Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH
Location: Rangendingen, Germany
Project: Erbe 4i Project
Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH, a provider of innovative medical technology since 1851, completed a new high precision surgical instruments development and manufacturing facility in Rengendingen, Germany. The facility, which started commercial production in November 2023, was built with an innovative design and a focus on sustainability which has earned Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH recognition with a 2025 ISPE Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) Honorable Mention.
The Erbe 4.i project is a centralized hub with colocation of instrument development, certified manufacturing and training center of the high precision instruments with worldwide distribution. The production facility includes a 25,000m² building complex that integrates production with 2,400m² cleanroom, logistics, development, and administration. The uniqueness of the project lies in the combination of sustainability and functionality integrating regenerative materials like wood in the envelope, structure, and interior. The architecture is resource-efficient, utilizing timber and natural materials to create a visual connection with the nature surrounding the facility. The breakthrough innovation is in the implementation of this 2,400m2 ISO-8 cleanroom within a timber structure building. Significant technical innovations were necessary to ensure integrity and tightness of the cleanroom environment within a non-rigid structural framework provided by the wooden roof structure.
This facility is one of the first industrial buildings in Germany to achieve the KfW-40 efficiency house standard. The facility pursued a Net Zero / CO₂-neutral approach through a combination of climate-friendly energy systems including photovoltaic (1 megawatt PV, saving 400 tons of CO₂ per year) and regional biogas. Using responsibly and locally sourced wood as the primary construction material enabled 2,000 tons of CO₂ to be sequestered. The building was designed and constructed to use only 40% of the primary energy of a comparable reference building. This was achieved through excellent thermal insulation, the use of efficient heating technology, and the incorporation of renewable energy source earning the Quality Certificate for Sustainable Buildings, awarded by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) in Germany.
In terms of construction, the facility was built not only with sustainability in mind but with safety. Thanks to stringent safety measures and exemplary implementation, the construction site remained accident-free throughout the entire 486-day construction period. With a total of 386,490 construction hours, an impressive record was achieved without Lost Time Injury (LTI). The construction largely utilized prefabricated methods, with prefabricated timber frame and facade elements delivered just-in-time to the site. This approach shortened the construction period and increased precision, reducing construction waste and efficiently using resources.
Based on this innovative and sustainable design and implementing this project in a safe and sustainable manner, Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH has been recognized as a 2025 ISPE FOYA Honorable Mention recipient for its Erbe 4i project in Rangendingen, Germany.
Supply Partners and Key Participants:
Engineer/Architect (A&E): io-consultants
Commissioning qualifications & validation services: io-consultants
General Contractor / Construction Management: Wolfer & Goebel Bau GmbH
Major Equipment Supplier and Automation: SIEGLE + EPPLE GmbH & Co. KG