned to centralize the administrative departments by gradually transferring them from the existing Schwarzenberger Weg and Stadtwald locations to the new plant. Around 400 employees from various production areas are to move to the new plant in the first stage. Continued growth in the future could lead to the creation of new jobs. “The job security agreement has made a significant contribution to increasing the company’s global competitiveness. As a result of the growth that has taken place since this agreement began, we have already created more than 100 new jobs in the existing plant over the last two years, and we expect that we will be able to increase this number even further as a result of the continuing positive demand trends”, explains Dr. Feller.

In addition, B. Braun Melsungen AG is investing some €5 million in constructing a new Training Facility in response to the growing demand for well-trained specialists. “The plans for the new Training Facility will allow us to increase the number of apprentice training positions by 40 percent again in the next few years”, explains Jürgen Sauerwald, Director of Personnel and Management Development at B. Braun. In 2009, the company increased its number of apprentices by nine percent year-on-year, reaching a record total of 108 new additions. Jürgen Sauerwald: “However, the real boom will only be able to come about once the new Training Facility is in place”. The facility is expected to be ready for use by mid-2011.