Viega takes over former Michelin site

The Viega Group is investing around €150 million in the creation of a new production site in the Saarland municipality of Kirkel, near Homburg. The internationally active family-owned company, headquartered in Attendorn in North Rhine-Westphalia, has taken over the former logistics halls of Michelin Reifenwerke AG & Co. KGaA, including the land. The sales contract was signed on May 10, 2025. During the first development phase, around 150 new jobs are expected to be created. Production of fittings for pipe systems for the international market is expected to begin at the end of 2025.

"To continue our growth, we need additional production capacity," explains Markus Brettschneider, CEO of the Viega Group.
Demand remains very strong, particularly for metal press fittings in the sanitary and heating sectors, the company's core business, despite a complex economic context in many markets.
"Germany emerged as our preferred choice for this new site, particularly for the speed and efficiency offered by the technology transfer between our factories »

Strong potential for skilled labor

Rather than opting for a new build on a greenfield site, Viega deliberately sought out existing and rapidly exploitable industrial surfaces. "Our Viega sites of South Westphalia and Thuringia are reaching their limits, despite ongoing expansion projects, and we are also facing a growing shortage of skilled labor ", Explain Andreas Brockow, Chief Manufacturing Officer of the Viega Group.
This is why the company targeted a region with a strong potential of qualified personnel.

Convincing know-how and infrastructure

A national location study finally led to the Saarland region.

"A large part of the region's workforce works in the metalworking industry. This concentration of expertise is rarely matched in Germany," says Andreas Brockow.
The geographical location also played a role in the decision: the direct connection to the motorway offers excellent logistical conditions.
"With 18 m² of industrial halls on a 000 m² site, we have ideal conditions and a solid foundation for developing this site over the long term," he adds.

In a second phase, Viega plans to acquire additional adjacent land, currently owned by the Saarland Economic Development Corporation. The signing of this second contract is scheduled for the end of May at Viega's headquarters in Attendorn.

A strong signal for the region

Markus Winnes, director of the Michelin plant in Homburg, welcomes this development:

"We are very pleased to see an established German company like Viega setting up in Kirkel and thus contributing to strengthening the industrial fabric of Saarland. Michelin maintains a close relationship with the municipality of Kirkel and the surrounding region.
The arrival of Viega opens up a real prospect of job creation, which is a major objective within the framework of the restructuring of our site.
We welcome Viega to Kirkel and wish them every success in carrying out their projects.”

Prior to its acquisition by Viega, Michelin's logistics site in Kirkel was used for storage for the production of new tires. Michelin will continue to operate its Homburg site, which will now focus on retreading truck tires and integrating RFID chips.