With a festive groundbreaking ceremony, GMN Paul Müller Industrie GmbH & Co. KG initiated the construction of a new production hall for the manufacturing of high-precision ball bearings on May 18, 2026. The investment volume of around 28 million euros marks the largest single investment by the company in the past 30 years. GMN sees this as a clear commitment to the industrial location of Nuremberg.
The existing production building dates back to 1932. After nearly a century, the owners are laying the foundation for future ball bearing production at the headquarters on Äußere Bayreuther Straße with the new building.
State-of-the-art production on 8,650 square meters
A specialized building is being constructed with a gross floor area of approximately 8,650 square meters, specifically designed for the production of highly accurate GMN high-precision ball bearings. When fully operational, around 85 employees will work here.
A technical feature is the vibration-isolated construction: The floor slab of the precision measuring room is separated from the rest of the building to keep vibrations from the nearby railway line and other production areas at bay. Only in this way can manufacturing tolerances in the sub-micrometer or even nanometer range be controlled. Temperature and humidity are regulated within the tightest limits.
The new production will consistently focus on automation and efficient internal logistics, such as through autonomous transport systems.
Energy-efficient and climate-neutral
The building is expected to require 15 to 20 percent less energy than the old building. Process heat and cooling will be provided by geothermal energy; a photovoltaic system with around 430 kWp and 200 kW battery storage will support the power supply. GMN can do without fossil fuels; instead, the company plans to use climate-neutral certified district heating from the municipal energy supplier N-ERGIE alongside geothermal energy.
This meets the strict requirements for sustainable buildings regarding energy efficiency and ecological sustainability according to the NH 40 standard in the KfW program 299.
Completion is planned for the end of 2027, with the move scheduled for the first quarter of 2028.
Clear commitment to the location
"The groundbreaking is a historic day for the 'ball bearing manufacturer'," emphasized Michael Lösch, managing partner of GMN, referring to the historical designation and the original product of the company. "It is the culmination of three years of planning led by Dr. Edgar Verlemann. We are bold and believe in the future - even in times that are not super sexy. 28 million euros is a strong signal to the industrial location of Nuremberg, to our competitors, and to the entire GMN team that made this step possible."
Dr. Andrea Heilmaier, economic advisor of the city of Nuremberg, praised the project: "This groundbreaking is an event that an economic advisor truly appreciates. GMN has been part of Nuremberg's industrial history for 120 years. Our city is an industrial city and should remain so. Times are not rosy - all the more remarkable is an investment of this magnitude. I see GMN excellently positioned with future-oriented business fields, courage, and loyalty to the location."
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