First Sod Ceremony In Friedberg: Baldwin Germany Gmbh Gets Under Way with the Construction of a New Production Facility and Administrative Building

7/4/2005

Augsburg, Germany / Shelton, Connecticut (USA), July 4, 2005 – The turning of the first sod on June 13 heralded the beginning of the active phase in the construction of a new production facility and administrative building that Baldwin Germany GmbH expects to occupy in the late summer of 2006. The new premises will be erected in Friedberg’s fledgling business-park, situated approximately 4 1/2 miles away from Baldwin’s current site in Augsburg-Lechhausen.

The first-sod ceremony was watched by a group of illustrious guests. In addition to numerous representatives of Baldwin’s business associates, the companies involved in the construction project and Friedberg’s municipal government, the entire Board of Directors of the Baldwin Technology Company, Inc. made the journey accompanied by members of Baldwin’s European management team.

In a brief speech to mark the occasion, Karl S. Pühringer, then Vice President of the Baldwin Technology Company (he has since been elected President and Chief Operating Officer) and Managing Director of Baldwin Germany, welcomed the realisation of this long-scheduled project, which will finally put an end to an unsatisfactory situation that has dragged on for years. Baldwin’s unbroken growth, along with the limited scope for expansion, forced the company to spread its production and administrative departments around five different buildings on the present site. The new location will enable all operations to be efficiently combined.

“The modern infrastructure that will take shape here will allow us to strengthen our market position as a leading international manufacturer of press accessory and ancillary equipment in a sustainable way – not just here in Germany but throughout Europe and indeed worldwide,” says Mr Pühringer. “Our employees can look forward to an attractive and inspiring work environment. We also have plans to set up a Baldwin European Engineering Centre on the new premises.”

Gerald A. Nathe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Baldwin Technology Company, voiced his conviction that Baldwin has made the right decision in renewing its commitment to southern Germany: “This region is the ideal location for us in terms of OEMs, direct end customers and suppliers. The dedicated, excellently qualified and professionally experienced people that Baldwin needs to maintain its impressive development are available on the spot. The new building will help rationalise all company processes, benefiting Baldwin with the strongest possible foundation for quantitative and qualitative growth.”

Around 6,000 m2 of production space and 2,700 m2 of office space will have been created by the time the project reaches completion. The offices will be distributed between a series of ‘islands’ integrated in the production shop and a five-story administrative building. If the 15,700 m2 site should prove to be inadequate, Baldwin has also taken out an option on an additional 4,000 m2 area, which will be kept in reserve for future expansions. If everything goes according to plan, Baldwin Germany GmbH and its roughly 200-strong workforce will be able to move into the new company premises in the late summer of next year.

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