65
november 2014
international
construction
EQUIPMENT
Wirtgen
With record sales
and staff numbers,
the acquisition of
Benninghoven and new
investment going into
its factories around the
world,WirtgenGroup
remains in expansion
mode.
Chris Sleight
reports.
nowdistinguishes between its
‘RoadTechnology’ products –
most of theWirtgenbrand range,
alongwithVögele pavers and
Hamm compactors and ‘Mineral
Technology’, comprising the
Wirtgen surfaceminers, Kleemann
crusher and screen range and the
Benninghovenportfolio.
According toStefanWirtgen, the
reason the company hasmade this
distinction is toprovide dedicated
support in eachof the two areas.
“The idea is thatwe are specialised,”
he said, highlighting areas such as
sales, service and technical support
where the requirements are different
between roadbuilding andminerals
equipment.
Global Reach
And although the acquisition
of Benninghovenhas added
to the group’smanufacturing
footprint inGermany, there is
also a push atWirtgen for greater
internationalisation. As Stefan
Wirtgen said, “We are nowplacing
an emphasis on the buildings and
activities of our local production.
About 50%of sales are in emerging
markets.”He added, “This is
very challenging for European
manufacturers.Theworldhas
changed andwe simply have to
adapt to that.”
The grouphas three production
facilities outsideGermany, a
subsidiary calledCiber inPorto
Alegre, Brazil,WirtgenChina,
which is inLangfang, near
Beijing, andWirtgen India in the
manufacturinghotspot of Pune.
Both theChinese and Indian
operations are currently undergoing
expansion.The facility in India has
only beenopen for three years and
nowproduces some 500 rollers per
year, but it is already undergoing its
first extension.Thiswill see
Newmachines and
further investment
8,000m
2
of covered space added
at a cost of €11million (US$14
million).
StefanWirtgen said, “After the
successful entry into the roller
market in Indiawe are startingwith
small pavers.”
He added that there are also
plans tobuildKleemann screening
products inPune, as price pressures
in Indiamean it is difficult tobe
competitivewithoutmanufacturing
locally.
InLangfang, Chinameanwhile a
further 32,000m
2
of covered space
is being added to the production
facility at a cost of €45million
(US$57million), andWirtgen
is alsoopening twonew sales and
service offices elsewhere inChina.
Aswell as these factories, the
WirtgenGrouphas some 55 sales
and servicing subsidiaries around
theworld.The group is currently
investing to expand these or build
T
his yearWirtgenGroup
expects revenues tohit a
record€1.95billion (US$
2.45billion) in2014, and staff
numbers are also at their highest
ever, at some 6,500.
One of the reasons for this growth
is its acquisitionof a 70% share in
asphalt plantmaker Benninghoven
earlier this year, a companyWirtgen
Group co-headStefanWirtgen
described as a “Technology leader.”
He added, “This is the perfect
addition. It really complements
whatwe have.”
Benninghovenhas 600 staff
andmanufactures plants at two
locations inGermany. Its range
comprises transportable (stationary,
but able tobemoved from location
to location),mobile and semi-
mobile asphalt plants.
The additionof Benninghoven
to the grouphas prompted a
slight reorganisation.Wirtgen
Hamm’s newDV+ 70i tandem
roller on display during the
Wirtgen Group’s 2014 Road
Technology Days.
