At the Diehl Defence Nonnweiler location, the ground-breaking ceremony for the site expansion took place today, which contributes significantly to the growth of the entire company. Diehl Defence has already noticeably increased the volume of its business activities in recent years and needs to further expand its capacities in order to meet the continuing increase in demand. The number of employees also reflects the growth: while the corporate division of Diehl Defence employed just around 2,800 people in 2021, it currently counts more than 4,400.
The event was attended by representatives of the Saarland state government, led by Jürgen Barke, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs of Saarland, and Petra Berg, Minister of the Environment. District Administrator Udo Recktenwald, Mayor Dr. Franz Josef Barth and the Managing Director of the regional property developer OBG Gruppe, Thomas Penner, also took part in the ground-breaking ceremony, which was carried out by Thomas Bodenmüller, Member of the Division Board and CFO of Diehl Defence, together with Ralf Schlaak, Site Manager Nonnweiler.
A building for the production of guided missiles as well as a technical center for the energy supply of the Maasberg location will be erected on the spot of the ground-breaking ceremony. Maasberg and the industrial premises of Mariahütte together form the Diehl Defence Nonnweiler location.
In addition to the two buildings for which the ground-breaking ceremony was held today, Diehl Defence is planning to expand its Saarland location with further buildings on the Maasberg and in Mariahütte.
At the event, representatives from the state government, the administrative district and the local authority paid tribute to the company's commitment to the Saarland, which is an essential part of economic life in the administrative district of Sankt Wendel and the municipality of Nonnweiler. The expansion of Diehl Defence's workforce there from just under 700 employees in October 2024 to more than 800 employees planned for the end of 2025 will be implemented taking into account environmental concerns and sustainability and will take into consideration all aspects of the safety of employees and local residents.
Minister of Economic Affairs Jürgen Barke: “The expansion of the company's location in Nonnweiler will bring additional added value and new jobs to the region. I am pleased about the company's clear commitment to Saarland. It shows that we have the ideal conditions for companies to expand their growth path.”
“Today, major construction projects must never be considered without the important aspects of sustainability. Thanks to the good and efficient cooperation between Diehl Defence, the State Office for the Environment and Occupational Safety and the responsible forestry authority, we have accelerated crucial approval processes and simultaneously created a balance for environmental protection and nature conservation. This construction project is therefore not only an important signal for European security, but also for the sustainable and rapid implementation of construction projects," said Environment Minister Petra Berg.
Thomas Bodenmüller, Diehl Defence CFO, emphasized: "With today's ground-breaking ceremony, Diehl Defence is beginning to realize its growth forecasts at the Nonnweiler location in Saarland, as it is taking place at all our other locations. With the capacity gained, the company will contribute to the defence capability of the Federal Republic of Germany and other countries."
With the expansion of capacities in Nonnweiler and all other locations, Diehl Defence will be able to meet the continuously growing demand for its products. This includes ground-based air defence systems as well as guided missiles and ammunition, primarily for the German Armed Forces and other NATO countries.