Zeiss Opens New Facility in Chesterfield
Ribbon-cutting marks investment in local jobs and innovation
On October 1st, Zeiss proudly inaugurated its new facility in Chesterfield, Missouri, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to innovation and community engagement. The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together local officials, business leaders, and employees to celebrate the state-of-the-art facility, which is set to enhance Zeiss’s capabilities. This expansion not only underscores Zeiss’s dedication to advancing its operations, but also highlights its investment in the local economy and workforce development.
“The new space will help us to optimize the production processes in Chesterfield by improving material flows – thus increasing our productivity while maintaining our high-quality levels,” said Hartmut A. König, Head of Zeiss Competence Center Chesterfield. “We are confident that the new building complex will help us to strengthen our position in the surgical instrument market.”
The Chesterfield site will employe over 160 people, with a building size of 64,500 square feet. Processes within the new building will focus on surgical instruments, a cornerstone of Zeiss. In 2022, when Zeiss acquired two Chesterfield companies, Katalyst and Kogent, it expanded not only its product range, but also increased employment at the businesses by 33%.
“The investment in these Missouri companies highlights the importance of foreign investment and how it can bring more jobs to a community,” said Rodney Crim, president and CEO of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership).
STL Partnership, the World Trade Center St. Louis (WTC) and Zeiss started their collaboration back in 2022 when the St. Louis regional team launched direct flights to Germany. Once WTC was alerted about Zeiss’ acquisition of Kogent and Katalyst, they scheduled a business retention and expansion (BRE) meeting with Zeiss leadership. BRE committee members include Missouri Department of Economic Development (MO DED), Spire, Ameren, St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), and Greater St. Louis Inc. That meeting led to the establishment of the project that helped expand Zeiss to Chesterfield Mo.
Speakers at the ribbon cutting included Hartmut König, Zeiss President of Microsurgery Magnus Reibenspiess, Division Director of MO DED Lori Becklenberg, Rodney Crim, and Governor Mike Parson. After the ribbon cutting, attendees and the governor were invited on a tour of the new facility.