Biel: GF builds large innovation and production center
On March 8, the groundbreaking ceremony for GF Machining Solutions' new innovation and production center was held in Bözingenfeld in Biel. GF is investing around CHF 80 million in the new plant.
GF Machining Solutions will build a plant for the production of machine tools and spindles on an area of around 24,500 square meters. It will also have a research and development center and an application center. The new plant will concentrate the company's three existing sites (Nidau, Ipsach and Luterbach). It will provide space for around 450 jobs and is scheduled to be ready for occupation at the end of 2018.
HRS Real Estate AG has been commissioned as the total contractor for planning and implementation. GF is investing a total of around CHF 80 million in the new plant over the next three years.
"Commitment to Switzerland as a business location"
As Yves Serra, CEO of GF, said at the groundbreaking ceremony, this investment underlines the company's commitment to Switzerland as a business location. "The state-of-the-art plant will allow us to concentrate all milling machine production in Switzerland in one place. In addition, we want to attract the best engineering talent with an attractive and innovative working environment."
GF comprises the Piping Systems, Automotive and Machining Solutions divisions. Founded in 1802, the industrial company is headquartered in Switzerland and operates 131 companies in 33 countries, including 51 production sites. Its approximately 14,800 employees generated sales of CHF 3.7 billion in 2016. The GF Machining Solutions division, which is now building the new plant in Biel, offers machine tools, automation solutions and customer services for the production of molds, tools and metal parts. The division operates production sites in Switzerland, Sweden and China.
