RAFI Group (Germany) - With a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on May 2, the start of construction of the new RAFI factory in Bad Waldsee was celebrated. After a welcoming speech by RAFI CFO Lothar Arnold and an address by Andreas Reisch, Managing Director of the construction company, presiding mayor Matthias Henne underlined the importance of the construction project in his speech. He pointed out that the 250 long-term jobs to be created at the new location would make RAFI one of the largest local employers. Lothar Arnold explained: “This increase in our production capacity is the result of RAFI’s successful growth strategy. It also demonstrates our clear commitment to the region as a production location.”

The new building on the 28,000-m² site will contain a production area of 17,000 m², combining production shops for synthetic materials and machines, metal processing, tool manufacturing, and tool development. The complex will also be home to a new training and further education center. The climate-friendly building infrastructure complies with the EFFH 40 standard. The primary energy will come almost exclusively from renewable sources. Heating and cooling will be powered by geothermal energy with two electric brine-water heat pumps.

The primary energy source will be a geothermal probe system with 34 probes installed at a depth of 131 m. Additional energy will be provided by a PV system with a performance of 760 kWp. Completion and commissioning of the new factory is projected for early 2025. Currently the RAFI Group operates eight locations in Germany, Europe, China, and the USA. It manufactures products including key switches, switches, touchscreens, control systems, and electronic assemblies for a wide range of industries – from machine and plant construction to robotics, automation, telecommunications, medical technology, and commercial vehicle manufacturing.