A look over the safety fence gives it all away: big things are happening here – and you can take that literally. SMS group is building its new Campus on the company premises in Mönchengladbach. The building alone covers an area of 44,000 square meters.
Bundling competencies
Behind the facade, SMS group is busy making plans for the future: the new building brings together employees who previously worked at several locations in the region. Here, a highly innovative campus, where technical services are combined with digital solutions, is gradually emerging. In this way, SMS group is bundling its competencies in two locations: Mönchengladbach will be the center for technology, digitalization, and service, and Hilchenbach the innovation center for flat products. \"We will no longer be separating OEM and services. We are pursuing a holistic approach and, as a lifecycle partner, standing by our customers throughout the whole service life of their equipment\", says CEO Burkhard Dahmen.
Campus, workshop, and test field in one place
The workshop on the Campus in Mönchengladbach will enable customers to see our manufacturing expertise for themselves. The realistic 3D real-time plant simulation facility will also be based in the new building. The Electrics & Automation test field is where a digital twin of the customer's plant will be built before it is erected. This means that customers can test and optimize it under real conditions before commissioning, train future operating personnel on real control desks, and ultimately save a lot of time thanks to this \"Plug & Work\" capability.
New Work is innovation driver
The new building has come at just the right time: \"The past one and a half years have been a very steep learning curve for us in terms of digitalization and hybrid working. We were able to bring this experience into the project\", explains Project Manager Marco Kubiak. As far as 'New Work' is concerned, for example, SMS group is taking a huge step forward with its Campus. The company premises will boast 1,500 modern workplaces that are perfectly tailored to current and future demand: The open character of a campus promotes interaction and agile collaboration and inspiration along the entire value chain. By taking this step, SMS group plans to expand its role as a technology forerunner and at the same time become more attractive for future talent. \"In Mönchengladbach, we are creating an ideal environment for flexible project work in interdisciplinary teams. In this way, we are strengthening our innovation capacity and can move even closer to our customers\", says Torsten Heising, member of the SMS Managing Board.
A 5G infrastructure allows specialists from all over the world to come together – on a purely virtual, hybrid, or local basis in the conference center, which can hold up to 500 participants. The new location is significantly more energy-efficient than all our previous buildings: For example, a smart room booking management system will ensure that only used rooms are heated or cleaned. Heat, cooling, and power will be generated in our own highly efficient energy center.
Inauguration scheduled for fall 2023
From the outside, the SMS group Campus will also be an impressive sight: like the teeth in a gearwheel, the five modules will branch off in all directions. The roofs are to be greened and will be crowned in the center by a membrane roof that is 82 meters in diameter. It connects not only all of the elements, but also spans an inner courtyard, the plaza. This will be surrounded by a green area in which more than 100 bushes and trees are to be planted. The official opening of the location is scheduled for fall 2023.
Architekten BDA)