Member of the Bundestag visits Dürr to discuss climate protection
Members of the German Bundestag Andreas Jung and Fabian Gramling visited Dürr's headquarters in Bietigheim-Bissingen. There they learned how the machinery and plant manufacturer contributes to climate protection with energy- and resource-efficient technologies.
The visit by members of parliament, initiated by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), included a tour of the plant and a round of talks with Dr. Jochen Weyrauch, Chairman of the Board of Management of Dürr AG, and Dr. Dietrich Birk, Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg branch of the VDMA. The important role of mechanical and plant engineering in achieving the Paris climate targets was highlighted. Dr. Jochen Weyrauch: "As a machine and plant manufacturer, our most effective lever for reducing greenhouse gas emissions lies in reducing the energy consumption of our machines and plants. Let's look at the automotive industry, for example. A large number of automotive plants currently still have paint shops that are more than 15 to 20 years old. The painting process accounts for almost half of the total energy required in the plant. In particular, drying the car bodies and air conditioning the paint booths are energy-intensive. At Dürr, we can already build paint shops today that consume less than half to only a third of the energy and can also be operated in a completely CO2-neutral manner. To achieve this, we rely on the intelligent use of energy as well as operation with green electricity instead of fossil fuels."
The Dürr Group is making an equally important contribution to climate protection with its technologies for manufacturing sustainable products. Examples of this are machines and systems for building climate-friendly wooden houses, emission-free electric cars or solar modules. The increasing demand from customers shows that the company is well positioned for the future with its focus on sustainability. At the same time, it also enables the Group to achieve its own climate targets. In 2022, around 80% of total greenhouse gas emissions were attributable to the use phase of the products sold. By 2030, these emissions are to be reduced by at least 15% (compared with 2019). The willingness of customers to invest in low-emission technologies is an important prerequisite for this. The Dürr Group is also focusing on climate protection at its own sites and is investing in sustainable buildings, energy efficiency measures and the generation of its own electricity by means of photovoltaic systems. The goal is to reduce operational emissions by at least 70% by 2030 (compared to 2019). MdB Andreas Jung, who is also deputy federal chairman of the CDU, said: "Our path is to advance climate protection through innovation, technology and international partnership. We need machine builders like Dürr who are committed to this goal. Policymakers must create the right incentives for energy efficiency and climate technology." At the same time, he underscored the career opportunities available to young, climate-conscious people in the mechanical engineering sector: "There are so many young people who want to advance climate protection. It's a great prospect for them to take up a career in a company like Dürr."