On Friday, December 20, the state-owned Economic Development Company mbH (gwSaar) and the automobile manufacturer Ford signed the purchase of the site in Saarlouis. The acquisition costs of around 95 million euros are financed from the Transformation Fund for Structural Change in Saarland (Trafo). At the same time, a contract between gwSaar and the pharmaceutical service provider Vetter, headquartered in Ravensburg, for the gradual acquisition of approximately 40 hectares of the former Ford-owned site also comes into effect. Vetter thus secures the previously undeveloped Ford areas in an initial step and plans, prospectively, to establish a new additional location for pharmaceutical production. Corresponding lease agreements were concluded between Ford and gwSaar for currently and future utilized areas.
The cancellation by Ford in Saarlouis was a severe blow. Not only for the employees and their families, but also for our automotive industry, for Saarland, for the entire region. I am glad and relieved that the hard struggle of the Minister of Economic Affairs with Ford and his efforts to find a new user have paid off. With the recent acquisition of the property by Vetter, the opportunity arises to transform a abandoned site into a place of the future – for skilled workers, for a new industry, and for our country.
Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger
Today we have reached a major milestone on our path to creating a future at Röderberg. I thank both company managements for their constructive contributions. The first steps have now been taken to successfully implement this settlement project. Vetter would optimally complement the portfolio of our location and help make the Saarland economy more robust and diverse.
Minister of Economic Affairs Jürgen Barke
Senator h.c. Udo J. Vetter, Chairman of the Company Advisory Board and member of the owning family: “A cornerstone for the successful future of our family business in Saarland has been laid. I am pleased that important prerequisites have now been met to continue pursuing our growth plans. The location in Saarland is an industrial prime spot and offers very good conditions for expanding our production capacities. I would like to especially thank the state government and the gwSaar team for their committed and professional cooperation.”
The globally active specialist in the production of complex medications plans to further increase its production capacities in order to supply even more people with life-saving medicines together with its clients. Currently, the family-owned company employs over 6,600 people worldwide and was able to generate sales of over 1 billion euros last year. The state will support the establishment of the company within its means. This includes the planned operational investments, training measures, potential energy efficiency and environmental protection initiatives, as well as innovation projects.
