For Stadler Rail, investment in the new plant at St.Margrethen is “a clear commitment to Switzerland as a business location and the border triangle in particular,” the company from Bussnang TG writes in a press release. On Wednesday, various guests from politics and business came together for the topping out ceremony. They included St.Gallen State Councillor Benedikt Würth and Mayor of St.Margrethen, Reto Friedauer.
Stadler Rail is optimally tailoring the new plant to its requirements and boosting the company’s competitiveness as a result. The canton of St.Gallen, municipality of St.Margrethen and landowner HIAG all played a key role in this location being chosen. Stadler Rail will establish a center of expertise for double-decker train carriages at the new site. The partial opening of the plant will take place as early as the end of September, when 40 employees will start work there.
The site will accommodate 1,400 employees overall, as the company from the St.GallenBodenseeArea reported, and the production and warehouse areas will be coordinated perfectly. Stadler Rail now also has rail access to St.Margrethen railway station. Alongside production and warehouse buildings, the new site will include offices for 450 staff. The company plans to fully move in over the first half of 2020, with the new canteen also opening next year.
With a roof area of 22,000 square meters, Stadler Rail is also making space for energy generation and nature: greenery will be planted and 6,000 square meters covered in photovoltaic panels. These will generate a quarter of the energy required by the new site. The green space will reduce energy costs and provide a habitat for plant and animal life.
