Wincor Nixdorf AG is expanding its capacity levels for the
development and production of reverse vending systems deployed within
the retail sector. Injecting funds of around five million euros, the
company specializing in IT solutions for branch and store operations
within the area of retail banking and retailing plans to introduce a new
production facility in Ilmenau/Thuringia, Germany. Wincor Nixdorf
President & CEO Eckard Heidloff and the Thuringian Minister of
Economics, Technology and Labor, Jurgen Reinholz, attended the symbolic
groundbreaking ceremony on April 23, 2007, which marks the official
start of the construction project to be completed by as early as fall
2007. Aimed at accommodating business growth, the new premises will help
Wincor Nixdorf to pursue its expansion plans in this specific line of
business. Speaking to representatives of the political and business
community, Heidloff emphasized: “Having achieved our target of 30
percent market share within the area of reverse vending systems deployed
by retailers in Germany, we are now looking to extend our position and
gain forward momentum in the international arena.” He went on to explain
that Wincor Nixdorf’s efforts within this sector had been bolstered by
recent orders for more than 500 reverse vending systems to be supplied
to German-based retailers as well as initial orders from companies in
Scandinavia, where several major retailers are currently involved in
large-scale pilot operations.
In Germany, business within the area of reverse vending systems received
fresh impetus when the second phase of the so-called
“Leergutrucknahmeverordnung”, a regulation governing the return of empty
beverage containers, came into force in May 2006. Under this
legislation, all retailers and wholesalers selling beverage cans as well
as PET or disposable bottles are obliged to accept empty containers sold
either via their own stores or by other retailers. Wincor Nixdorf was
quick off the mark in preparing for the surge in demand anticipated on
the back of this legislation and acquired the insolvent prokent AG as
early as 2003, thus entering the market for reverse vending systems. In
doing so, the company specializing in systems supplied to bank branches
and retail outlets added to its extensive portfolio of self-service and
automation solutions for retail chains.
Wincor Nixdorf entrusted the development and production activities for
reverse vending systems to an independent subsidiary by the name of
Wincor Nixdorf Technology GmbH, based in Ilmenau. Since its inception in
2003, the Illmenau-based enterprise has close to doubled its personnel
from 80 to 150. One of the focal points has been the creation of new
jobs in development and quality management. In addition, a new call
center with 25 staff members has been established in Illmenau. It is
responsible for addressing the full range of customer service issues.
“In future, we intend to centralize at our Illmenau site development,
production and services relating to reverse vending systems . Thus, we
will be in a position to respond even faster to market requirements when
developing next-generation reverse vending systems,” said Heidloff.
“In Wincor Nixdorf, the town of Illmenau has attracted a global
technology enterprise,” said Thuringia’s Minister of Economics Jurgen
Reinholz in applause of the company’s investment. “This is a clear
tribute to the economic appeal of this region.” He added that the
investment decision in favor of Thuringia would secure vital expertise
in the logistics of empty beverage containers and would also contribute
to the creation of new jobs in the region. The Free State of Thuringia
is supporting the project by providing funds of approx. EUR1.4 million
within the framework of the joint scheme for improving regional economic
structures.
