Opening of the TÜV NORD CAMPUS ESSEN

TÜV NORD CAMPUS ESSEN, located nearby the A40 motorway in Essen, Germany, was opened today with an official ceremony. The spacious technology site, where 1,800 people will be working in future, brings together a wide range of the Group's competences on one campus close to the city centre.

"For us, TÜV NORD CAMPUS ESSEN is a lasting commitment to the Ruhr region as a business and technology location. TÜV NORD will celebrate its 150-year presence in NRW in 2022. With the new campus, we are establishing a new chapter of our international company," said Chairman of the Board Dirk Stenkamp.

Since 2012, TÜV NORD GROUP has invested a total of 50 million euros of its own funds in the Technology Park site, 34 million of which alone in a central laboratory and office building that houses TÜViT's world-renowned IT hardware laboratory. The high-tech portfolio also includes a dynamic driving test bench, which can be used to carry out tests and assessments for wheels, brakes and complete chassis systems. The site is one of the largest company construction projects in Essen in recent years.

Essen's Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen also attended the opening in Frillendorf: "TÜV NORD has been an important part of our business location for many years," said the city leader in his welcoming speech. "I am pleased about the competence and know-how that TÜV NORD brings here, both of which are reflected by the new CAMPUS ESSEN. At the same time, it also demonstrates the company's capacity for innovation - this is another way in which TÜV NORD fits in well with the corporate landscape in Essen. I would like to express my sincere thanks for the many years of loyalty and the investment in the location and wish the employees a good and positive new working environment."  

For Stenkamp, the new campus combines two central themes: Innovation and sustainability. In the heart of Essen, work is being done on the future of testing and certification: Artificial intelligence, hydrogen, autonomous driving, energy storage systems through to quantum computing. "TÜV NORD is becoming a data-driven and digitally networked company. We will further accelerate this development here," says Stenkamp.

Entirely in the spirit of sustainability, the site is consistently built according to the model of the circular economy. Materials made of steel, wood and aluminium were recycled from old building fabric wherever possible. Around 80 percent of the concrete and masonry from the demolition of old buildings was reused. "We want to act sustainably. Even with a new building, you have to prove that you are serious about it," Stenkamp explained. The new, centrally located building will therefore be heated with climate-friendly district heating. In addition, a total of 40 new electric charging stations are currently being installed on the site, where customers and employees can charge their e-vehicles. Stenkamp affirmed that the company wants to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

The inauguration with around 300 guests took place directly in front of the entrance to the new central building, which will accommodate 550 employees in the future. This also marks the arrival of the new office working world on campus, explained Stenkamp. "The Corona crisis has accelerated many changes. From desk sharing to co-working spaces, our staff can participate in new forms of collaboration and try out new things." The goal, he said, is to adapt the working environment flexibly and with little effort, even to future requirements.