Electromechanical component provider Rafi Group opened a new facility in early 2025 in Bad Waldsee, Germany. The new production facility is for synthetic material and machine production, metal processing, a toolshop including tool development, and a training and apprentice center.
What began with the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on May 2, 2023 is now complete with official opening and commissioning of the new factory. This year also marks 125th anniversary for the Rafi Group.
Dr. Lothar Seybold, CEO of the RAFI Group, says: “I’m delighted that we’ve built a state-of-the-art factory in which, on the one hand, our employees have the best possible working conditions and, on the other hand, we can guarantee the best possible quality and delivery reliability for our customers.” He adds: “I would like to thank everyone involved for what has been achieved, above all the many helpers within RAFI and the planners and implementers from Planquadrat Gaiser & Partner and Georg Reisch.”
Rafi placed great emphasis on energy-efficient building infrastructure. The primary energy source will be a geothermal probe system with 34 probes installed at a depth of 131 meters. Additional energy will be provided by a PV system with a performance of 760 kWp. “Sustainability is firmly integrated into our organizational and management systems and is part of our corporate culture. We consistently pursue ESG objectives. This also applies to our new factory in Bad Waldsee,” says Lothar Arnold, CFO of the Rafi Group. Last year, Rafi was awarded gold status by the EcoVadis rating agency for its commitment to the environment and ethics.
Lothar Arnold, CFO of the RAFI Group, says: “Our new factory in Bad Waldsee is a clear commitment to Upper Swabia as a business location and secures jobs in the region.”
Components made of synthetic materials in various sizes, combinations, and applications, punched parts, electromechanical buttons and control devices, and components for further processing in customer-specific applications are manufactured in the facility. “By moving component production to a new factory, RAFI has not only created more space for the future, but also given the go-ahead for a more efficient and future-proof orientation of this sub-division within the Group,” says plant manager Sven Nothelfer, summing up the strategic and operational vision.
Bruno Felder, head of the metalworking training workshop, sees the teaching concept as follows: “The aim was to design an attractive and future-oriented metalworking training workshop. And we’ve succeeded. In our ultra-modern environment, we train and will continue to train apprentices in the professions of industrial and tool mechanics, synthetic material and rubber technologists, as well as machine and plant operators.”
Up to 16 apprentices, students and interns can currently be trained on the premises. The apprentices learn the basics of metalworking, such as milling and turning, as well as skills in areas such as production technologies, product design, and electronics.
