Ground-breaking ceremony for new multifunctional building at THOR GmbH

On Thursday 16 October 2025, colleagues at THOR GmbH in Speyer, Germany, held an official ground-breaking ceremony to begin construction on a new multifunctional building at the site.

Local officials Daniela Schmitt, Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister of Economic Affairs, and Speyer’s Mayor Stefanie Seiler, were in attendance for the ceremony, along with Giuseppe De Lucia, Chief Operating Officer, EMEA, Peter Hahn, Chief Sales Officer, and THOR GmbH management. This project symbolises a significant step for the economic and ecological future of the company and the region.

With a total investment volume of around 14 million Euros, the building will serve multiple purposes once completed: "One building, three promises – sustainability, technology, training". The project is fully financed without government subsidies, which is a testament to THOR GmbH's economic strength and implementation of THOR’s innovative growth strategy.

THOR GmbH is the largest of THOR Group’s worldwide manufacturing sites, employing approximately 700 people. Completion of the new building is planned for the end of 2027 and will create around 60 new jobs.

Peter Hahn, THOR‘s Chief Sales Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of THOR GmbH said: "This project represents more than just a structural expansion. It is a clear commitment to Speyer as a location and to our responsibility in the areas of sustainability, technology, and training."

Mayor Stefanie Seiler gave a welcoming address at the event: "THOR's investments impressively demonstrate how business and urban development can be combined in Speyer. The new building not only takes growth into account, but also the protection of our environment and the promotion of training – an important signal for the future of our city."

Daniela Schmitt, Minister of Economic Affairs, also addressed the group: "The company's significant investment in the Speyer site strengthens the region's economic power, creates attractive training opportunities and jobs, and is a positive signal for industry in these challenging times.

"As Minister of Economic Affairs, I am delighted to see that companies in Rhineland-Palatinate are growing and continuing to invest in the future. In the state government, we are doing everything we can to create the best possible conditions for our economy. Today is a testament to this."

Three core areas of investment: Sustainability, technology, and training

Sustainability: Circular Economy and Energy Efficiency

The focus of the new building is a state-of-the-art facility for cleaning and reprocessing 1,000-liter industrial containers (IBCs). Around 40,000 containers are cleaned, inspected, and prepared for reuse here annually, making a clear contribution to environmental protection. In addition, the building will be equipped with a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 300 kWp, covering part of the company's energy needs with renewable energy, thus significantly reducing the company's CO₂ emissions.

Technology: Innovation for the Future

The new building will offer a brand new office space for process engineering, where new production processes will be developed and existing workflows can be optimised. Spacious maintenance workshops will enable efficient maintenance and systems improvements, with a focus on safety, ergonomics, and efficiency.

Training: Investing in Talent and Expertise

Another highlight of the new building is the planned training centre with modern classrooms. Here, young talents will have the opportunity to learn and develop under optimal conditions. THOR GmbH has a well established apprenticeship scheme, and currently trains 25 apprentices in various professions. The site plans to further increase this number following the completion of the new centre.

A Strong Signal for Speyer

"With this new building, we are sending a strong signal for Speyer," says Jürgen Klein, THOR GmbH’s Managing Director of Technology. "It combines technological innovation, sustainability, and training under one roof, thus laying the foundation for the long-term viability of our company."

By investing further in our existing operations, THOR GmbH is not only reaffirming its commitment to its home in Speyer, but also setting an excellent example of ecological responsibility, economic innovation, and social commitment.