Kässbohrer to cooperate with Rhein Waal University

Semi-trailer manufacturer Kässbohrer’s headquarters in Goch, Kleve is visited by a delegate led by District chief of Kleve Wolfgang Spreen on January 18, 2016. The delegation and top executives from Kässbohrer assessed cooperation opportunities in support of region’s industrial development and education.

Kässbohrer’s semi-trailer production facility in Goch dates back to 1998, when Turkey’s leading trailer manufacturer Tirsan Group’s German subsidiary Goch Tırsan GmbH started its production on its 108.000 m² premises. Since the acquisition of Kässbohrer’s semi-trailer segment by Tirsan Group in 2002, the Goch facility serves as a hub for European sales and marketing operations and main disposition center of Kässbohrer.

The delegation led by District chief of Kleve Wolfgang Spreen, comprised of Goch Mayor Ulrich Knickrehm, Kries Kleve Economic Development Community Executive Director Hans-Josef Kuypers, Kreis Kleve Chamber of Commerce and Industry General Manager Dr. Stefan Dietzfelbinger, Rudiger Wenzel from Goch Economic Development Community and Associate professor Dr. Gerhard Heusipp from Center for Research, Innovation and Transfer of Rhein Waal University.

Hosting the delegation, Tırsan Group President Cetin Nuhoglu said, “The German semi-trailer industry is taking the lead in the European semi-trailer market, showing the pertinence of our decision of investing in Germany. In the course of our evaluation for the best spot of investment back in 1998, we assessed other location options for our investment as well, including Italy and the Netherlands. However, the support and the motivation from our contacts in Goch in that period led us to invest in here. For years now, we are enjoying very strong partnerships with other German suppliers, as 80 percent of our suppliers are from the domestic industry in Germany.”

“We are already conducting partnerships with Aachen University and Leibniz Institute in Postdam. I hope we will see further success with a cooperation with Rhein Waal University in the coming period,” Mr. Nuhoglu added.

Speaking at the meeting, Wolfgang Spreen wished success for partnerships to come and said, “As a company investing heavily in R&D and innovation as Kässbohrer, I’d recommend you to form partnership with Rhein Waal University. Founded in 2009, Rhein Waal is still too young. Therefore, I think Kässbohrer’s support in terms of apprenticeship training and cooperation would provide a very important contribution.”

Goch Mayor Ulrich Knickrehm also thanked Kässbohrer for its investment in Goch, providing employment and opportunities for apprenticeship trainings.

Expressing that he is impressed by the lean production principles adopted by Kässbohrer, Dr. Gerhard Heusipp from Rhein Waal University said “I believe that we will develop successful projects together. I hope today will be a new start of a cooperation between us for the lean production applications, apprenticeship training opportunities and R&D partnerships.”

From Goch to whole Europe

Founded on an area of 108,000 m², Kässbohrer’s Goch facility stands at the crossroads of European route E 31 and E 35, connecting Amsterdam to Rome, therefore the hearth of Germany’s export and intermodal transportation.

Goch Plant is the headquarters for European sales and marketing operations and main disposition center for Kässbohrer Fahrzeugwerke GmbH. Goch Plant is also the main after sales service and spare part depot for Europe.