magazine for business and investment - Innovatives Niedersachsen

Niedersachsen 

ISSUE 2 I 2012 6 EURO 

Global 

Automotive 

The global players of the automotive 

Wind Technology 

Modern wind technology “Made 

Chemicals 

Chemical products from Nieder- 

Foreign Trade Prize 

The 9th Niedersachsen Foreign Trade 

sector will come together in Nieder- 

in Germany” has its roots on 

sachsen offer innovative solutions 

Day 2012 in Hanover was dedicated 

sachsen in autumn 2012. p.06 

Niedersachsen’s North Sea coast. p.20 

for the whole world. p.34 

to the ASEAN region. p.46 

MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT

YOUR FUTURE IN 

Commercial sites in the triangle Hamburg, Hanover, Bremen 

∙ Large offerings along the highways 

∙ Diverse industrial structure 

∙ Access to national means of transportation 

∙ Attractive living environment 

...and what may we do for you? 

Landkreis Heidekreis, Wirtschaftsförderung Bornemannstraße 10 

Hans-Jürgen Stegen 

29614 Soltau 

Tel. +49 (0) 5191/970 - 673 

Fax +49 (0) 5191/970 - 900673 

wirtschaftsförderung@heidekreis.de ∙ www.heidekreis.de

Editorial 

Niedersachsen Global 03 

Image: Marco Bühl 

Innovative Niedersachsen! 

Visionary force is one of the strongest economic drivers. Niedersachsen has always 

lived by this force and with the absolute determination to find new answers to the 

urgent questions of our age. Our aim is to set innovative trends for the future which 

have international appeal. Niedersachsen is already well-known for this and this is why 

we are sticking to the same course. 

The future-oriented sector of wind technology has its roots on Niedersachsen’s 

North Sea coast. Back in the early 1990s Niedersachsen committed to wind energy, 

assumed a pioneering role in this sector and today manufacturers from across the 

world purchase wind power components and systems “Made in Germany”. Worldwide 

Germany lies in third place in terms of wind power installations. This is a success story 

that we can also recount about other industrial sectors in Niedersachsen. 

For instance the chemicals industry in North Germany has excellent credentials. 

“stade-project 2021” and “Deltaland” are two development projects which are providing 

further growth prospects for the locations of Stade and Bomlitz in Niedersachsen. 

International chemicals groups including Dow, Honeywell and Ineos are very well 

positioned in Niedersachsen and are also supported by an excellent infrastructure. 

Innovations and activities from these and other economic sectors are clear 

demonstrations of the desirability of Niedersachsen for foreign direct investments. 

In September the international automotive sector will come together in Hanover for 

the IAA Commercial Vehicles Trade Fair and in October for the International Suppliers 

Fair in Wolfsburg, both of which are leading international trade shows for mobility, 

transportation and logistics. The latest trends and innovations, future-oriented technologies 

and automotive world premières await you this autumn in Niedersachsen. 

We look forward to meeting you … 

Discover Niedersachsen: the German state where innovations start! 

Your Editorial Team NiedersachsenGlobal 

Cover: Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH

Content 


Content 

Automotive 

The latest trends and innovations, 

future-oriented technologies and 

automotive world premières 

at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 

and IZB 2012. p.06 


In 2012 with an installed wind 

energy output of over 7,000 

megawatt, Nieder sachsen is 

the pioneer in this sector 

in Germany. p.20 

Chemicals 

With international corporations, 

the Jade-Weser-Port and an excellent 

infrastructure, the chemicals 

location of Niedersachsen is 

in a very good position. p.34 

Foreign Trade Prize 2012 

The company Purplan based 

in Wallenhorst was awarded 

the Niedersachsen Foreign 

Trade Prize 2012. p.46 

Main Topics 

Companies 

International 

Automotive: Full speed ahead 

into the automotive future 

06 

Showcase for electric mobility 

Nienburg / Weser 

15 

17 

Interview with Purplan MD Andreas 46 

Sandmann; the nominated companies 

Wind Technology “Made in 

Niedersachsen” 

20 

Nexans 

EWE 

19 

33 

Local 

Chemicals: Chemicals are 

well-placed in the North 

34 

LPKF, Interview with 

CEO Dr. Ingo Bretthauer 

Herfurth & Partner 

45 

53 

Wolfsburg 

Lüneburg 

Imprint 

54 

56 

58

06 Automotive 

Niedersachsen Global 

Full speed ahead 

into the automotive future 

Trend barometer: The IAA Commercial Vehicles Trade Fair in Hanover 

and the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in autumn 2012 in Wolfsburg 

both point the way to the automotive future. The international automotive 

sector will come together in Niedersachsen and present the 

latest developments. 

Image: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

Automotive 


The “Amarok” pickup from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will start to roll off conveyor belts in Hanover starting in 2013.

08 Automotive 

Niedersachsen Global 

Images (3): IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 

The IAA Commercial Vehicles Trade Fair in Hanover 

“Commercial Vehicles are the backbone of modern industrial societies. In Europe commercial 

vehicles account for about three-quarters of total freight traffic and all other modes of transport 

including inland water vessels, aircraft and the railways are dependent on HGVs. Modern commercial 

vehicles make sure supermarket shelves are filled and ensure the delivery of goods ordered 

by internet to the consumer. The commercial vehicle remains irreplaceable,” stresses Matthias 

Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), which organises 

the IAA Commercial Vehicles trade fair every two years in Hanover.

Automotive 


by Katrin Langemann 

The latest trends and innovations, future-oriented technologies and automotive world 

premières – the IAA Commercial Vehicles Trade Fair, the world’s leading trade fair for 

mobility, transportation and logistics and the IZB, Europe’s leading trade fair for the automotive 

supplier industry, will present the latest developments in the automotive sector in 

autumn 2012. The global players of the car industry will come together in Niedersachsen. 

The motto of the 64th IAA Commercial Vehicles Trade Fair in Hanover is “Commercial 

Vehicles: Driving the Future.” According to Matthias Wissmann, President of the 

German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), “The motto reflects the huge 

innovative spirit of the sector and the high efficiency of the commercial vehicle. The 

‘engines of the future’, such as new and cleaner Euro-VI aggregates will be exhibited at 

the IAA. In Hanover there will be exciting world premières to witness. We are expecting 

new proposals for the optimisation of aerodynamics and we will see for ourselves the 

progress that has been made in alternative commercial vehicle drive concepts from natural 

gas and hybrid through hydrogen to electromobility. Innovations for even more safety 

will also be presented. This IAA Commercial Vehicles will have even more exhibitors and 

surface area than the successful IAA 2010.” There are also many Niedersachsen-based 

companies that take advantage of the international platform to present their innovations 

and products at the IAA. 

Bernard Krone, Managing Director of Fahrzeugwerk Bernard Krone GmbH says 

“This is where all manufacturers from the entire sector come together – from trailer 

producers through motor vehicle manufacturers to the supplier industry. This means 

that all skilled partners involved with commercial vehicles really are represented at IAA 

Commercial Vehicles and this makes the trade fair a real highlight of the year. As proof 

64th IAA Commercial 

Vehicles Trade Fair 

20th - 27th September 2012 

26th September 2012: 

Specialist Electromobility Congress 

Hanover: Messegelände 

Opening Hours: 9.00 to 18.00 

For more information visit www.iaa.de

Automotive 

10 Niedersachsen Global 

Image: Fahrzeugwerk Bernard Krone GmbH 

Energy savings of up to 25 percent 

are possible with the Cool Liner 

Duoplex-Steel VIP insulated trailer 

from Fahrzeugwerk Bernard Krone 

GmbH. The Duoplex-Steel construction 

of the refrigerated box consists 

of integrated vacuum panels which 

increase its cooling efficiency by a 

sensational amount. 

Automotive 

The automotive sector is one of the most important industries in Niedersachsen. Volkswagen Group is the world’s third 

largest automotive manufacturer and is the largest in Europe. Its head office is based in the second largest German Federal 

State by surface area. In addition there are approximately 700 supplier companies. In total the supplier and automotive 

sectors employ about 160,000 people in Niedersachsen. 

of this in 2010 more than 240,000 visitors came to Hanover and the quality of the IAA 

visitors continues to be high. In 2010 the ratio of trade visitors on all days was on average 

over 80 percent and three out of every four visitors were decision-makers. These are the 

success-criteria of the IAA, therefore for Krone attending the trade fair is an absolute 

must. Once again we will have one or two innovations to bring along and also from the 

wide field of services and telematics. Another important topic is recuperation, i.e. energy 

recovery. We will also be presenting further innovations related to load securing.” Fahrzeugwerk 

Bernard Krone GmbH is Europe’s second biggest manufacturer of HGV trailers 

and semi-trailers. About 800 employees produced more than 20,000 rolling units at the 

Werlte site in the 2010 / 2011 financial year. Current innovations include the Cool Liner 

Duoplex Steel VIP insulated trailer which generates energy savings of up to 25 percent 

in its construction, and the Krone Profi Liner Eco, a semi-trailer with an aerodynamic 

lateral lining, which enables a fuel saving of up to seven percent and significantly reduces 

CO 2 emissions. 

Walter Bösenberg GmbH in Hanover, a worldwide supplier of highly-specialised 

solutions for vehicle fittings and special vehicles, also uses the IAA as an exhibition space. 

In the words of Michael Steiner, Managing Director, “IAA Commercial Vehicles is the most 

important trade fair for Bösenberg. Through its presentation of state-of-the-art innovations 

across all sectors, the IAA is the trend barometer for the next two years and provides 

an outlook on future economic developments. In 2012 Bösenberg will be presenting a 

mobile, all-terrain water laboratory which transfers all the possibilities of a stationary 

laboratory to a mobile environment. This is primarily of interest for the disinfectant sector 

but also for the power supply and the safeguarding of a continuous cooling chain for 

the samples. In addition an office and control vehicle of the Federal Office for Freight 

Transport will be presented in which a new type of power supply system is incorporated 

with a methanol-operated fuel cell.” 

Electromobility is the subject of the “Specialist Electromobility Congress” which 

will take place on 26th September as part of IAA Commercial Vehicles. Questions such as 

“Where does Germany stand in the development of these future technologies? What has 

been achieved to date? What hurdles are still to be overcome?“ are the central questions 

here. About 500 international participants and high-ranking speakers are expected. 

The supplier and automotive industry 

in Niedersachsen 

• About 160,000 employees 

• About 700 supplier companies 

• Very high qualification levels 

and training in universities 


• Grouping of this expertise in 

highly-qualified competence networks 

• High capacity for research 

and development

Automotive 


One of the regular exhibitors at IAA is Volkswagen Commercial 

Vehicles – a brand from Volkswagen Group, the largest automotive 

manufacturer in Europe. In the Hanover site as from 2013, in 

addition to the over 150,000 T5 Transporters and Multivans, an 

additional 40,000 Amoraks will come off the conveyor belt every 

year. To date the Pickup has only been produced in Pacheco in 

Argentina. In future customers in Latin and South America will be 

serviced from there and markets in Eastern and Western Europe 

as well as Africa will be serviced from Hanover. According to Prof. 

Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen AG: 

“Volkswagen has big growth opportunities worldwide in the light 

commercial vehicles segment.” With the start of production in 

Hanover, the Amarok has finally arrived in Europe. The Amarok 

“Made in Hanover” represents the competitive performance of 

the site and will give the success-story of our Volkswagen Pickup 

an extra tailwind.” 

IAA Commercial Vehicles is also a mandatory diary date for 

Continental in Hanover which generated revenues of € 30.5 billion 

in 2011. The supplier of braking systems, systems and components 

for drives and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, 

vehicle electronics, tyres and technical elastomer products is one 

of the largest worldwide automotive suppliers to the automotive 

industry. The same applies to the 7th International Suppliers Fair 

(IZB) that starts two weeks later in Wolfsburg. For Continental 

individual mobility is facing the biggest changes since the invention 

of the motor car. Ever denser vehicle and data streams, 

shrinking reserves of fossil fuels, internationalisation of logistics 

chains alongside growing safety and environmental awareness are 

the challenges of the future. Continental aims to meet these challenges 

with the key themes of efficiency, security, environment 

and information. 

From 10th to 12th October 760 exhibitors from 26 different 

countries will be presenting their merchandise over 36,000 

square metres at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) under the 

motto “Connecting Car Competence”. Thomas Krause, Chairman 

of Wolfsburg AG, which organises the trade fair comments, “In 

contrast to the IAA, the IZB is a pure trade fair for automotive 

suppliers. It focuses on innovations in technologies, materials and 

engines and in our experience exhibitors display high-quality presentations 

of their products and their competitiveness. The IZB is 

therefore the prime show for suppliers in relation to manufacturers.” 

The partner countries and also the focus of the framework 

programme of this year’s exhibition are Brazil and Argentina. The 

patronage for IZB 2012 has been undertaken by David McAllister, 

Minister-President of the Federal State of Niedersachsen, Dr. Francisco 

J. Garcia Sanz, Board Member of Volkswagen AG, and Klaus 

Image: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft 

Image: Walter Bösenberg GmbH 

Left: “Made in Hanover” – the Amarok from 

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Right: 

Vehicle fittings and special vehicles are 

the speciality of worldwide supplier Walter 

Bösenberg GmbH in Hanover.

Automotive 


7th International 

Suppliers Fair (IZB) 

10th - 12th October 

Wolfsburg: Messegelände in 

Wolfsburg Allerpark 

9th October: International 

Automotive Congress 

For more information visit 

www.izb-online.com and 

www.izb-kongress.com 

Mohrs, Mayor of the town of Wolfsburg. “South America has an important role to play 

in the global growth strategy of the Volkswagen Group. We are therefore delighted that 

Argentina and Brazil, both significant countries in this region, will be exhibiting at this 

year’s International Suppliers Fair. The IZB offers a well-established platform for a mutual 

exchange between international business partners” stressed Garcia Sanz. 

Brazil is the fifth largest car market worldwide with domestic sales reaching 3.6 

million vehicles in 2011. The market in South America is challenging, also due to the 

high levels of import taxes, but with 200 million inhabitants and rising incomes which 

make car mobility affordable, it offers very good growth prospects. The automotive 

industry is also a significant growth driver for the neighbours in Argentina. In 2011 the 

sector in South America’s second largest car market grew by 13 percent. The selection 

of the partner countries of Argentina and Brazil takes into account the successful development 

of the automotive markets in both countries. And the forecasts continue to 

be good. Increasing prosperity significantly changes consumer behaviour and thereby 

also the structuring of the products on offer. Already by 2015 Brazil could be the thirdlargest 

passenger car market after the USA and China according to a forecast carried 

out as part of a study by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants at the end of 2011. This 

also offers local suppliers new potential for their business development. Therefore the 

International Automotive Congress on 9th October, to be held alongside IZB 2012, is also 

focusing on Argentina and Brazil. The current strategic challenges in South America, the 

planning and solutions of successful automotive manufacturers and suppliers plus the 

perspectives for sustainable mobility in the South-American automotive market will be 

Image: Wolfsburg AG 

Image: Arnold Jäger Holding GmbH 

Thomas Krause, Chairman 

of Wolfsburg AG which organises 

the IZB comments, 

“In contrast to the IAA, the 

IZB is a pure trade fair 

for automotive suppliers. 

It focuses on innovations 

in technologies, materials 

and engines and therefore 

IZB is the prime show for 

suppliers in relation to 

manufacturers.” 

Image: Wolfsburg AG 

Image: Wolfsburg AG

Automotive 


Image: Continental 

Efficiency, security, environment and information are the four key themes through which Continental 

in Hanover aims to meet the automotive challenges of the future. 

discussed. It is not only international players who will be presenting 

their products in 2012 at the IZB, but about 60 smaller Niedersachsen-based 

companies will also be presenting their products 

in Wolfsburg. In the words of Sven Wosny, Managing Director of 

Lineas Informationstechnik GmbH in Braunschweig, “Lineas Informationstechnik 

GmbH, as a producer of customisable adaptable 

software solutions, supports the networking of business processes 

over and above company boundaries. And here the IZB offers the 

unique opportunity to easily make contacts with the many different 

parties involved and affected by this sector. Lineas will showcase 

its in-house development software Prospero, by presenting a live 

process for the fast development of individual web systems. We will 

also be presenting our new iPad solution. Our Lineas Pdf-AppArt 

enables pdf documents to be created professionally with the associated 

headers to be displayed and presented in a targeted way via 

the navigation elements.” 

Jäger Automobil-Technik GmbH & Co. KG will also be present 

at the IZB. Managing Director Dr.-Ing. Andreas Jäger says, 

“The IZB is one of the few automotive supplier trade fairs and 

it brings together a large number of suppliers in one place. We 

are working on expanding our production portfolio in the field of 

emobility and high-temperature applications. At the IZB we will 

be exhibiting, amongst other things, seals and refrigerant lines for 

lithium-ion batteries and seals for the aggressive temperature and 

media environment that exist in the engine area. As another focal 

point we will be exhibiting rubber-plastic compounds produced 

without primer for a wide range of automotive applications. Jäger 

Automobil-Technik GmbH & Co. KG is part of the Jäger Group of 

“Ever scarcer resources, 

different user behaviour, 

CO 2 reduction – these 

challenges affect manufacturers 

and suppliers 

in the automotive industry 

to an equal extent.” 

Thomas Krause, Chairman of Wolfsburg AG 

Companies and is a worldwide operator in automotive construction, 

machinery and system construction, environmental and agricultural 

technology and in crude oil exploration. 

Whether it is a question of commercial vehicles, passenger 

vehicles or suppliers, the automotive sector in Niedersachsen is very 

well positioned for the future and is ready to meet its challenges. In 

the words of Thomas Krause, “Ever scarcer resources, different user 

behaviour, CO 2 reduction – these challenges affect manufacturers 

and suppliers in the automotive industry to an equal extent. Lightweight 

constructions, alternative tools, alternative drive technologies 

are only some of the subject areas which are playing a decisive 

role today and in the future on production and on products.”

Automotive 


“Showcase for Electric mobility” 

Our horsepower goes electric. Electric mobility in Niedersachsen. The metropolitan area 

“Metropolregion Hannover Braunschweig Göttingen Wolfsburg” is one of four showcases for 

electric mobility in Germany. 

Niedersachsen is the state of horses but also of horsepower. 

This applies specifically to the area around the cities of 

Hanover, Braunschweig and Wolfsburg. Producers, suppliers, 

service providers and outstanding academic institutions 

have made this area into one of the top global sites for the 

mobility industry. The region which has formed a metropolitan 

area with the south of Niedersachsen has now set itself 

the objective of utilising the opportunities for electric mobility 

along the entire value chain. As many vehicles and components 

as possible are to be developed and produced in the 

metropolitan area. Services related to electric mobility and 

the regional generation of electricity from renewable energy 

Image: BerlinStock – Fotolia.com 

Driving the Future: Electric mobility offers huge potential. 

sources also form part of the “Business Model Showcase”. 

About 120 companies, 30 academic institutions, the Federal 

State of Niedersachsen and over 50 municipalities are all 

involved in the Showcase for Electric Mobility “Our horsepower 

goes electric. Electric mobility in Niedersachsen”. In 

about 40 individual projects a financial sum of about € 130 

million is involved of which it is expected that € 10 million 

shall be provided by the State of Niedersachsen and almost 

€ 50 million by the German Federal Government. 

The metropolitan area is not only building its showcase 

on the strengths of the mobility industry, but is always 

also setting itself the challenge of developing electric mobility 

as a mobility solution fit for future purpose. The aim of 

the metropolitan area is to fully cover its energy requirements 

for electricity, heat and mobility from renewable energy 

sources by 2050 thereby creating the basic prerequisite for 

climate-friendly mobility. As an associated project new wind 

power stations are being constructed in the metropolitan 

area which will cover the electricity requirements of 100,000 

vehicles. A campaign programme is being used by towns and 

districts to increase awareness and acceptance of this by the 

population. Electrical vehicles in communal vehicle pools, 

privileged parking, support for two-wheel electric mobility 

and the development of a needs-oriented battery charging 

infrastructure are the main points under consideration in the 

local support programme. In the development of local support 

strategies, the local municipalities want to learn from 

the experiences of other European regions. The metropolitan 

area organises international exchanges, including with 

the French tourism region of La Rochelle, the town alliance 

CREA’VENIR in Haute-Normandie and also with the Spanish 

city of Valladolid. 

Hanover City Centre will see developments through a 

high density of hybrid buses, a new model for the loaning of 

pedelecs (electric bicycles), the use of electric vehicles in the 

Volkswagen Carsharing-Model Quicar and many other infrastructure 

activities. Braunschweig is proving in the Showcase 

for Electric Mobility its peak position in research and it will 

be testing a model for the inductive charging of buses and 

taxis. The town of Wolfsburg is building a state-of-the-art 

mobility centre in front of the main station and the general 

public magnet Autostadt is setting up a new information 

and experience centre on electric mobility. On the main VW 

plant site a comprehensive electric mobility concept design 

has been built for the showcase period. The Harz is becoming 

a test region for electrical motor bikes and pedelecs are 

to replace public transport in the Weserbergland. With all 

these activities to promote electric mobility, the metropolitan 

area wants to keep the economic effects and in particular the 

implications for the employment market in view. Therefore 

against this background, work place monitoring is being carried 

out. A wide range of qualification and accompanying 

research activities round out the showcase. 

 

Contact 

The metropolitan area “Metropolregion Hannover 

Braunschweig Göttingen Wolfsburg” 

www.metropolregion.de

Companies 


Image: WIN Wirtschaftsförderung GmbH / Henniges 

Gears needed to work 

Not only in the big automobile centers Emden, Wolfsburg, Hanover and Osnabrück, also in more rural 

regions one can find important companies that are needed to keep the automobile industry working. 

Niedersachsen‘s centers of the automobile industry are 

located around Emden, Osnabrück and Hanover as well as 

Wolfsburg, of course. But even apart from these big cities, 

the automobile industry is noticeable: along the river Weser, 

especially in the economic region called Mittelweser, a flourishing, 

versatile landscape of enterprises with a certain importance 

for the automobile construction exists. The spectrum 

is as wide as the value-added chain is deep: from the service 

of the North German gas station net “Classic” through the 

construction of in-house transport services up to the classic 

supplier, producing rubber gaskets, window glasses, synthetic 

leather covers for cars can be found here. 

