The first zero-emission factory for Danfoss has been built in Poland

Panattoni, a leader in the industrial real estate market, supports green changes in the industry. This year, the developer completed the first zero-emission factory in the global portfolio of Danfoss - a global manufacturer of energy-efficient components and technological solutions for, among others, refrigeration and air conditioning, heating, and the drive industry. Panattoni proved to be an excellent partner for a company that not only supports the development of many industries but also declares its own transition to zero-emission by 2030. The investment, which was built as part of the campus in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, is a milestone in achieving this goal.

Without zero-emission buildings, we will not achieve climate neutrality - says Emilia Dębowska, Sustainability Director, Panattoni. – Furthermore, ecological investments provide measurable savings in building costs and operations, and also provide a profit in the form of environmental protection. BTS (build to suit) facilities, led by the Danfoss factory, are a perfect example of this

The new factory was built in such a way as to save as much energy as possible and to utilize so-called "heat gains" coming from production processes, from water chillers and air compressors, which allows for efficiently heating the halls and offices as well as preparing domestic hot water. During transitional periods and winter, the primary source of heating is heat pumps, supported by heat recovery from the aforementioned processes. Heating, cooling, and ventilation installations, as well as production machines, are powered by green electricity. All technical installations in the Grodzisk investment are controlled by an advanced building management system (BMS), which additionally supports the improvement of energy efficiency and the operation of the entire facility.

The construction of the production hall and warehouse buildings is prepared for the installation of a photovoltaic system. The developer also increased the insulation of the hall to limit heat energy losses. Panattoni also implemented solutions to reduce water consumption, including the use of shut-off solenoid valves and touchless faucets in social rooms. Efficient execution paired with sustainable construction. The Panattoni BTS department was responsible for the implementation – the longest-operating team on the Polish market dealing with build-to-suit projects. In Central Europe, the company has completed over 100 such facilities.

The construction of the investment in Grodzisk Mazowiecki fit perfectly into the company's campus operations. It did not negatively affect the processes in the neighboring factory of the enterprise and allowed for the efficient transfer of 45 production lines, a warehouse, a laboratory, and maintenance functions from the plant in Denmark. A product development department (R&D) was also created on the investment site, which is of key importance for the business operations of Danfoss in Poland and worldwide. The facility completed by the Panattoni BTS department was also equipped with advanced technologies in the field of automation and robotics, which guarantee the highest quality of products.

During the implementation, we faced a series of challenges– says Marek Foryński, BTS Managing Director at Panattoni and adds: Short construction time, execution of the first stage in winter, and the creation of the facility in the vicinity of an already existing plant, without affecting current processes. With such a scale of requirements, our experience was worth its weight in gold.

The tight schedule included, among other things, additional planning procedures. As Michał Chodecki, BTS Development Director at Panattoni adds – We ensured that, despite the pandemic, the continuity of work for construction crews was maintained, and we also ensured the efficient work of designers responsible for the executive documentation. Furthermore, the production hall was built on the site of an existing parking lot, which required a change in the local spatial development plan. Despite the challenges, after just 7 months, the assembly of the first production lines began. At this moment, business must play a very important role in counteracting climate change and ESG is one of the tools that makes this possible. Companies that operate in this area will be leaders of change in the future. The first, but very large step for Danfoss in Poland towards climate neutrality is the new production hall in Grodzisk built together with Panattoni – said Adam Jędrzejczak, President of Danfoss Poland