The Krone Commercial Vehicle Group plans to construct a 172,000-square-foot coating plant on its Bernard-Krone-Straße site in Werlte, Germany.
The factory will house what is known as the Surfaces Centre, complete with integrated and fully automatic chassis storage.
“The new coating plant will upgrade the Werlte site to the most technically advanced industrial facilities currently possible,” says Bernard Krone.
In addition, Krone will further optimize and automate the currently used CDC plus powder coating method (cathodic dip coating followed by powder coating) in a new plant.The new coating plant will specifically address the latest environmental considerations, and will result in a reduction of emissions at the site. For example, emissions from the new annealing ovens will be treated by thermal post-processing in such a manner that a very significant reduction in odor emissions and energy use will be achieved. This enables Krone to make a vital contribution to reducing CO2. Waste water treatment will also be in accordance with the latest findings.
Krone is planning an investment of up to $42 million for the completely new Surfaces Centre. The new coating plant is part of the master plan for the Werlte site, for which Krone has earmarked a total investment of around $53 million.
In addition, Krone intends to construct a new access road to the factory, which will direct factory traffic flow via Kasernenstraße. This will permanently relieve the traffic load in Bernard-Krone-Straße as well as significantly reduce noise emissions. Dispatch is also to be relocated, and will be provided with direct vehicle access to the ring road. The various receiving areas at the Werlte site will also be completely redesigned.