In the middle of Niedersachsen between Hanover and 

Bremen, more than a dozen companies are working in the 

field of automobile industry. Automotive - is only one of the 

five main branches there - but an important one: “On the 

one hand we have direct suppliers, on the other hand we 

have niche enterprises offering special services. They have 

a good basis for the next years’ development, because of 

their innovative potential” says Uta Kupsch, Manager of WIN 

“Wirtschaftsförderung im Landkreis Nienburg / Weser GmbH” 

(Economical Aid Nienburg / Weser Corporation). “The development 

of the last years shows that enterprises with strong 

focuses on niches endured the crisis better than other ones.” 

A few examples show of regional diversity: one of the 

biggest regional players is Henniges Automotive. 500 employees 

produce exclusively for the car market in a wide product 

range: the consumers reach from Audi, Bosch, BMW, and 

VW to Elring, Kautex and Yazaki. The product assortment is 

also wide spread: clogging for doors and rears help to keep 

the interior dry, isolations prevent disturbances from sound as 

well as strong movements and finally the tank opening is used 

by every driver. Considerably less visible for the end consumer 

is CT data technology. The Nienburgers develop software 

and computer systems for rubber production control, used 

within classic tires - or also noticeable through a feeling while 

hitting the brake when the brake covering is forced to work. 

The consumers of CT-Technologies are widely spread: from 

Henniges “just around the corner” to South Africa, China and 

the US. The engaged 15 employes at CT made the enterprise 

a leading software engineer for rubber production. 

Again, the Lühmann Group is totally different. Beyond 

the big oil companies like Aral and Shell, Lühmann runs nearly 

100 gas stations in an area between Schleswig-Holstein, 

Osnabrück and Hanover as well as around Mainz - called 

“Classic”. “We concentrate on the more rural regions” states 

Fritz Lühmann, Manager of Lühmann Group. “That´s where 

we come from. Here we know the consumers. Furthermore, 

these are locations that are uninteresting for the big oil companies.” 

The oil distributer Lühmann is one of the big lubricant 

suppliers in North Germany and provides commercial 

end consumers with fuel, for example. The more rural location 

is rated positively by Fritz Lühmann: “In 130 years of our 

company history we never had an occasion that would have 

made us move away. From the city Hoya we need 30 minutes, 

in every direction to reach our clients. Besides this, the joint 

community supports us very well. If we have a concern within 

a day all interested parties are assembled. At a highway joint 

connection we would be only one among many others.” 

Contact 

Wirtschaftsförderung im 

Landkreis Nienburg / Weser GmbH 

www.win-nienburg.de

Images (2): Nexans Deutschland GmbH 

Companies 


Dr Christian Wittneven, 

Member of the Nexans Deutschland 

Board of Management. 

Cables for the energy network 

of the future 

Nexans has been producing cable solutions for energy networks at the company’s German 

headquarters in Hanover for over 100 years. 

At its Hanover location, Nexans Deutschland GmbH produces 

and markets various types of energy cables: In addition to 

low-, medium- and high-voltage cables and complete system 

solutions for distribution and transmission networks, the 

plant produces special and hybrid cables. The company also 

offers submarine cables for offshore wind farms and linking 

islands as well as superconducting cable systems. 

High quality standards, seamless cooperation between 

the development, research and production sites and sustainable 

economic activity are just some of the reasons for the 

success of Nexans products made in Germany. All customers, 

no matter where they are, can be sure that their needs will be 

met in compliance with national and international standards 

– a necessity for projects of ever increasing complexity in the 

infrastructure and energy sectors. 

In addition to quality, environmental protection also 

plays an important role at Nexans. One example of this is the 

exemplary recycling system that recycles waste from cable 

production. In order to better protect natural resources, 

the plant sources wood for cable drums from PEFC-certified 

forests. On land or in the water: Nexans cables ensure reliable 

power links – for example, at the Anholt offshore wind farm, 

which covers an area measuring 88 square kilometres off the 

Danish coast. To connect the 111 wind turbines with each 

other and the offshore transformer station, 34 kV submarine 

cables from Hanover are being installed. Even on land, 

the energy cables from Niedersachsen ensure the transport 

and distribution of electricity. They can be found in Italy and 

Denmark, for example, where the energy network is being 

expanded with German high-voltage cables. Nexans completed 

a prestigious project in Moscow that entailed the installation 

of high-voltage cables for Russia’s Skolkovo Innovation 

Centre and again proved it can successfully carry out large 

infrastructure projects with an international team. 

Service work is also part of the Nexans portfolio: On 

behalf of UK Power Networks, the 11.5 km, 132 kV section 

between the Twickenham and Laleham substations in London 

was modernised by replacing two paper-insulated external 

gas pressure cables at each station with new, plastic-insulated 

cables. The use of “pipe cables” largely avoids the need for 

civil engineering work on the 11.5 km section. 

 

Contact 

Nexans Deutschland GmbH 

www.nexans.de


20 Niedersachsen Global



Image: Matthias Ibeler 


“Made in Niedersachsen” 

The future-oriented sector of modern wind technology “Made in 

Germany” has its roots on Niedersachsen’s North Sea coast. 

The alpha ventus wind farm off the coast of Niedersachsen.



The wind energy sector presents its latest developments at the leading international trade fair Husum WindEnergy.



Image: Husum WindEnergy / Messe Husum & Congress



Image: “DEWI-Testfeld in Wilhelmshaven, © DEWI GmbH 2012” 

1. China 2. USA 3. Germany 

The Big Three 

In 2011 China was the worldwide leader with a total installed output of 

62,733 megawatt, followed by the USA with 46,919 megawatt and Germany 

in third place with 29,060 megawatt. (Source: BWE 2011) 

Image: Enercon GmbH 

by Juliette Rahn 

Wind power is one of the oldest forms of energy used by human beings. Way back in 644 

the Persians recognised the inexhaustible potential of wind and built the first wind mills 

to mill flour. Many centuries later, in an era of scarce raw materials and increasing energy 

prices, wind power has come out of the shadows and is celebrating a great comeback as 

the most cost-effective form of power generation from renewable energy sources. Modern 

wind power usage has started its triumphal worldwide advance and has developed into 

a competitive sector in many continents. In the Federal Republic of Germany wind power 

is already a cornerstone of the country‘s energy provision. So who are the big players in 

this wind boom? A journey through the German wind power industry leads Niedersachsen 

Global to the rough North German sea. 

After China and the USA, Germany is one of the three global players in the wind 

energy sector. Manufacturers from across the world purchase wind power components and 

systems “Made in Germany”. Enercon, Siemens and Nordex all supply the global markets 

as large German wind energy companies. 66 percent of all wind energy plants produced 

in Germany were exported in 2011, mainly to the sales markets in Europe, North America 

and the Far East. This is cutting-edge technology which largely comes from Niedersachsen. 

Enercon alone as the largest German wind energy company based in Niedersachsen is, with 

almost 60 percent market share, the leading supplier of wind energy plants to the German 

market. And the company from Aurich, based on its own data, has now also gained the



DEWI test field in Wilhelmshaven. The DEWI is a Niedersachsen research company based in Cuxhaven, 

which was established by the Federal State of Niedersachsen and is now independent. 

The TOP 3 in Germany 

In 2011 with a total installed wind energy 

output of 7,039 megawatt, Niedersachsen 

is the leading Federal State 

for wind energy in the Federal Republic 

of Germany. The Federal State of 

Brandenburg with 4,600 megawatt is 

in second place, followed by the Federal 

State of Sachsen-Anhalt with 3,642 

megawatt. (Source: DEWI 2011) 

Kiel 

Hamburg 

Schwerin 

Bremen 

7,039 

Hanover 

Magdeburg 

3,642 

Potsdam 

Berlin 

4,600 

Dusseldorf 

Erfurt 

Dresden 

Wiesbaden 

Mainz 

Saarbrücken 

Stuttgart 

Munich 

Tower segments in an Enercon assembly hall.

Image: Husum WindEnergy / Messe Husum & Congress 

More and more countries are intensifying their developments and expansion of wind energy usage and in the near future will require 

cutting-edge technology which will largely come from Niedersachsen. 

top position in Europe with more than 26 percent market share. But 

that is still not enough as measured against the installed output of 

over 19,500 wind energy plants, Enercon has a worldwide market 

share of seven percent. Important export markets for this wind giant 

are Sweden, Portugal, Turkey and Canada. 

As far as the eye can see. Steel energy giants up to 200 

metres high tower into the clear blue sky of the Niedersachsen 

planes. This is where 25 percent of all German wind turbines turn. 

Niedersachsen backed the wind energy horse very early on. A recipe 

for success: In 2012 with a total installed wind energy output of 

over 7,000 megawatt, Niedersachsen is the pioneer in this sector 

in Germany. Onshore wind energy has, to date, been the driving 

force in the expansion of wind energy. Felix Rehwald from Enercon 

sums up: “Niedersachsen still has considerable potential for the 

further expansion of onshore wind energy. Enercon is using this and 

is creating further wind energy projects in Niedersachsen together 

with its customers.” The new rotor blade factory in Emsland built by 

Enercon started production in summer 2012. Niedersachsen plans 

to aim even higher in the installation of new wind power plants. In 

order to use existing sites in the state more efficiently, older smaller 

systems are being replaced by new large turbines, known as “repowering”. 

Every further metre of height results in one percent more 

output yield. “In Niedersachsen various repowering projects have 

already been implemented which have led to a significantly more 

efficient use of the sites”, confirms Bernd Neddermann from the 

German Wind Energy Institute (DEWI). However, wind energy is also 

very important as an employment driver and industry sector. A study 

by the Institute of Economic Structures Research and the Centre for 

Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg confirms 

this trend: Out of 100,000 German jobs in the wind sector, about 

22,000 of these are located in Niedersachsen. 

Niedersachsen is a technology leader in the wind energy sector. 

Already back in the early 1990s it had developed the necessary 

research structures which today cover the entire value chain of 

a wind power plant. The German Wind Energy Institute (DEWI) 

set up in 1990 with support from the Federal State of Niedersachsen 

is a pioneer in the wind technology sector. Today it is an 

internationally sought after consultancy company with subsidiaries, 

amongst others, in Spain and China, two countries which play an 

important role in the international market in the wind technology 

sector. Every two years the Institute runs the international specialist 

conference DEWEK in Bremen, which is generating more and more 

interest. In 2012 more than 600 wind energy experts from across 

the world are expected. Also held in high international esteem is the



Images (2): Deutsche Messe AG 

“The competition in the 

international wind energy 

market stimulates important 

innovations, the results 

of which are exhibited at 

the trade fairs in Hanover 

and Husum.” 

Jochen Köckler, a Member of the Board of Deutsche Messe AG 

Since 2009 as part of the “Hannover 

Messe” every two years Deutsche 

Messe AG has organised the 

leading trade fair “Wind” which has 

now become a meeting point for 

manufacturers and suppliers in the 

wind sector from across the world.



