Lufthansa Technik has begun construction on a new 156,000-sq-ft wheel and brake workshop at its Frankfurt East Harbor location. The $66.4 million production facility is designed to meet the requirements for lean production, an ergonomic working environment and sustainability in terms of how the building has been developed and will be operated.

Dr. Johannes Bussmann, chairman of the executive board of Lufthansa Technik, said, "Today we operate one of the largest maintenance workshops for aircraft wheels and brakes anywhere in the world. We expect even more efficient processes under excellent working conditions with the new facility. I am certain we will succeed in growing from the current figure of 26,000 serviced wheels and 4,500 serviced brakes annually to 32,000 and 6,000 units, respectively, in the coming years."

The technology employed will enable the requirements of an energy saving ordinance to be exceeded by 30 percent through a separate combined heat and power plant constructed for that purpose. Even the waste heat from the machines will be used intelligently for air conditioning the building. The new facility is slated to go online in early 2017.