On Tuesday, the Cullman REHAU plant hosted a Roofing Ceremony/Richtfest to celebrate its latest expansion. The $12.8 million expansion will allow REHAU to increase production at its Cullman plant even more.
Andrew Frohne is a senior executive with REHAU.
“Thank you for coming to our milestone event,” Frohne said. “It was a pleasure having you here. We hope you have a good impression of our project and are looking forward to showing you the progress at the next big milestone.”
Economic Developer Dr. Nicole Jones told Alabama Today, “REHAU, which now employs almost 800 at the Cullman plant, was the first Tier 1 supplier to serve Mercedes when it came to Alabama nearly three decades ago. Thank you, REHAU, for investing in our communities. “
The German word “Richtfest” translates to ‘roofing ceremony’ or ‘build celebration.’ In German tradition, building owners or homeowners host a “Richtfest” when the final roof beam is applied.
The Mercedes Benz supplier opened its Cullman plant in 1996 with 30 employees. The company has had several expansions since then and now employs over 800 people. A PEXa pipe plant for heating and plumbing applications was opened in 2007, and a technical center was added in 2015.
According to the Alabama Department of Commerce, the largest single permit issued in Alabama in the second week of July 2023 was a $12.8 million permit at the Cullman Rehau Automotive plant.
“REHAU has played a vital role in the success of Alabama’s automotive industry for 25 years, and it’s great to see the company expand its operation in Cullman,” Governor Kay Ivey said when the expansion was first announced in 2022. “This expansion and the 125 new jobs it will create will be vital to Mercedes-Benz’s growth right here in Sweet Home Alabama.”
The current facility is about 1 million square feet.
The independent family-owned company was founded in Rehau, Germany. Today, REHAU has 21,500 employees in more than 190 locations worldwide.
Dale Greer is the director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency.
Greer said, “REHAU’s growth in Cullman is a tribute to both the company and the Cullman community.”
The Mercedes Tuscaloosa plant was the company’s first major passenger car production facility outside Germany. REHAU followed Mercedes to Alabama. Since then, several other automobile makers have moved production facilities to Alabama. Both Mercedes and REHAU have expanded over the years.
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