In 2012 Niedersachsen had an installed 

wind energy output of over 7,000 Megawatt >> 

25% of all German wind turbines turn in 

Niedersachsen 

Centre for Wind Energy Research - ForWind which brings together 

the research work in Niedersachsen from nearly all 

areas of expertise at the Universities of Oldenburg, Hanover 

and Bremen. In 2009 the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy 

and Energy System Technology (IWES) was founded from the 

established existing research structures. This represents concentrated 

expertise in wind energy which is respected around 

the globe. In addition to government and university institutions, 

companies like Enercon also undertake research in this 

field. A new Research and Development Centre is currently 

being built in Aurich. “Our company sees this investment as 

a commitment to its sites in Niedersachsen – a region that 

has always been of great importance for the onshore wind 

energy sector,” stresses Felix Rehwald from Enercon. 

German know-how in wind technology is in demand around 

the world – and not without reason as German wind energy 

companies took advantage early on of local networks and 

trade fairs in order to develop international markets together. 

A pioneer was Husum WindEnergy. For almost 25 years the 

trade fair held every two years in the harbour town of Husum 

in Schleswig-Holstein has been a must for leading manufacturers 

of wind energy plants from the USA, China and 

Europe. “It has established itself as the traditional meeting 

place for the wind energy industry. The trade fair is very well 

received by our customers as well as by most of the industry” 

notes Rehwald from Enercon and adds, “As manufacturers 

we make use of the trade fair to present our new products. 

At hardly any other event can one meet so many sector 

Image: Rolf Fremgen 

The wind energy sector as a jobs driver of the future. Dirk Bergmann, owner of SHE Solution GmbH, during an 

abseil exercise. SHE Solution GmbH offers educational and training programmes for the offshore industry.

Image: Enercon GmbH 

Wind farm with E-53 systems. 

representatives and decision-makers.” In close cooperation 

with Husum WindEnergy, Deutsche Messe AG based in the 

Niedersachsen capital of Hanover is also devoting itself to 

the wind sector. And since 2009 within the framework of 

the “Hannover Messe”, it has organised the leading trade 

fair Wind in the odd years. “Manufacturers and suppliers of 

the wind sector have for many years been an integral part 

of the ‘Hannover Messe’,” said Jochen Köckler, a Member 

of the Board of Deutsche Messe AG. Peter Becker, Managing 

Director of Messe Husum and Congress accentuates 

the benefits of this cooperation, which was consolidated 

in autumn 2011 with a joint Wind Alliance. “More international 

markets are being developed through the Wind 

Alliance and in Germany a showcase for the sector is being 

created with appeal beyond Europe.” A platform specifically 

for the offshore sector is provided by the Wind Energy 

Economy in North West Germany (WAB) network based in 

Bremerhaven and Berlin. Since 2002 more than 350 companies 

and institutes have become partners of the offshore 

specialists. “Most of our members come from Niedersachsen 

to whom we feel an obligation. We offer them access to 

new markets through joint booths at national and international 

trade fairs and congresses” explains the WAB Managing 

Director. For many years the network has also been 

cultivating contacts with important international players. 

“Through our annual offshore trade fair Windforce we are in 

close contact with most international offshore experts. Just 

recently members of the network were in China.” A spirit of 

optimism. Around the globe a fresh breeze is blowing and 

getting stronger. More and more countries are intensifying 

their developments and expansion of wind energy usage and 

in the near future will require cutting-edge technology which 

will largely come from Niedersachsen. The prevailing mood 

is positive and there is still much to do. By 2020 the Federal 

State Government government is expecting a doubling of 

onshore wind energy capacity in Niedersachsen to 14,000 

megawatts. The Federal State is receiving backing from the 

Federal Republic of Germany which has introduced the Renewable 

Energies Act (EEG) which provides stable framework 

conditions for the expansion of wind energy in Germany. 

Niedersachsen is aiming high in order to maintain its technological 

advance. “The wind industry in Niedersachsen has 

a broad base from research, production through to maintenance 

and operations”, confirms Ronny Meyer, Managing 

Director of the network Wind Energy Agency and Stephan 

Barth from ForWind adds: “The high innovation potential 

locally has generated the biggest and most efficient wind 

energy plants in the world and as a result Niedersachsen is 

also very well equipped for any future repowering and for the 

efficient use of wind energy.” 

 

Contact 

Husum WindEnergy 

www.husumwindenergy.com 

Hannover Messe 

www.hannovermesse.com

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Companies 


Image: EWE Aktiengesellschaft 

Alpha ventus: No other wind farm in the world is located as far away from the mainland or installed in waters as deep. 

Climate-friendly and intelligent energy supply 

EWE AG in Oldenburg is a regional energy supplier and is a pioneer in energy generation from 

renewable energy sources. 

Not only does a lot of wind blow on the Niedersachsen coast, 

many wind turbines have also been turning for decades. 

These have now become a typical image of the area. This is 

because the region between the Ems and the Elbe is an ideal 

area for implementing the energy revolution as it has good 

conditions for a climate-friendly energy supply. 

With the offshore alpha ventus wind farm completed in 

2009, EWE together with other project partners is operating 

the first offshore wind farm in the Deutsche Bucht making it 

a pioneer in this sector. In 2013 Riffgat, the second wind farm 

in the North Sea, will be commissioned, which will produce 

electricity for about 130,000 households. With its commitment 

to the sea and its more than 50 systems installed on 

Image: EWE Aktiengesellschaft 

land, EWE is making a considerable contribution to an ever 

larger amount of electricity in Niedersachsen being produced 

from wind power. EWE is therefore playing its part in 

establishing Niedersachsen as Germany‘s number one energy 

Federal State. The State Government in Niedersachsen has set 

itself the objective of ensuring a reliable and environmentallyfriendly 

energy supply by 2020 and with at least one quarter 

of it originating from renewable energy sources. And to 

accomplish this, a reliable and skilled partner who will accept 

and implement this challenge is required, since not only a 

sustainable and climate-friendly energy supply is important, 

so is the expansion of the total network infrastructure for 

the future energy supply. Over the next few years EWE is 

investing more than EUR 100 million in this sector alone. 

EWE has 8,800 employees making it one of the biggest 

employers in Niedersachsen. The group not only operates in 

Niedersachsen, Bremen and Brandenburg but also in Poland 

and Turkey. The company combines the three key sectors of 

energy, telecommunications and information technology and 

also has a heavy focus on research. 

 

Contact 

EWE Aktiengesellschaft 

Tirpitzstraße 39 

26122 Oldenburg 

www.ewe.de 

New services for more intelligent energy 

management: the EWE trio smartbox.

Image: Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH 

Chemicals 

34 Niedersachsen Global

Chemicals 


Chemicals are well-placed 

in the North 

Low-fat foodstuffs, forgery-safe credit cards and banknotes, 

breathable clothing, heavy-duty rotor blades for wind power plants, 

lighter materials, these are all chemical products from Niedersachsen 

which provide innovative solutions for the whole world.

Chemicals 


Image: CoastSite Wilhelmshaven e.V. 

ChemCoast e.V. 

ChemCoast is an amalgamation of the Chemical Parks in 

the North which include in Niedersachsen the locations 

of Stade, Seelze, Walsrode and Wilhelmshaven. 

www.chemcoast.de 

coastside 

wilhelmshaven 

CoastSite Wilhelmshaven 

Wilhelmshaven is an energy nerve centre, a site for cuttingedge 

chemicals and maritime technologies. With the Container 

Terminal Wilhelmshaven, the Jade-Weser-Port, the largest 

crude oil transshipment location in Germany and its geographic 

and logistical benefits, Wilhelmshaven offers ideal location 

conditions for the chemicals industry. 

www.coastsite.info 

Industrial Park Lingen 

The Industrial Park Lingen covers an area of about 500 

hectares making it one of the biggest industrial parks in 

Germany. The university, the professional academy, the 

vocational training schools and the full-time vocational 

chemical college have put Lingen (Ems) on the map as an 

established training location. 

www.industriepark-lingen.de 

Industrial Park 

lingen 

Image: IndustriePark Lingen 

Image: Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH 

Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH 

In 2012 Süderelbe AG instigated the “stade-project 

2021” and “deltaland”, two site development 

projects, with the main aim of generating regional 

growth and an employment impetus. For more 

information visit www.chemcoastpark-stade.de 

and www.deltaland.de 

Fine chemicals have been developed and produced for more 

than 100 years in Seelze about 15 minutes drive to the east 

of Hanover. Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH 

produces about 2,000 speciality chemicals. About 50 different 

industry sectors across the whole world benefit from the products 

and innovations “Made in Niedersachsen”. 

www.honeywellseelze.com

Chemicals 


ChemCoast Park Stade 

ChemCoast 

Park Stade 

The ChemCoast Park Stade concentrates on creating synergies 

between potential investors and the Stade site by utilizing 

existing and creating new and promising location conditions 

for industry. The modern fully integrated infrastructure and wide 

range of shared services available offer direct investments the 

best prerequisites for long-term, cost-effective production. 

www.chemcoast.de/en/locations/stade 

Hamburg 

Bremen 

Image: Dow 

Industrial Park 

Walsrode 

Hanover 

Image: Industriepark Walsrode 

honeywell specialty 

chemicals seelze 

Industrial Park Walsrode (IPW) 

VCI Nord 

VCI Nord, a state-level association of the German 

Chemical Industry Association, is based in Hanover and 

represents about 270 member companies with about 

480,000 employees. 

www.vci-nord.de 

The Industrial Park Walsrode is a very 

professionally managed and efficiently 

structured multi-user site. Most of the 

companies are market and technology 

leaders in their sectors. Cellulose 

chemistry and plastics processing are 

the cornerstones of the IPW. Almost 25 

hectares of land are available, of which 

currently sites covering 1 hectare and 

around 6.5 hectares are currently 

fully serviced. 

www.industriepark-walsrode.com

Image: Gina Sanders – Fotolia.com 

Image: Hamik – Fotolia.com 

Images (6): Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH 

Image: Tatjana Balzer – Fotolia.com 

Innovations from Niedersachsen 

The diversity of chemistry: Low-fat foodstuffs, water-repellent and breathable 

clothing, roller blinds which are opaque and impervious to light, medicaments 

with delayed-action dosage, heavy-duty rotor blades for larger and more efficient 

wind power plants, lightweight aircraft and cars, sausage casings, kite surf sails, 

plasters, stucco mouldings, safety glass, bullet-proof vests, cars, aircraft, toothpastes, 

credit cards, cheques, bank notes, passports and personal documents, 

dialysis solutions for people suffering from kidney disease, piping, window 

profiles, packaging films, floor coverings and cables, sports equipment, electronic 

components - these are just some of the products which benefit from chemical 

innovations from Niedersachsen.

