Bürkert Fluid Control Systems today is one of the world's leading partners when it comes to measuring and controlling liquids and gases. At the beginning of this success story 70 years ago there were only the ideas of the company founder Christian Bürkert. With the first solenoid valves he laid the foundation for the field which is important for Bürkert to the present day: fluidics, the measurement and control of liquids and gases. Meanwhile, the company focuses primarily on individual customized system solutions – also at the new headquarters of Bürkert USA in Huntersville, North Carolina. In April 2017 Bürkert has hosted a grand opening celebration at their 173,000 square-foot building complex designed by WHN+ Architects. In late 2016, the facility garnered an Eagle Award for the design-build of the project by Edifice General Contractors from the ABC (Associated Builders & Contractors) of the Carolinas.
Currently already 100 employees bring life to the campus, which features floor to ceiling windows throughout the entire office space and a two-story atrium that runs the length of the building. An indoor fitness centre with a basketball court for the employees is also included. A 43.7kW solar farm comprised of 366 panels on the roof supplies power directly to the facility and transfers power back to the grid during low usage. To reduce lighting needs, four separate bays of skylights plus 14 Solatubes provide natural daylight to the employees in the climate controlled production and warehouse area. The manufacturing area includes two separate CNC (Computerized Numerical Calculation) machine shops to produce manifolds. Valve systems are assembled and tested in Bürkert´s class 10,000 Clean Room.
The commitment to Huntersville and the greater Charlotte metropolitan area continues beyond the additional new direct employment opportunities this expansion has allowed. Local vendors and products are used extensively throughout the facility: conference tables and the front reception desk have been created by local artisans, reclaimed wood from a nearby barn was transformed into hand-made indoor planters, and a tree which had to be pulled from the property during construction was turned into several pieces of furniture.
As part of the celebration, local politicians and business partners, employees and customers attended the official Grand Opening of the new Bürkert USA headquarters. After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the facility, participants were invited to a ‘Taste of North Carolina’ for regional food and beverage specialties.
