North Rhine-Westphalia honors foreign investors

In the presence of around 450 international guests from industry and politics, NRW.INVEST and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia presented the NRW.INVEST AWARD on July 11, 2011. With this award in the categories Innovation, Expansion Investment and New Investment, the state honors companies for their bold and innovative investments in North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location.

From left to right: Fred B. Irwin (President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V.), Whitney S. Wiedeman (Consulate General of the United States of America), Kiyoshi Koinuma (Consul General of Japan), Jolanta Roza Kozlowska (Consul General of Poland), Economics Minister Harry K. Voigtsberger, Petra Wassner (CEO, NRW.INVEST GmbH), Masato (Max) Nakagawa (CEO, Denso Automotive Deutschland GmbH), Andy Jones (European Managing Director, Edgetech Europe GmbH), Boleslaw Formela (CEO, Secespol Sp. z.o.o.), Prof. Dr. Stefan Pischinger (RWTH Aachen and CEO of FEV Motorentechnik GmbH), Hans-Jürgen Alt (CEO VDMA NRW and Clustermanager Mechanical Engineering / Production Technology NRW).

The award in the Innovation category goes to the American firm Edgetech Europe, which is one of the world's 5,000 fastest-growing companies. Edgetech is expanding mainly due to its energy-efficient invention: an innovative, energy-saving plaster spacer system for insulating glazing called Super Spacer®. It was because of this innovation that the company invested in the growing German and European markets: In 2010, the company moved into its first German production plant in Heinsberg in the Lower Rhine region. The plant was opened in May 2011. The investment amounts to 5 million euros and has created a total of 150 jobs. The first production line is already up and running, with the second due to follow in August this year and the third in 2012. In total, six plants are planned up to 2015. This location strengthens the competence of North Rhine-Westphalia in the field of environmental technology.

In the Expansion Investment category NRW.INVEST is once again honoring a Japanese company this year. This demonstrates the sustainable effect of Japanese investments on North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location. The 2011 award winner is DENSO Automotive Deutschland GmbH. Seven years ago, the Japanese automotive supplier settled in Wegberg-Oval in the Heinsberg district with its first research and development centre outside Japan. The company is active in 35 countries with 187 branches and generates annual sales of around 28 billion euros. Last year, the automotive supplier invested 19.3 million euros in the expansion of its location in Wegberg-Oval. The company more than tripled its area from 2,000 to 6,500 square meters. At the same time, it is focusing on the future trend of electric mobility. From its base in Wegberg the company plans to develop electronic and electrical systems and their application in the field of electric mobility. The number of employees is increasing from 30 to 100. DENSO's expansion investment points the way forward and strengthens North Rhine-Westphalia as a mobility location.

The NRW.INVEST AWARD in the New Investment category goes to the Polish company SECESPOL, which located in Düsseldorf in March 2010. Following sites in the Czech Republic, Canada, China and Hong Kong, this is the first location in Germany. From Düsseldorf, SECESPOL supports its customers in the application and implementation of its own products. SECESPOL is a supplier for the metal and industrial sector, district heating supply, energy technology, refrigeration technology and the pharmaceutical industry. Above all, the company now occupies a leading position in the field of high-performance heat exchangers. The NRW.INVEST AWARD goes to SECESPOL as a representative of the entire Polish body of entrepreneurs operating in North Rhine-Westphalia. There are currently around 200 Polish companies based in the state. This makes North Rhine-Westphalia the most important location for the Polish economy in Germany.