Panattoni will build a new hall for Hanon Systems, a major Korean manufacturer of parts for air conditioning and cooling systems for cars, in the Kladno-jih industrial zone. The investor of the project is Accolade Group. The company bought the entire site with the existing hall, which will undergo modifications. At the same time, Panattoni will build a new production area of more than 20,000 sqm, which Hanon Systems will use to expand its production for new customers. Construction of the hall, which began over the summer, will aim to achieve an Excellent rating under the BREEAM New Construction sustainable building certification.
“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to contribute another project to the transformation of Kladno. We are starting the construction of a new hall in the Kladno-South industrial zone for a manufacturer that already operates one hall in this location. The project proves that our company can prepare tailor-made solutions for our clients, as we are expanding the existing established production with a new production hall and at the same time modernising the older building to meet the most stringent sustainability criteria of today. In addition, production will run uninterrupted during the construction period. I believe that this construction will contribute to the overall economic recovery of the region and build on the industrial history of Kladno,” says Pavel Sovička, Panattoni’s General Manager for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Hanon Systems Thermal Technologies issued a tender for this project in February 2022 due to growth in the electromobility sector and expansion of existing production for new customers. Negotiations and project preparation took approximately 14 months and Panattoni started construction work in July this year.
The project is specific in that it is two transactions in one. The Accolade investment group bought the entire site with the existing hall, which will undergo modifications aimed primarily at making the building more energy efficient. At the same time, however, construction of a completely new hall will take place, which the tenant should take over next summer, when production should also start. Production operations in the existing hall will remain uninterrupted during the refurbishment.
The entire project is designed in accordance with the high standards of a modern and sustainable industrial building. The hall will include heat pumps, a photovoltaic power plant and a solution for storm water management.
“We are pleased to see the number of tenants from the automotive sector continuing to grow in the industrial property segment, which we have seen strongly in our portfolio this year. Hanon Systems is one of the largest companies in its industry, employing over 21,000 people worldwide, and has historically been a very well-established employer in the Kladno area in particular. This success story underscores that the Czech Republic is still an interesting location for the expansion of the automotive industry,” comments Milan Kratina, CEO of Accolade, adding that the project’s great asset is also its excellent location. “At the moment, it is difficult to find new premises in the Central Bohemian Region and the capacity of available land for construction is rapidly disappearing,” he adds.
The Kladno region is highly valued both in terms of excellent infrastructure and the quantity and availability of skilled labour. Important motorways D7, D6 and D5 are located nearby, as well as the Václav Havel International Airport. A great promise for the future is also the railway connection between Prague, the airport and Kladno by a planned modernised line.
“We are glad that Kladno is managing to effectively use and develop its existing industrial areas and to implement environmentally friendly buildings there. We also welcome new job opportunities that will suitably complement the new housing construction in the city and allow residents to work where they live,” concludes Ondřej Rys, Kladno’s architect and councillor for city development.
