At the egeGigaFab at egeplast headquarters, microducts are manufactured on 11,000 m² for comprehensive broadband expansion in Europe. State-of-the-art plant technology and a high degree of automation are the highlights of the new plant. High-quality fiber optic networks are the most important asset for network operators. With egeplast microducts, they have long-lasting protection for their fiber optics.
Premium quality
The production of microducts began at egeplast in 2003 and has developed into an important business segment for the company in recent years. Under the leadership of division manager Ralf Utsch, sales have steadily increased over the past 15 years. The quality has always been perceived as premium by German and international customers, but manufacturing efficiency and production logistics clearly had room for improvement. At the end of 2021, egeplast, as a family business, decided to invest in a “dedicated” microduct production facility at the Greven site on a newly acquired 40,000 m² adjacent plot.
Capacity expansion and high degree of automation
Under the leadership of Head of Engineering Dr.-Ing. Tobias Hallmann, a production facility was created that is unparalleled. The production of microducts started in mid-2024 in the egeGigaFab, and the planned capacity expansion was achieved in Q4. The entire product, production, logistics, and material supply concept was completely rethought to remain competitive at the German site, with its high labor and energy costs, in the future.
Output speeds have doubled, setup times have been shortened, and the degree of automation amazes many visitors. Dr.-Ing. Herbert Müller, egeplast advisory board member: “I have known extrusion for 40 years, but I have never seen such a modern production facility.” Joeri Van Bogaert, a connoisseur of the fiber optic market for two decades and FTTH Council Europe President 2007-2010, says: “In my experience, egeplast has always been a leader in quality and manufacturing innovation in the microduct industry and has reaffirmed its position by building the egeGigaFab. This egeGigaFab provides a backdrop that could be part of a sci-fi movie set. Production is extremely efficient and at the same time sets a new standard for quality and a reduced CO2 footprint.” A photovoltaic system with an output of 1,300 kWp is installed on the roof of the 11,000 m2 hall.
Warm invitation
We sincerely thank everyone involved for their great and tireless commitment during the planning, construction, and ramp-up phases. We warmly invite our customers to visit the new plant. You are welcome to personally experience the “Made in Germany” quality label for the expansion of the European fiber optic network.
