A positive result in a community poll has apparently cleared the way for cellcentric to press ahead with its plans to mass-produce fuel cells in the German town of Weilheim an der Teck. Cellcentric – a 50-50 joint venture by Daimler Truck and Volvo – is expected to start building its new factory in the course of the year. Preparations for the highly automated manufacturing facility have “already come a very long way,” H2-international was informed.In all, 70 percent of the 8,100 eligible voters living in the Swabian municipality of Weilheim an der Teck, which is situated to the southeast of Stuttgart, chose to support the official designation of the industrial park as the site of the factory. Participation was high with a 60.7-percent turnout. Winfried Kretschmann, minister president of Baden-Württemberg, had made particular efforts to encourage the new manufacturing facility. The Green-party politician was therefore suitably pleased with the result. He now anticipates this positive outcome will give the project a major boost, particularly as there was a large turnout.
The community is hopeful that locating the factory in the Rosenloh industrial park will bring opportunities for development, especially for local businesses. It’s a view that’s echoed by cellcentric. The company reports that it intends to not only develop and produce tomorrow’s sustainable transport solutions but that it also wants to create added value in the area. It is expected that the company will generate up to 450 extra jobs.
The new factory building itself will also have eco-credentials of its own. Green spaces designed especially with ecology in mind will be created across the site in various locations, including the roofs, in order to offset the land lost through construction.