INTERNATIONAL NEWS
11
Grohe’s investment in
new Germany plant
Grohe has successfully invested in a new plant in Lahr, Germany.
The plant is expected to create over 40 new jobs.
The expansion of the electroplating facility, which
enables plastic components such as showerheads to
be plated in chrome, allows the capacity of chrome
plating for plastic at the site to increase by up to 70%.
“Grohe is growing and with the expansion of our
sites, such as here in Lahr, we are continuing to drive
this course of growth forward — both nationally and
internationally,” says Grohe CEO, Michael Rauterkus. As
part of the international growth strategy, Grohe assumes
a strategic approach that aims to concentrate specific
technological and product knowledge in each plant and
thus to create an international network of technology
centres. Lahr is assuming the role of competence centre
for showers and shower systems.
More than 700 employees ensure, among other things,
that over 20 000 shower systems leave the plant in
Lahr every day, which are shipped all over the world.
The demand for Grohe showers and shower systems is
growing continuously. Thanks to considerably shorter
The number of employees at the plant has increased to
over 700, which makes Lahr the largest Grohe plant in
Germany. Grohe has invested more than EUR30-million in
the site within five years.
Sustainability forms an integral part of daily
business at Grohe and is firmly anchored in
the brand’s DNA.
cycle times, the new electroplating facility significantly
increases capacity at Grohe.
As early as July 2016, Grohe had already installed a
new combined heat and power unit in its plant. The
unit reduces CO 2 emissions at the production facility by
15% each year. Sustainability is an integral part of daily
business at Grohe and is firmly anchored in the brand’s
DNA. “We continuously expand all of our production
sites, which means we are also safeguarding Germany
as a production site,” adds Rauterkus. PA
Major freshwater source
under threat in Zambia
The Zambian government is subdividing a major forest reserve,
with angry residents saying it would endanger Lusaka’s water
supply and vowing to fight the decision.
For decades, Lusaka East Forest Reserve Number
27 has been classified as a protected area in
Zambia. Not only is it home to some of the freshest
water in the region, but it is also incredibly
biodiverse and serves as a recreation space for the
local population.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
However, the government’s recent decision to distribute parts
of the land to private owners could spell bad news for the
future of the forest. Residents are mostly concerned about
the impact this may have on the region’s water collection
system: from the forest, the water feeds into the Chalimbana
River and other reservoirs, and is then piped into households.
Continued on page 13 >>
November 2017 Volume 23 I Number 9