Chemicals 


Exports of chemical-pharmaceutical products by 

countries 2011 EUR million (Source: VCI) 

World exports of the chemical-pharmaceutical 

industry 2011 EUR million (Source: VCI) 

Other 

200 

NAFTA 

9 % 

5 % 

150 

152 

135 

100 

Other 

Europe 

Asia 

12 % 

14 % 

60 % 

EU 27 

100 

50 

0 

Germany 

USA 

Belgium 

China 

France 

Netherlands 

Great Britain 

Switzerland 

Ireland 

Japan 

73 71 66 61 63 58 57 

by Katrin Langemann 

With the export of chemical products being worth over €150 billion 

in 2011, Germany is the world champion in chemical exports for 

the ninth consecutive time. The total share of the global chemical 

export market was a good eleven percent and this ranks Germany 

in first place, above the USA, Belgium and China. According to 

Dr. Utz Tillmann, Director-General of the German Chemical Industry 

Association (VCI), “The central role in the industrial network, 

the high level of innovation, intensive cooperation with academic 

institutions and science plus the orientation of product strategies 

to mega-trends and sustainability are the decisive strengths where 

our sector scores highly. Additional factors are the very diverse 

nature of Germany’s small and medium-sized enterprises, a pragmatic 

partnership between management and employees and the 

successful Chemicals Park model which is being imitated more and 

more abroad as a site concept.” 

In Niedersachsen the chemicals industry is one of the ten largest 

manufacturing sectors. About 50,000 people are employed in 

the chemicals sector (including rubber and plastics). In 2011 revenue 

from the chemicals/pharmaceuticals industry was approximately 

€10.5 billion which represents an increase of 10.3% over the previous 

year. Overall in 2011 Niedersachsen’s share represents a good 

5.7% of total revenue of the German chemicals/pharmaceuticals 

industry. In the words of Renate Klingenberg, Deputy Managing 

Director VCI Nord and Managing Director of ChemCoast e.V., “A 

key success factor for the chemicals industry in Niedersachsen is its 

central role in an integrated value chain. From the manufacture of 

basic and speciality chemicals through the construction of a wind 

power station or a car, the key players are networked with each 

other locally. A good infrastructure and well-qualified specialist 

personnel are also the strengths of this region.” 

Due to raw material availability, favourable infrastructures and transportation 

options primarily through seaports and inland ports as 

well as mature industrial structures, the chemicals industry in Niedersachsen 

manifests very good conditions in these locations. In 2012 

Süderelbe AG initiated the two development projects “stade-project 

2021” and “deltaland” to generate a regional growth and an 

employment momentum for Stade and Bomlitz. 

One of Niedersachsen’s biggest chemical producers is the 

company Dow with its two sites in Stade and Bomlitz/Industrial Park 

Walsrode. According to Ralf Brinkmann, President and Chairman of 

Dow Germany “Niedersachsen is a high-tech state in which many 

excellent innovations for sustainable development are created and 

brought to market maturity. This is just the right environment for the 

further development of our speciality chemicals portfolio. One good 

example is the subject of renewable energies. This is a grow-ing 

market which is very attractive for Dow. In Stade we manufacture 

epoxy resins for carbon fibre reinforced composite materials (CFRP), 

which is used for rotor blades of modern wind power stations.” 

Most rotor blades of actual wind power stations were frequently 

produced out of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP). For larger, 

more powerful wind turbine systems with heavy-duty rotor blades 

and a bigger span the GFRP materials have reached their limits. 

The alternative is CFRP - it consists of a support structure made of 

carbon fiber which is “baked” with epoxy resin. The CFRP material 

is as resilient and flexible as metal but very light. The expertise and 

competencies related to CFRP material are brought together at CFK- 

Valley Stade e.V., a network with over 100 international members 

including Dow – one of the world’s leading manufacturers of epoxy 

resins. The epoxy resins are also used to manufacture aircraft and 

automotive parts, sports equipment, electronic components and

Image: Baerlocher GmbH 

Inside the Baerlocher-Labor at the Lingen site. 

as adhesive or coating material. At the Bomlitz site in the Industrial 

Park Walsrode, Dow Wolff Cellulosics manufactures products 

from the renewable, natural raw material of cellulose which help 

reduce overweight, diabetes and allergies, make vegetarian foods 

more attractive and ensure precise dosage of agents in medicaments. 

For example, through the use of Dow additives, the fat 

content in foodstuffs can be reduced by up to 50 percent without 

the texture and mouth feeling suffering. Reduced-fat cakes and 

crackers benefit from this technology as do meat and German-style 

sausage products. Dow’s cellulose products are also very effective 

in the pharmaceutical sector as they enable medicaments to release 

their agent only gradually after taking them. About 100 chemists, 

lab technicians and process engineers from across the world work in 

the Research and Development Centre in Bomlitz on new innovative 

products which make everyday life easier. 

Chemistry is life 

Fascinating, colourful, diverse – chemistry is one of the 

most fascinating sciences and industries. Through its 

innovative products chemistry changes our lives and 

makes our daily routines easier. And what’s more, it is 

biochemical processes that make life itself possible at all. 

Also located in the Industrial Park Walsrode is Epurex Films, 

a subsidiary of Bayer MaterialScience. The specialist in technical, 

high-performance films has specialised for over 25 years in the 

development, manufacture and distribution of high-grade polyurethane 

films, breathable membranes and high-performance hot melt adhesive 

films. The application areas of the films are virtually limitless 

and include the automotive and medical sectors, the construction 

industry and the textile and leisure sectors. For instance breathable 

membrane films make functional clothing water-repellent but also 

water-vapour permeable - perfect for wind and weather. Polyurethane 

films also ensure that roller blinds are opaque and impervious 

to light and also that car seats can withstand high stresses due to 

their high elasticity and tear resistance properties. Special films from 

Niedersachsen can be found again and again in kite surf sails, plasters, 

stucco mouldings, safety glass and bullet-proof vests – always 

invisible but with an essential function. 

CaseTech is all about sausages. The company in the Industrial 

Park Walsrode is one of the few companies worldwide which produces 

both coated and uncoated cellulose fibrous casings and also plastic 

casings in its product portfolio. Produced under the brand name 

“Walsroder” CaseTech has been producing, printing and finishing 

in Bomlitz since 1928. Managing Director Jens Roesler says, “Every 

sausage casing manufactured by CaseTech offers users a product 

that is totally customised for the production of his products and 

they are perfect solutions for excellent end-products, be they meat, 

sausage or cheese.” About 80 percent of all goods are exported to 

over 72 countries. According to Gerrit Lieske, Head of the Industrial 

Park Walsrode, “The Industrial Park Walsrode is a very professionally 

managed and efficiently structured multi-user site. Most of the 

companies located here are market and technology leaders in their 

sectors. Cellulose chemistry and plastics processing are the cornerstones 

of the IPW. With Dow Wolff Cellulosics and the US parent

Chemicals 


company, The Dow Chemical Company, the region has one of the 

world’s largest chemical companies on its side. Niedersachsen’s chemical 

parks and sites score highly with their modern and efficient 

infrastructures. Prestigious international research institutes and 

innovative networks such as the ChemCoast-Verbund and the 

BIORegion form an ideal environment for Niedersachsen to position 

itself in international comparisons as a chemicals location.” 

Another Niedersachsen-based global player is Honeywell 

based in Seelze. Fine chemicals have been developed and produced 

for more than 100 years about 15 minutes drive to the East 

of Hanover. Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH produces 

about 2,000 speciality chemicals. About 50 different industry 

sectors across the whole world benefit from the products and 

innovations “Made in Niedersachsen”. Speciality chemicals are 

found for example in cars, toothpastes, infusion solutions 

and aircraft seats, they generate matt surfaces in electric light 

bulbs and for bottles, are used for treating metal surfaces, help to 

preserve wood and also reduce the inflammability of wool. 

Luminous pigments from Honeywell help make valuable documents 

forgery-proof. Inorganic salts are important ingredients for 

dialysis solutions for people suffering from kidney disease. 

The company that is part of the US Group Honeywell manufactures 

chemicals for the electronics industry for etching and 

cleaning which are required for the manufacture of microchips. 

Honeywell is also one of the leading manufacturers of process 

chemicals for silicon-based solar cells. 

The largest production plant of the worldwide company 

Baerlocher GmbH is located in western Niedersachsen in Lingen 

(Ems). The Baerlocher Group of Companies employs over 1,200 

people and has production sites worldwide. It is one of the leading 

suppliers of innovative additive systems for the plastics processing 

industry. The company supplies products for the PVC sector (e.g. 

for the manu-facture of piping, window profiles, packaging films, 

floor coverings and cables) as well as other polymer Industries 

such as polyolefins. In addition to products for plastics, Baerlocher 

supplies creative solutions to the construction and lubricants 

industries. The Lingen site, where Baerlocher also provides training 

in various professions, was established in 1987 and has been 

continuously expanded since then. To celebrate the 175th anniversary 

of the company in 1998, the Plastics Additive Museum was 

created. Through rotating special exhibitions the museum provides 

information about the history and future of additive production as 

well as an overview of the role of plastics in everyday life. 

Dralon GmbH in Lingen is the world’s biggest producer of 

dry and wet spun acrylic fibres. The high-tech material is used, 

amongst other things, for warm bedspreads, light-resistant and 

colour-fast sun protection, soft baby clothing, functional sports 

fashion and hard-wearing workwear. Dralon in Lingen has been 

producing wet-spun fibres since 1972. Total production runs at 

68,000 tonnes per year. Both Baerlocher and Dralon are located 

on the Industrial Park Lingen. According to Helmut Höke from 

the interdisciplinary marketing team, “The Industrial Park Lingen 

It is impossible to imagine the film industry today without the complex functionalities of PINA ® photo dyes from Honeywell. 

Image: Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Seelze GmbH

D-30519 Hanover 

Eupener Straße 33 

Phone: +49(0) 511 8 42 01 

pr-DIK@DIKautschuk.de 

DIK – Expertise in rubber and elastomers 

DIK offers broad research and business activities 

Material characterization 

New materials 

Materials development 

Processing 

Life prediction / aging 

Simulation 

Environmental aspects 

“Leachables” in polymer materials 

Education and training 

10th Fall Rubber Colloquium 

November 7 to 9, 2012 in Hanover

Image: Dow 

“A key success factor 

for the chemicals industry 


is its central role in an 

integrated value chain.” 

Renate Klingenberg, Deputy Managing Director VCI Nord 

and Managing Director of ChemCoast e.V. 

At the Bomlitz site in the Industrial Park Walsrode, Dow 

Wolff Cellulosics manufactures products which make 

everyday life easier from the renewable, natural raw 

material of cellulose. 

covers an area of about 500 hectares making it one of the 

biggest industrial parks in Germany. Lingen has established 

itself as a training location with the university, the professional 

academy, the vocational training schools and the fulltime 

vocational chemical college.” 

Ineos is one of the largest worldwide chemical companies 

with 60 production sites and 15,000 employees across 

13 countries. The chemicals industry in Wilhelmshaven 

specialises in PVC production. Ineos ChlorVinyls is Europe’s 

leading PVC manufacturer, one of the largest chlorine 

manufacturers in Europe and a worldwide leader in chlorine 

derivatives. In Wilhelmshaven it operates the two production 

sites in Voslapp and in Rüstersiel. Dr. Peter Prinz, Managing 

Director of Ineos ChlorVinyls explains, “Our inventory includes 

a chlorine plant with a production capacity of 137,000 

tonnes of chlorine and 300,000 tonnes of sodium hydroxide 

per year, a VCM plant with a production capacity of 

400,000 tonnes, a PVC plant with an annual capacity of 

380,000 tonnes, supply systems for the provision of energy 

and operating resources as well as a harbour dock for 

the import and export of raw materials, intermediate and 

finished products.” 

