VIPs at the foundation stone ceremony.

More employees could be hired at Jungheinrich's corporate headquarters when the new building opens in the northern spring of 2016 (Forkliftaction.com News #655).

On 15 August, the foundation stone of the new headquarters, at the company's traditional domicile at Friedrich-Ebert-Damm 129 in Hamburg-Wandsbek, was laid in the presence of representatives of the City of Hamburg, the architects, the construction companies, Jungheinrich shareholders and the management board of Jungheinrich AG.

Markus Piazza, head of corporate communications, tells Forkliftaction.com News that while over 500 people are based at Hamburg, more could be employed in the future in response to growth in demand for Jungheinrich products.

Hans-Georg Frey, board chairman, says the new building is a strong tribute to Hamburg-Wandsbek. "We are creating a modern, attractive work environment for (our 500 staff) -and their numbers are sure to have risen by the time the building is occupied in the spring of 2016."

The five-storey building will have a gross floor space of over 18,000 sqm (193,750 sqft.) and be erected to the standards of the silver certificate issued by the German Sustainable Building Council, satisfying stringent environmental and sustainability requirements.

The building has an aggregate capex budget of approximately EUR25 million (USD33 million) and construction will be carried out by Georgsmarienhütte-based MBN Bau AG.

Covering a total of 14,000 sqm (150,695 sqft.) at Friedrich-Ebert-Damm, the premises have sufficient room for future building expansions.

Since the spring of 2007, Jungheinrich has been using Am Stadtrand 35, a rented office building directly adjacent to the company's "old" and "new" domicile, as its corporate headquarters.

From 1958 to 1995, the Jungheinrich site at Friedrich-Ebert-Damm was home to the company's production operations and head office, and from 1996 until its demolition in 2007, it continued to serve as Jungheinrich's corporate headquarters.