Panattoni has completed the Monroe European Engineering Center

Panattoni has completed a BTS facility in Gliwice for the Tenneco Group. The European Engineering and Research & Development Center for new Monroe brand technologies and products will serve companies in the field of conventional ride control systems (Monroe OE Solutions) and advanced suspension systems (Monroe Intelligent Suspension). Nearly 240 engineers work in the new 10,000 sqm center, supporting leading vehicle manufacturers as well as other Group plants.

The Silesian Voivodeship continuously attracts giants from the automotive industry, and centers such as Bielsko-Biała, Tychy, or Gliwice are becoming a hub for the operations of international enterprises. The Tenneco Group – a leading global manufacturer and supplier of technologies, components, and original equipment systems for passenger cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, and off-road equipment – has been operating in Gliwice for years. Just 2 km from the group's production plant, Panattoni has completed the Monroe European Engineering Center – one of the company's entities.

- „Global automotive is betting on Poland, and the technologically advanced facility for the Monroe brand in Gliwice will become a key hub in the Tenneco network for serving customers in the field of Monroe OE Solutions and Monroe Intelligent Suspension, alongside facilities located in Europe, China, India, or the USA. It is a huge honor for us that such an important investment for the company's development was carried out by Panattoni. We are now delivering not only technologically advanced factories but also technological and R&D facilities” – says Marek Foryński, BTS Managing Director at Panattoni.

The developer delivered a total of nearly 10,000 sqm, including a 5,330 sqm facility adapted for the production of prototypes and the validation of all types of passive and semi-active shock absorbers. Among the main products designed and approved in the new R&D center are technologies used in passenger cars, delivery vehicles, and buses – including shock absorbers and Monroe Intelligent Suspension modules. Along with the completion of the new center, Tenneco invested in the latest computer-aided design (CAD) and engineering (CAE) technologies, as well as other solutions required for the development of mechanical, electronic, and hydraulic systems. The work of nearly 240 engineers within the Monroe Engineering Center supports a number of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers and Performance Solutions plants in Spain, the Czech Republic, Belgium, and Poland.

As part of the project, Panattoni created an office space that is unique in the company's portfolio. The developer plans to submit this part for WELL Gold certification, which is awarded to facilities that are particularly employee-friendly. The very high standard of office finishing included, among other things, glass facades, composite walls, and glass balustrades, as well as finishing materials in a rich color palette. In the implementation, the developer used materials and solutions to improve acoustics (including acoustic panels and slats). Panattoni also provided laboratories with air conditioning and resin floors. A complex 3.7 MW electrical connection was also completed in record time.

Users of the facility will be able to use outdoor relaxation zones with benches and tables, bicycle shelters, and a swing made from used wind turbine blades. On the investment site, Panattoni also provided, among other things, insect and bird houses and planted native trees and shrubs, a landscape lawn, and a wildflower meadow, which helps reduce the water needed for irrigation.

Tenneco will also benefit from a number of solutions that reduce energy and water consumption. An intelligent lighting system has been implemented, including an astronomical clock for outdoor lighting. In terms of water conservation, Panattoni used, among other things, solenoid valves in bathrooms and a leak monitoring system. The entire center will undergo environmental certification using the BREEAM method at the Excellent level.

- „Over 100 facilities completed by the Panattoni BTS department in Central and Eastern Europe represent a huge capital that proved crucial in such a demanding project. Preparing the design, acquiring the property, planning the utility connections, ensuring proper access, and finally delivering an exceptional office space – all of this was achieved on a very tight schedule. We thank the Tenneco Group for their trust and the opportunity to add an absolutely unique project to our portfolio” – says Michał Chodecki, BTS Development Director at Panattoni.