Stiebel Eltron wants am Continental location in Gifhorn that is about to be closed manufacture parts for heat pumps in the future. Both companies announced on Wednesday that this is provided for in a declaration of intent that has now been signed. The concrete negotiations should now begin immediately. Both sides left it open when a deal could be expected.
It is planned to produce stainless steel storage tanks for heat pumps in the previous Bremsen factory. “Against the background of the strong growth of our company, driven above all by the demand for environmentally friendly heat pump heating systems, we are massively expanding our production capacities,” said Stiebel Eltron boss Kai Schiefelbein (56) according to the announcement. “Therefore, we would be very happy if we could find a solution to be able to manufacture storage tanks for heat pump internal parts at the Gifhorn site with competent employees in the future.”
Planned job security
The goal is for the heat pump manufacturer to take over production and logistics areas as well as “as many” as possible of the 900 employees at the site, according to Conti. At the beginning of July, the supplier announced that it wanted to give up the brake plant in Gifhorn by the end of 2027. Since then, external companies have been sought that could settle at the site. With Stiebel Eltron, the first has now been found. We are in talks with others.
“The talks with Stiebel Eltron are an important step and I am very pleased that we can already show our employees in Gifhorn the first possible future prospects,” said Conti HR Manager Ariane Reinhart (53) according to the announcement. Site works council chief Athanasios Kokotos spoke of an important signal that creates trust. “Now binding contracts have to be drawn up from declarations of intent.”
At the beginning of July, Conti cited the sharp increase in cost pressure in the automotive industry, declining sales markets and the cost structure of the location, which was not competitive in an international comparison, as the reason for the closure.