Sondershausen. isoplus Fernwärmetechnik GmbH, Germany’s market leader for pre-insulated piping systems, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. What began in 1991 with a handful of employees in an empty hall of a decommissioned potash mine in Sondershausen has grown into one of Thuringia’s most significant industrial companies – with 709 employees, highly automated production and major projects that are driving the energy transition in Germany.
Continuous growth over three decades
The development of the workforce reflects the company’s growth: from six employees in its founding year in 1991 to 189 (2005) and 396 (2015), reaching 709 today. Around 500 of them work at the main site in Sondershausen, while another 200 are based across Germany. Production capacities have been steadily expanded, technologies introduced and market share increased. The first PE extruders were installed in 1997. In 2022, a 3D pipe plasma cutting system followed, enabling automated and resource-efficient steel pipe processing. In 2023, robotic systems for PE welding and steel welding were commissioned.
Robotic technology at the forefront in Europe
One of these investments has attracted attention far beyond the region. In summer 2023, ISOPLUS commissioned a welding system in Sondershausen that is unparalleled in Europe: a handling robot lifts pipe bends – some as heavy as a small car – into position with millimeter precision. Two welding robots take over from there: they measure the seam using a laser scanner and weld fully automatically, achieving a level of precision and consistency that is hardly possible manually.
“Where a welder previously had to work with full concentration for eight hours, three collaborating robots now complete the same task automatically in less than 20% of that time,” explains Managing Director Axel Kirstein. The system was awarded the Future Prize by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and Skilled Crafts (HWK) in Erfurt.
The largest project in the company’s history: RE=FILL
What is manufactured in Sondershausen is used in major district heating networks across Germany. The largest single project in the history of ISOPLUS Germany – and the third largest in the history of the entire ISOPLUS Group – is currently being realized in Central Germany: the RE=FILL project. Leipziger Stadtwerke and the TotalEnergies refinery in Central Germany are jointly developing a new district heating connection between the Leuna Chemical Park and Leipzig. ISOPLUS has been awarded the contract for the entire route and is supplying all pre-insulated piping systems, bends and sleeves – around 8,000 individual components, including more than 3,000 12-meter plastic-jacket pipes, fully “Made in Germany” at the Sondershausen plant. The project is considered a model for cross-sector collaboration far beyond the region.
“RE=FILL demonstrates the immense potential of utilizing industrial waste heat. For us, the project is a milestone – both technically and in its significance for the energy transition,” says Sascha Hagedorn, Authorized Signatory and Head of Sales Northeast at ISOPLUS.
“Together, we continue on our path”
On the occasion of the anniversary, Managing Directors Alexander Langner and Axel Kirstein are looking ahead: “For 35 years, our employees have been driving the heat transition in Germany through their personal commitment – making the expansion and modernization of a reliable district heating infrastructure possible. Through the exceptional dedication of our team and our strong customer focus, we have developed into the market leader in Germany. Together with our customers and partners, we will continue on our path: further expansion of district heating in Germany, decarbonization and security of supply.”
What began in 1991 with empty halls and a handful of employees now provides heat to hundreds of thousands of households. ISOPLUS has walked this path – and continues to do so.
About ISOPLUS
The ISOPLUS Group is a leading European manufacturer of pre-insulated pipe systems for district heating and cooling as well as industrial applications. For more than 35 years, we have set benchmarks in energy efficiency, sustainability, and technical excellence. With nine certified production sites across Europe and a team of around 1,600 professionals, we supply customers in more than 30 countries worldwide. Our services include planning, production, joint assembly, documentation, and construction and network monitoring. Each year, we produce more than 5,000 kilometers of rigid and flexible pipe systems as well as accessories for a wide range of infrastructure projects. Our solutions enable the seamless integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, and waste heat into district heating networks, making a significant contribution to the global energy transition.
isoplus Fernwärmetechnik GmbH, based in Sondershausen, Thuringia, is the German entity of isoplus GmbH. With more than 700 colleagues, it is not only the largest but also the highest-revenue unit within ISOPLUS and is home to the largest of the nine production sites.
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