In Wilhelmshaven are also located the most important 

and biggest crude oil import facilities of Germany. The 

hub for handling, storage and transportation of crude oil 

is Nord-West Oelleitung GmbH (NWO). In 2011 about 17.5 

million tonnes of oil were handled by NWO and transported 

by pipeline to the connected refineries in the Emsland (Lingen) 

and to refineries in the Rhine- and Ruhr-Region as well as to 

the refinery in Hamburg. Crude oil and its further processing 

in refineries supplies the chemicals industry with the most 

important raw materials. The total crude volume handled by 

NWO makes up approximately one fifth of all German crude 

oil imports. The provenience of most of the oil is Russia (7.5 

million tonnes), however countries like the United Kingdom, 

Norway and Nigeria are also important suppliers. Other comparable 

plants and facilities in Europe are located in Trieste, 

Rotterdam and Marseilles. According to Dr.-Ing Jörg Niegsch, 

managing director of NWO, “This excellent location is very 

beneficial and convenient for marine transportation. The ability 

for ships to dock even with a draught of 18 metres makes 

Wilhelmshaven a first-class and unique location. The Jade- 

Weser-Port will additionally offer new opportunities to interconnect 

the coastal area as a region for chemical industry. 

Through these modern ports the location of Niedersachsen 

can offer an excellent gateway for connections to the international 

seaway network. In conjunction with the advantage 

of location there is considerable potential for growth of the 

German chemicals industry. With “Chem Coast e.V.” a skilled 

contact partner is available in Niedersachsen. In a nutshell: 

The chemicals industry is well-placed in the North!” 

CoastSite is responsible for the promotion, marketing 

and development of the location of Wilhelmshaven for 

chemicals and technology companies. According to Andreas 

Leonhardt, Chairman of CoastSite Wilhelmshaven e.V., 

“Wilhelmshaven is an energy nerve centre, a site for cutting-edge 

chemicals and maritime technologies. The chemicals 

location of Wilhelmshaven sees the container terminal 

and the goods transportation centre in the Jade-Weser- 

Port and its geographic and logistical benefits as an outstanding 

opportunity to consolidate the coastal area as a 

chemicals region.” 

With international groups such as Dow, Honeywell and 

Ineos, the new Jade-Weser-Port deep water harbour and an 

outstanding infrastructure, the chemical location of Niedersachsen 

is in a very good international position. Gerrit Lieske, 

Head of the Industrial Park Walsrode is looking to the future, 

“Sustainability, protecting resources and customised solutions 

focused on the needs of people will form the foundations of 

our activities over the next few years. The industry must not 

only convey to people that chemical products are essential 

parts of our lives but also that through our research and our 

solutions the chemical industry makes a considerable contribution 

to overcoming challenges such as global warming, 

nutrition or mobility.” 

you are the King. 

Daily we master the supreme Discipline: 

CorPorate 

PubLishing 

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with styLe, ProfessionaLism 

and authentiCity 

staff and customer magazines, business reports and image brochures 

by PoLygo 

POLYGO Verlag GmbH 

Schmilinskystraße 45 

20099 Hamburg 

Additional publishing 

offices in Berlin | Göttingen | 

Hanover 

Your Contact 

Maurice Henin 

Corporate Publishing 

+49 (0) 40 / 300 67 29 -11 

henin@polygo.de 

Find us online at 

www.polygo.de 

Lüneburg 

The future is now. 

. lilac production with a large international assortment 

. biotechnical plant production 

. international export, worldwide 

. production of perennial lilacs 

excellent travel connections 

dynamic university 

innovative environment 

hot spot for international companies 

manifold cultural offers and leisure attractions 

piccoplant Mikrovermehrungen GmbH 

Brokhauser Weg 75 . 26129 Oldenburg 

+49(0)441 / 969 80 - 0 . www.piccoplant.de 

info@piccoplant.de 

Business Development Lüneburg 

www.lueneburg.de/wirtschaft 

4_Anzeige_02.indd 1 14.08.12 11:52

Image: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG 

Companies 


LPKF has skills in precision drive technology, 

laser technology and optics as 

well as control engineering and software. 

Photo: CEO Dr. Ingo Bretthauer. 

specialists in laser micromaterial processing 

Technology from LPKF Laser & Electronics AG in Hanover is contained in every second 

smartphone. CEO Dr. Ingo Bretthauer discusses the sales market in China, the future of the solar 

sector and a possible entry into the TecDax. 

What are the core competencies at LPKF? 

We are mechanical engineers with a specialisation in laser 

micromaterial processing. This requires skills in precision 

drive technology, laser technology and optics as well as 

control engineering and software. Only when we perform 

with excellence in all areas do the laser systems provide 

what customers expect from them. 

LPKF operates worldwide and has an export ratio of 

90 percent. You export 47 percent to Asia, of which 

two-thirds is exported to China. What is specific to 

the Chinese market? 

In reality even more systems go to China since many of the 

internationally invoiced laser systems land in production 

sites in Asia. These systems must run 24/7, be low maintenance 

and easy to use. In the Chinese market you can only 

be successful if you have reliable partners located near to 

the customers. LPKF works with seven subsidiaries in China 

and with a professional service network. 

The Chinese government has still not set up any special 

financial support for laser technology. Is that 

positive for LPKF or does it not make any difference 

since your expertise is primarily in individual pieces 

or small ranges? 

The ranges that we produce and deliver are not that small, 

but when taken as part of a full costing, our laser processes 

are often more cost-effective than other production 

methods. We only need simple and reasonably-priced component 

carriers and we can respond extremely flexibly to 

layout changes and considerably reduce the time-to-market. 

The bottom line is what counts. Also there are often 

no alternatives when complex and high-precision structures 

are required. 

Contact 

LPKF Laser & Electronics AG: www.lpkf.com 

How many employees do you have in your seven sites 

in China and how many in Germany? 

Over the last few years we have now grown to 640 employees 

worldwide. These are broken down into 455 in Germany 

and 77 in Asia. 

How seriously should the subject of plagiarism and 

patent infringement in China be taken? 

Occasionally we see such attempts but the combination 

of high-tech, software and process expertise protects us 

from this. However, we still take the subject seriously. Some 

suppliers infringe our patents for 3D components. We have 

worldwide procedures to protect our ideas and inventions. 

LPKF has been developing LDS technology for over ten 

years. How far has this technology come in that time? 

We are identifying more and more applications. Laser 

Direct Structuring (LDS) applies conducting tracks onto 

three-dimensional components, combining electronic and 

mechanical functions. We estimate that a LDS component 

is contained in every second smartphone. Slowly being 

added to this now are Notebook and Tablet antennas 

when weight is to be reduced. We are also successful in 

the medical sector. For instance, LDS technology can be 

used to produce particularly small and light hearing aids. 

Other good examples can be found in automotive technology. 

For instance a radar sensor carrier combines the radar 

antenna with the electronic evaluation systems, enabling 

the car to identify vehicles in front or any obstructions in 

the direction of travel. 

In September your company could enter the TecDax. 

What will change then? 

Nothing at all! We will continue to develop excellent products 

and place a notable part of our earnings into research 

and development. LPKF already has financial reporting 

which provides shareholders and investors with maximum 

transparency. We are looking forward to TecDax because 

we expect increased international interest as a result.



Foreign Trade Prize 2012 

The 9th Niedersachsen Foreign Trade Day 2012 in Hanover 

was totally dedicated to the ASEAN region. The 2012 

Foreign Trade Prize was awarded to the company Purplan. 

In the interview Purplan MD Andreas Sandmann talks about the 

skills, expertise and international ambitions of his company. 

Interview: Stefanie Stüting 

Were you surprised to win the foreign trade prize? 

We were very surprised that Purplan was awarded the Niedersachsen Foreign Trade 

Prize. Our co-nominees are all very well placed companies with impressive international 

performance. However, we did have a little ray of hope as in the last few years we have 

made waves in our foreign trade activities and achieved some things. 

In which countries is Purplan now represented and where do you supply? 

In Germany Purplan is represented by the head office in Wallenhorst, Niedersachsen 

and by another site in Freimersheim, Rheinland-Pfalz. Added to this are our international 

subsidiaries in China and the USA. The latter is currently under construction. Overall we 

have 140 employees working for our group. A network of international representations 

in Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and South Africa supports our employees worldwide so 

that our systems can now be found spread across the whole planet - from Russia through 

India, Chile, the Middle East to Canada and many more. 

What is the biggest challenge to accessing new markets and being on the 

road there? 

A big challenge and particularly for small and medium-enterprises is to obtain the necessary 

local knowledge about the market in question. Therefore in this regard it is sensible 

to build up your networks in good time. Trade mission trips, participation in business pools 

and in international days held by local chambers of commerce and industry can help with 

this. The German foreign trade chambers also provide excellent support in this regard and 

set up contacts to the local chambers. This all enables you to gain an initial impression of 

the circumstances of a country/region and also to meet a few contact partners. 

Another challenge is the flexibility required to firmly establish yourself in an international 

market. It is also necessary to be flexible in the application of existing expertise 

and experiences so as to meet the needs of the new local customer group. Even if the 

technical core units of our systems are characterised by German know-how, it is still necessary 

to consider the specific situations of the particular country. Examples of these include 

the existing processes and systems in the processing industry of the respective country 

which require customised management concepts. It is also recommended to incorporate 

any different regulatory frameworks, climate conditions and existing procedural steps for 

approvals into the project work from an early stage. Added to this are the “soft factors”



Images (2): NGlobal 

Below: Purplan Product 

ANA-safety installations (with 

attention button and emergency 

stop) are manually operated, 

automatically shutting safety 

installations on tank trucks which 

are able to prevent the leakage 

of larger quantities of watercontaminating 

liquids during the 

container-filling process. 


Niedersachsen’s Economics Minister Jörg Bode 

(right) presented the Foreign Trade Prize 2012 for 

excellent export trade performance on the occasion 

of the 9th Niedersachsen Foreign Trade Day as 

part of the “Hannover Messe” to Purplan MD 

Andreas Sandmann. 

such as the specific requirements which the customers of a cultural 

group have from their business partner, business etiquette, how to 

approach prospects, etc. We reinvent ourselves nearly every day. 

How would you briefly describe the technological capabilities 

and products of Purplan? 

As a special system builder Purplan supports the plastics processing 

and chemicals industry worldwide to store and process the 

liquid raw materials used in an efficient, safe and environmentallyfriendly 

manner. Its focal points here are polyurethanes and synthetic 

resins, in other words the substances from which car fittings, 

insulating and adhesive materials, mattresses, varnish, rainwear 

etc are made. For this Purplan not only develops and produces 

tanks, mixing tanks, reaction systems and much more but also 

offers very extensive services such as automation designs, process 

consultancy, remote support, maintenance and training courses 

etc. The challenge for Purplan is to combine high-level engineering 

with innovative technologies and solid craftsmanship. Through 

the cooperation of our employees who have the most diverse of 

backgrounds and experiences, we ensure this happens and as a 

result achieve the best possible results for our customer projects. 

