Ziehl-Abegg has announced an additional investment of €90 million to expand its global manufacturing operations, reinforcing its ability to meet accelerating demand for energy-efficient ventilation, drive and motor technologies across multiple high-growth industries. The investment will strengthen production facilities in Europe, North America and Asia while supporting long-term business expansion and employment across its international operations.
The new capital allocation forms part of one of the largest investment programmes in the company’s history and comes on top of previously approved capital expenditure. The funding will be directed towards new machinery, tooling and advanced production equipment at manufacturing facilities worldwide, enabling higher output and greater operational efficiency.
Demand for Ziehl-Abegg’s products has increased significantly, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres and continued growth in sectors including commercial ventilation, heat pumps, refrigeration and energy-efficient buildings. The company manufactures fans, electric motors and control systems that are widely used in these applications.
Joachim Ley, Chief Executive Officer of Ziehl-Abegg, said the company is witnessing exceptionally strong growth across international markets, with AI infrastructure emerging as one of the fastest-growing business segments. He noted that demand from building ventilation, heating and cooling technologies is also expanding steadily, creating sustained opportunities for long-term growth.
The surge in orders has resulted in high production utilisation across the company’s manufacturing network. Facilities in the United States have been prepared for continuous three-shift operations, while several production sites in Germany are operating around the clock, including weekend schedules.
The company’s manufacturing plant in China has also been running three shifts since last autumn to meet customer demand. The expansion programme has been designed to achieve two key objectives: increasing manufacturing capacity to support future market growth while maintaining dependable product availability for existing customers around the world.
According to Mr Ley, the investment extends beyond increasing production capacity. He said the programme will strengthen the company’s competitive position while providing greater employment stability across its global workforce. Expanding production capabilities in all major regions will also create a stronger platform for future business development and sustained international growth.
Founded in 1910, Ziehl-Abegg has developed into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of ventilation systems, electric motors and drive technologies. The company pioneered external rotor motor technology, which remains widely adopted in modern fan systems, while its electric motors are used in applications ranging from elevators to advanced medical equipment.
Today, Ziehl-Abegg operates 17 manufacturing plants, 30 companies and 114 sales locations serving customers in more than 100 countries. The family-owned business employs approximately 5,800 people worldwide, including around 3,000 at its production facilities in southern Germany, and generates annual revenue exceeding €1 billion.
