Reynaers Group invests in future sustainable growth with official opening of Forster Campus in Switzerland
On Friday 13 September 2024, steel joinery specialist Forster that is part of Reynaers Group, celebrated the grand opening of its new 30,000 square meter headquarters in Romanshorn, Switzerland. The modern facility, certified LEED Gold, includes production and logistics spaces, a technology center and offices. This milestone coincided with Forster’s 150th anniversary, kicking off a weekend of celebrations.
The event was attended by Reynaers Group employees from around the world, including the Board of Directors and the Reynaers family. Jan Reynaers, Chairman of the Board and CEO Bert Geerinckx led the official inauguration, highlighting the company’s commitment to its people and sustainable growth.
Expanding horizons with local connections
Forster boasts a rich history of 150 years; it joined Reynaers Group in 2018. Initially, the steel company entered the Belux market through a local distributor. Today, Forster distributes its range of windows, doors, and façade systems directly, which allows the company to maintain a close relationship with its customers and anticipate local needs. By leveraging the implementation of the new headquarters in the Swiss home market, the ambitious team in Belgium and Luxembourg is eager to take on future challenges and push for new heights.
“Next to delivering sustainable solutions to the building market, we also apply these systems ourselves. The inauguration of the Forster Campus in Switzerland is a milestone for our entire corporation, providing a strong base for future growth. This low-energy building is proof we walk the talk, creating comfortable and safe places to work with all the latest technologies.”
A futureproof investment
Construction in Romanshorn started in 2022 and meant a considerable investment of 52 million Swiss francs (55 million euro) for Reynaers Group. For the Belgium-based company, the investment was a main priority, not only to improve local production efficiency, but also to better service its customers. According to Reynaers Group, welcoming new and existing partners at the high-tech facilities will help build lasting professional relationships and ensure mutual growth, as reflected in its company slogan, ‘Together for better’.
“To further develop our business, it became necessary to branch out. At the old Arbon facilities, production was slow and inefficient. Now that we can offer all our expertise in one LEED Gold certified building complex, we can apply lean production methods that will raise our overall efficiency and improve customer satisfaction. Our goal is clear: to become number one in our field of work. The new Forster Campus in Romanshorn is a logical first step towards realising our ambitions.”
LEED Gold energy efficiency
The new Swiss campus embodies Reynaers Group’s and Forster’ shared commitment to a better, more sustainable future.
Designed by local architectural firm Gisel + Partner, Forster Campus is an energy-neutral building that takes sustainable construction to the next level. The innovative structure features 1,900 tonnes of low-carbon steel, including Forster’s own sustainable joinery solutions. Next, nearly all the roofs are equipped with solar panels, generating an output of up to 1.5 megawatts to power the entire production process with green energy. Heat pumps ensure energy-efficient heating and closed cooling circuits, considerably reducing water consumption in the process.
As a result, Forster Campus is the first commercial building complex in Switzerland that carries the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold label. The office building on its own even achieved LEED Platinum certification.