Does your company have something that is typical of 

Niedersachsen? 

Purplan has disseminated itself across the world from its base in 

Niedersachsen in a very short time. Here our persistence and desire 

to try something new has also driven us forward. However, at the 

same time we have remained very down to earth and strongly rooted 

in the local region. I would say that is typical of Niedersachsen! 

What are your plans for the future and what medium-term 

goals have you set for yourselves? 

In the future we want to continue to consolidate our corporate 

head office in Niedersachsen. Therefore we are currently investing 

heavily to expand the Wallenhorst site. At the same time we will 

continue to stretch out our feelers across the world. South America 

is a market that is equally exciting as India or the whole ASEAN 

area for us. 



Piccoplant GmbH 

Profiles of the companies nominated 

for the Foreign Trade Prize. 

Hydrotec Technologies AG 

Nominated Small and Medium Enterprises 

H. Vogelsand Maschinenbau GmbH 

Purplan GmbH 

Solarlux Aluminiumsysteme GmbH 

Images (5): NGlobal 

Heller-Leder GmbH & Co. KG in Hehlen produces leather 

for automotive companies such as Porsche. Chair and office 

furniture manufacturers such as Cor, Rolf Benz, Wilkhahn 

and Vitra also benefit from the fine quality materials from 

Hehlen, where the entire production process takes place, 

starting from the raw untreated delivered hides through to the 

high-quality final product. The company’s own waste water 

treatment plant ensures the highest environmental standards. 

This traditional company founded in 1920 is now being managed 

by the fourth generation of the family. 180 people are 

employed in Hehlen. The company supplies partner companies 

and direct customers in the USA, China and in many 

other European companies. 

Ge:Net GmbH based in Clausthal-Zellerfeld is active 

in the trendsetting sector of renewable energies. 

The company manufactures and delivers worldwide 

turnkey wind measuring systems for the wind energy 

sector. These include masts, measuring systems, 

assembly and maintenance. Company owner and 

Managing Director Dr.-Ing. Carsten Ropeter can now 

look back on ten years experience and more than 

270 constructed measuring masts. Ge:Net employs 

23 people in Clausthal-Zellerfeld. The products provide 

data on the economic efficiency of wind parks. 

Current practice is the remote transfer by GSM network 

or by satellite.



Experts in the controlled drainage of surface water work 

at Hydrotec Technologies AG in Wildeshausen. The 

company produces drainage channels for car parks and 

for many other sealed surfaces. The company is known 

worldwide for its manhole covers - popularly known as 

gully tops and which are manufactured in many different 

sizes. Wildeshausen represents design and development 

and companies in China, India and Turkey produce the 

drainage, gas & water supply products on commission 

orders. The 85 employees in Wildeshausen generate 

around €50 million every year. 

Heller-Leder GmbH 

Symrise AG 

Ge:Net GmbH 

Piccoplant Mikrovermehrung GmbH in Oldenburg is the world’s 

market leader in lilac production. The company has 300 varieties of 

lilac alone in its product portfolio including some rare Russian varieties. 

Piccoplant also supplies azaleas, rhododendrons and bamboos. 

All the plants are produced biotechnologically in a natural way in small 

test tubes and without the use of chemicals. This leads to the creation 

of six million seedlings per year which range from rare poplars 

through asparagus up to virus-free elite plants and renewable resources 

as sustainable, perennial biomass-plants as a replacement for 

corn. 80 percent of production is exported, to most EU countries but 

also to China and Russia. Piccoplant employs 70 people in Oldenburg. 

Purplan GmbH in Wallenhorst is a system 

builder for tanks, liquid mixing containers and 

reaction systems for synthetic resins. The chemicals 

industry uses Purplan tanks for liquid 

plastics. Purplan’s operations are virtually 

worldwide, with the exception of Australia and 

Argentina and in Wallenhorst 120 employees 

generate around € 16 million revenue per annum. 

(See interview on page 46.)



Nominated large companies for the special award 

Symrise AG in Holzminden is one four largest global suppliers 

of fragrance and flavouring agents. Its portfolio covers 

fragrance and flavouring agents, aroma chemicals 

and functional ingredients. Its customers range from multinational 

company groups to regional manufacturers who 

use Symrise products to produce foodstuffs, drinks, food 

supplements, pharmaceutical preparations, perfumes, cosmetics, 

personal care products as well as cleaning agents 

and detergents. Symrise manufactures more than 30,000 

products worldwide and these are frequently based on natural 

raw materials such as vanilla, citrus fruits, flowers or 

plants. The company exports its products to more than 160 

countries and 2,100 of the company’s 5,000 employees work 

at the company’s head office in Holzminden. In 2010 the 

MDAX listed company generated revenue of € 1,572 billion. 

Also operating on a global basis is Solarlux Aluminium 

Systeme GmbH. The world’s leading system supplier of 

glass folding walls, balcony glazing and glass structures 

has its production base in Bissendorf and Osnabrück. Solarlux 

operates in 50 countries across the world and has 

numerous subsidiaries, sales offices and licensees. 500 of 

the 600 employees work in production at the head office of 

the family business in Bissendorf. 

Hugo Vogelsang Maschinenbau GmbH in Essen near Oldenburg 

operates on a global basis. It has developed a range 

of technologies around its core product, the elastomercoated 

rotary lobe pump. This includes the RotaCut wet 

macerator for coarse and fibrous matter in pipe systems. 

Vogelsang also develops and markets technology products 

and components for biogas plants. These include vacuum 

disposal systems for the environmentally-friendly disposal of 

waste water tanks in ships trains or buildings. Vogelsang is 

the inventor of close-to-the-ground liquid manure spreading 

technology using dribble bars. In 2010 480 employees generated 

revenue of around € 55 million. Products are exported 

to all European countries, important industrial nations 

and the emerging BRIC economies. 

Images (2): NGlobal Image: Symrise

Companies 


Image: Herfurth & Partner 

Ulrich Herfurth, German Attorney 

Technology Licensing in Germany 

A company can choose to either develop its own innovations or purchase the desired innovation 

from another party. The German attorney Ulrich Herfurth about the details. 

A company can choose to either develop its own innovations 

or purchase the desired innovation from another party. 

Every cooperation contract which includes the transfer of 

technology and usage of patents, design, trademarks and 

brands, must also contain provisions regarding the appropriate 

licensing agreement. 

Depending on the nature of the business activity, the 

license can refer to the production or sale of the products as 

well as to the usage of trademarks. The content of a license 

is generally considered to be a commodity, which is owned 

solely by the licensor (know-how) or a right to which he is 

entitled (patent, prototype protection, trademark and brand). 

Due to the provisions of national and international 

competition protection law, there may be limitations on the 

unrestricted construction of license agreements between 

contract parties. The strict German competition protection 

law expressly considers the agreement of the contract parties 

to be anticompetitive; if the limitations placed on the content 

of the licensed rights (i.e. patents or company secrets) are 

excessive. Even non-challenge clauses against the rights of 

the licensor may be anti-competitive and therefore ineffective. 

Also, a clause prohibiting the licensee from manufacturing 

or distributing competing products is usually in breach of 

competition law and requires justification. For this purpose, 

the European Union has issued a block exemption regulation 

for technology transfer. The amount of the license fees 

should be negotiated between the parties based on their 

commercial interests. 

The benchmark is often a combination of what the 

licensee saves in his development expenses and the amount 

of benefit he can obtain through the production and sales 

of a product made from the knowledge acquired from the 

licensor. The interest of the Licensee corresponds most closely 

with a license fee, which is based on current sales of 

replica products. The Licensor also partakes in this way in 

the exceptional success of the licensee. However, he runs the 

risk of getting very little revenue if the Licensee’s business is 

not profitable. However, if he wishes to avoid this risk, it is 

better to agree on a fixed payment. The combination of both 

methods is also possible. To cover the expenditure associated 

with the initial technology transfer, it is recommended to 

agree upon a down payment. Finally, it is also important to 

note in the calculation of royalties, that withholding taxes are 

frequently imposed on royalty income. 

Contact 

Ulrich Herfurth herfurth@herfurth.de 

www.herfurth.de

Images (4): Wolfsburg Marketing GmbH 

Wolfsburg 

Modern Wolfsburg 

Wolfsburg is a town in Niedersachsen undergoing change, 

from one of the legends of the German economic miracle to 

a young exciting town in the countryside. 

by Juliette Rahn 

Wolfsburg. A modern wind is literally blowing in this young 

metropolis in eastern Niedersachsen. A spirit of optimism has been 

unleashed in a town which has long shed its image of a pure industrial 

district which transformed itself into a “ghost town” during 

holiday periods. Wolfsburg is reinventing itself without losing sight 

of its history in the process. It is presenting itself as green, dynamic, 

family-friendly, innovative and cosmopolitan. According to a study 

from the Medizinische Hochschule in Hannover, Wolfsburg is the 

town with the highest quality of life in Niedersachsen. Primarily 

families are attracted to the green town on the southern edge of 

the Aller glacial valley. This was not always the case, as for decades 

Wolfsburg conveyed a totally different picture. The Volkswagen 

plant was the main employer of the people of Wolfsburg and was 

almost the only attraction of the town. Joachim Schingale, Managing 

Director of Wolfsburg Marketing GmbH, confirms: “Wolfsburg 

has developed in seven decades from a mono-structural industrial 

town into a modern and innovative town with a sense of adventure.” 

Retrospective. Nearly 75 years ago the town was founded 

as a residential district for the employees of the Volkswagen plant 

located nearby. With the mass production of the VW-Beetle, the 

head office of the Volkswagen Group in the early post-war years 

advanced to become a prime example of the German economic 

miracle. And the young metropolis is still one of the most important 

centres of the Niedersachsen economy today. Its opportune geographic 

location at one of the most important European east/west 

transportation axes and the good infrastructure still make Wolfsburg 

one of the most dynamic economic locations of the Federal 

Republic of Germany. Its 16 trading and industrial areas alone, 

which cover approximately 400 hectares, provide a lot of space for 

successful innovations. In addition to the automotive suppliers, it is 

primarily trading, servicing and craftsmanship companies which are 

based here. Wolfsburg is famous for its cosmopolitan outlook. The 

town has partnership and town twinning agreements in the UK, 

France, Italy, Russia and Poland to name but a few. Cosmopolitan 

also underpins the spirit of the International Suppliers Fair, (IZB), 

Europe‘s leading trade fair for the automotive supplies industry

Local 


and which continues to increase the significance of Wolfsburg as 

an international trade fair location. (See page 6) 

Wolfsburg still has more to offer. “Many research and development 

institutions from the Volkswagen plant, the supplier industry, 

the AutoUni and particularly the emerging Ostfalia – University 

of Applied Sciences are consolidating the reputation of Wolfsburg 

as a location for science and education”, explains Schingale. The 

young town also presents its climate change and renewable energy 

credentials in a modern manner and conscientiously. Through Wolfsburg 

Solar Land Registry, the recently opened emobility station and 

the biogas plant of the Wolfsburg sewage works on the site of 

the municipal waste water treatment plant, the young metropolis is 

playing its part in the use of renewable energy sources. Wolfsburg is 

looking into a green future – and Volkswagen is also on-board. The 

VW-Group has been ranked by “Best Global Green Brands 2012” 

in 4th place for the most sustainable brands and thereby is the most 

environmentally-friendly automotive manufacturer and the “greenest” 

company in Germany. Surrounded by two cultural landscapes 

worth visiting - in the south by the Harz Mittelgebirge and in the 

north-west by the beautiful Lüneburger Heide, the young metropolis 

is an absolute highlight for every nature lover. Green oases can also 

be found in the 40 districts and areas of the town. 30 percent of the 

municipal districts are green spaces, forests and water areas as well 

as moors and heaths. The extensive parks such as the 130-hectare 

Aller Park, the Schlosspark, the Stadtwald (city forest) on the Klieversberg 

and the Schillerteich also form part of the townscape as do 

many architectural structures from the 20th century. Unmistakeable 

also are the historical roots of the traditional districts of Vorsfelde and 

Fallersleben which were independent towns before the creation of 

Wolfsburg. One of the youngest towns in Germany was named after 

Schloss Wolfsburg – a late Renaissance structure located in today‘s 

Alt-Wolfsburg district. Other architectural highlights of the town 

include the theatre by Hans Scharoun, the phæno by Zaha Hadid, 

the Alvar-Aalto Kulturhaus and the front façade of the Volkswagen 

Group with the four chimneys standing as an industrial monument. 

“The many attractions for the general public have reinforced the 

town as a tourist destination and are also giving Wolfsburg an international 

focus” explains Joachim Schingale. Shopping in Wolfsburg 

can also be an adventure. Between the installed water landscapes 

and light installations, designer outlets, the “Wolfsburger Flaniermeile” 

on Porschestraße, the over 90 shops in Wolfsburg City-Galerie 

invite you to shop and linger. 

 

The Autostadt 

“People, cars and what moves them” is the 

motto of the Volkswagen Group communications 

platform. This is where visitors and customers 

collecting their new cars obtain an insight into the 

know-how and values of Europe’s biggest automotive 

producer. Originally created as a decentralised 

project for Expo Hanover, it was opened in 2000. 

Today the 28 hectare experience park where you 

can find out anything and everything related to 

cars and machines and which houses the most 

visited car museum in the world, guides visitors 

through a two-hour voyage of discovery into the 

realm of the passenger car. An additional highlight 

of the Autostadt is the Movimentos Festival Week, 

a festival for contemporary dance and modern 

cultural performances. 

The phæno experimental landscape 

Children can learn about the world of phenomena 

from an early age in phæno. The science museum 

contains a structural world of adventure made up 

of craters, caves, terraces and plateaus. Science and 

nature can be experienced by both adults and technical 

specialists alike through more than 350 mainly 

interactive experimentation stations. Also the external 

façade of the Science Center is very experimental. 

Here, architect and Pritzker prize winner Zaha Hadid 

has created one of the most coveted sculptures 

in Germany. 

Schloss Wolfsburg 

First mentioned in a deed dated 1302 as a low-lying moated castle, the 

Schloss Wolfsburg of today has become the cultural centrepoint of the 

young metropolis. In the mid-15th century the fortification was transformed 

into a Renaissance castle. Today the historical building in the Alt-Wolfsburg 

district is a place of modern art. Also located here in addition to the Städtische 

Galerie and the Kunstverein Wolfsburg e.V. is the Heidersberger Photography 

Institute. And anyone wanting to discover more about Wolfsburg‘s 

history can visit the town‘s museum located inside the castle.

Local 


Old, Young Hanseatic Town 

With its flair dating back to the Middle Ages together with brick gables 

and the dynamics of a young university town – this combination gives 

Lüneburg a very particular attitude to life. 

Scholze Confiserie KG a premium producer of bakery products and 

Cartoflex GmbH which supplies industrial customers with individual 

packaging solutions. Other innovative companies in the 

automation technology, mechatronics, environmental technology, 

information and communications sectors play an important role 

in the economic region. They all benefit from the central location 

of the economic area between attractive markets in the East and 

North as well as from the good connections to the transeuropean 

transport networks. Also of great benefit is the proximity to the 

highly awarded and acclaimed Lüneburger Leuphana University. 

This university offers a unique study model for Germany 

as both research and teaching is carried out in the four faculties 

of culture, sustainability, economy and education, so that all stuby 

Angela Andresen-Schneehage 

A picturesque, lively old town with a modern infrastructure located 

between Hanover and Hamburg and the nearby Lüneburger 

Heide, a fabulous recreational area just outside the front door, it 

is no surprise that the old town on the River Ilmenau has been 

confirmed in a Germany-wide survey as being in top position for 

quality of life. 

Lüneburg was first mentioned in a deed over 1,000 years 

ago in the year 956. The economic rise of the subsequent Hanseatic 

Town is inextricably linked to “white gold”, since more 

than 20,000 tonnes of salt were produced in the Lüneburg saltworks 

in the Middle Ages. Today the region‘s economic drivers 

look very different. Many small and medium-sized enterprises are 

located in Lüneburg including fashion designer Roy Robson, Dr. 

Images (4): Lüneburg Marketing GmbH

Local 


lüneburg 

Lüneburg inspires tourists from across the 

world with its unique character and own 

particular beauty. Left: The Lüneburger 

Heide is one of the most popular holiday 

regions in Northern Germany. 

dents who have completed an undergraduate degree at Leuphana 

College combine two different study subjects and then complement 

these with interdisciplinary and methodical questions, projects 

with practical applications and foreign language skills. Another unusual 

offering here is the “Individual Study” option with which the 

idea behind interdisciplinary learning is consistently implemented. 

Students following this course select for themselves which relevant 

issues for 21st century civilian society they want to consider 

intensively and for a long period in their undergraduate studies. 

All graduates from Leuphana College can either move into a profession 

or continue their studies in a further masters and doctorate 

programme, either at the Leuphana Graduate School or at other 

German or foreign universities. 

Leuphana University is deemed to be one of the most enterprising 

university institutions in Germany. An impressive new central 

building is currently being built on the university site based on 

a design of the American architect Daniel Libeskind as part of the 

remarkable new campus of the future. 

However, the past is also important for the future development 

of Lüneburg. Lüneburg was one of the first towns in 

Northern Germany to join the Hanseatic League, the successful 

network of trading towns founded in the 12th century. In 1412 the 

salt town held the Hanseatic Day for the first time within its walls. 

This former trading association is now being revived as the “New 

Hanseatic League” and exactly 600 years later Lüneburg hosted a 

modern Hanseatic Day at the end of June 2012. Unlike the times 

of old in the Middle Ages when envoys from only 23 towns attended, 

this year 109 delegations from 14 countries were welcomed 

at the international meeting and who were all presented to the 

young yet still traditional town, as are the more than seven million 

people who make a day‘s excursion to Lüneburg every year. 

First and foremost it is the historic town centre which was 

spared in the war and which has remained largely intact up to the 

present day that has enabled Lüneburg over the last few years 

to develop increasingly into a destination for tourists from across 

the world. The most popular tourist attractions include examples 

of outstanding brick architecture dating back centuries, as well as 

the three town churches, the town hall complex with its famous 

“Gerichtslaube”and Lüne Abbey with its art treasures only a few 

minutes walk from the centre. Lüneburg‘s romantic house-lined 

streets and town views became very popular far beyond the region 

through the TV series “Rote Rosen” which was broadcast across 

Germany. And last but not least there are the many attractive 

shops, cafés and restaurants in the traffic-calmed streets in the 

town centre which are equally popular with inhabitants and guests 

for a relaxing stroll around the shops. Pure relaxation at one of the 

beautiful terraces in the picturesque Lüneburg harbour district with 

view of the River Ilmenau or the Alter Kran, a regional speciality 

such as a leg of heath sheep or a smelt freshly fried on the plate – 

these are moments when visitors from across the world are aware 

of the unique character and particular beauty of the old, young 

Hanseatic town. 

Imprint 


Next Fairs 

EuroBLECH 

The world’s largest exhibition EuroBLECH from 23rd to 27th 

October 2012 for the sheet metal working industry. 

EuroTier 

The world’s top event for animal production. 

From 13th to 16th November 2012. 

Save the Date! 

Image: EuroBLECH 

CeBIT 

No. 1 Event for the Digital World. From 5th to 9th March 

2013 in Hanover. 

Image: DLG 

Hannover Messe 

The world‘s largest industrial trade fair 

from 8th to 13th April 2013. 

64th IAA Commercial Vehicles 

Trade Fair 

20th - 27th September 2012 

26th September 2012: 

Specialist Electromobility 

Congress 

Hanover: Messegelände 

Opening Hours: 9.00 to 18.00 

For more information visit 

www.iaa.de 

7th International Suppliers 

Fair (IZB) 

10th - 12th October 2012 

Image: CeBIT 2012 

Image: Hannover Messe 

Wolfsburg: Messegelände in 

Wolfsburg Allerpark 

9th October: International 

Automotive Congress 

For more information 

visit www.izb-online.com and 

www.izb-kongress.com 

The Publisher 

“Innovationszentrum Niedersachsen Strategie und Ansiedlung (IZ)” and “Innovatives Niedersachsen (IN)” are 

both state owned economic development agencies. 

IZ provides you free, comprehensive consultancy in establishing or expanding business in Niedersachsen and 

supports you throughout the entire process of your investment project. Furthermore IZ is the Think Tank for 

the State of Niedersachsen and advises in all matters of innovation- and technology policy. 

IN uses the image campaign and location marketing to create an awareness of the qualities of the State. 

For more information please visit www.nds.de or contact us directly. 

Imprint 

Publisher 

Innovatives Niedersachsen GmbH • Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 24 • 30159 Hannover, Germany • CEO Dr.-Ing. Stefan Franzke 

Phone: +49 511 760726-0 • info@nds.de • www.nds.de • Contact info@nds.de 

Editors and Layout: 

POLYGO Verlag GmbH • Hainhölzer Str. 5 • 30159 Hannover, Germany • Phone: +49 511 16 99 69-0 • hallo@polygo.de, 

www.polygo.de • Managing Director Thomas Wirth • Project Manager Maurice Henin, henin@polygo.de • Marketing Director 

John D. Swenson, swenson@polygo.de • Editor Stefanie Stüting, stueting@polygo.de • Authors Angela Andresen-Schneehage, 

Katrin Langemann, Juliette Rahn • Layout Ines Erdmann, Eva-Katarina Griesheimer • Circulation 8,000 Copies

We prepare you for the future 

Intelligent energy management by EWE 

The energy of the future should be reliable, affordable and eco-friendly, 

which is why we develop innovative methods for generating and 

managing energy. With the alpha ventus offshore wind farm, we are 

for instance promoting efficient use of wind power. And that’s just 

one of our projects for a future with the right energy. 

www.ewe.de

Automotive business. 

The leading trade fair for automotive competence. 

International Suppliers Fair 

10 th – 12 th October 2012 

Wolfsburg | Allerpark 

partner countries: Argentina | Brazil 

www.izb-online.com 

Main sponsor: 

Media Partners: 

Patrons: 

Organiser:

magazine for business and investment - Innovatives Niedersachsen

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