Digital first: Innovative building solutions for BABOR BEAUTY GROUP's sustainable production and logistics cluster

The cosmetics company BABOR BEAUTY GROUP in Eschweiler, Germany, shows how attractive and modern a functional building can be. "We have built one of the most sustainable cosmetics factories in the world. This aspiration runs through all our projects. To achieve this, we need partners who share our values. Bosch Energy and Building Solutions is just such a partner," says Dirk Leßmann, Vice President Operations at the BABOR BEAUTY GROUP, who is responsible for the production of high-end cosmetics and the Eschweiler site. Located just 20 kilometers from the company's headquarters in Aachen, it sets new standards as a production and logistics cluster. All the buildings meet the KfW 40 energy efficiency standard, the roof of the production hall is greened and, of course, a photovoltaic system produces some of the electricity. But that's not all: the entire site uses digital processes to make operations as efficient as possible. The fully networked complete solution from Bosch Energy and Building Solutions for safety, security, and building management makes a valuable contribution to this.

The family-owned company BABOR BEAUTY GROUP and Bosch Energy and Building Solutions have been working together for almost two decades - a long time in which a lot has happened: The skin care specialist, which was founded in 1956, is constantly developing its creams and serums and is now one of the most important cosmetics companies in the world, with some of the most popular international beauty brands "Made in Germany". For the company, sustainability also means long-term and trusting cooperation with partners such as Bosch. "We started with small projects. As we grew, our buildings got bigger and so did the tasks for Bosch," recalls Reinhold Stenten, responsible for technology and facility management at the BABOR BEAUTY GROUP.

When the company's headquarters in Aachen was expanded in 2019 to include the state-of-the-art building 'The Curve', the Bosch team developed and implemented an intelligent solution with innovative features - tailored to the needs of the BABOR BEAUTY GROUP and scalable for future expansion. The new 'BABOR Beauty Cluster' production and logistics building, which opened in the summer of 2023, was not to be outdone. This ultra-modern site is now used to fill cosmetic products for up to 50 filling and picking lines. It also houses a state-of-the-art distribution centre, which is serviced by freight forwarders. Products are shipped from Eschweiler to 70 countries, with the majority of production taking place in the Aachen region. Innovation, production and quality assurance are all under one roof. Production is our DNA. Having the workshop in-house is fundamental for us. We are Made in Germany, or rather Made in the Aachen region. This is important to us as a family business rooted in the region,' says Dirk Leßmann, explaining the company's philosophy.

"The manufacture of cosmetic products is subject to strict regulations. We have to ensure that no one gains unauthorized access to our buildings. For us, safety and security means protecting our assets and our reputation," says site manager Dirk Lessmann. No sooner said than done: For the BABOR Beauty Cluster, the Bosch team designed and implemented fire and intrusion alarm systems, digital access control with ID card issuance, and a video security system for safeguarding the perimeter and premises. A visitor management system with self-service and a parking management system with license plate recognition were also part of the overall solution. The latter is particularly important for the efficient operation of the logistics hub, as it is used to control truck access via an on-demand control system, avoiding unnecessary traffic on the site. Video technology is also used to keep an eye on cargo security.

"Thanks to Bosch's digitalization expertise, we were able to link our security systems at the Eschweiler and Aachen sites. This is real added value because it increases transparency, gives us in the operations team a better overview and makes our work easier," explains Reinhold Stenten. After all, with the 60,000 square meters in Eschweiler, the BABOR BEAUTY GROUP has tripled the company's floor space. Uwe B. Herrmann, sales manager at Bosch Energy and Building Solutions and long-time project manager for the BABOR BEAUTY GROUP, adds: "We have networked all parts so that the building and security technology information, whether in Aachen or in Eschweiler, converges in our Building Integration System "BIS 360". This allows the operations team to monitor and control both sites from a single workstation.

During work on The Curve headquarters, the foundation was laid for a cross-location concept, with technology and systems networked between the headquarters and the new site via a shared infrastructure. This also makes life easier for employees. For example, they can use the terminals for visitor management at both locations. Artificial intelligence also makes the work of the operations team easier. This is used in the video solution at both sites and evaluates objects in the recordings in advance. "In addition, we were able to create a uniform concept for alarming and intervention across all sites, which works for the headquarters in Aachen and the production and logistics cluster in Eschweiler," continues Uwe B. Herrmann.

For the BABOR BEAUTY GROUP, the forward-looking approach of the Bosch building experts is an essential part of the successful collaboration: "We can do cosmetics – safety, security and building technology is not our specialty. That's why our cooperation is based on partnership with a clear division of roles. I know that I will get good advice from the experts, that the solutions will fit our company and that we will receive outstanding quality," says Dirk Leßmann. The cooperation is characterized by the service concept, which is important to both companies. "Many different trades are involved in a project like this, and Bosch makes sure that the concerns are bundled," explains Reinhold Stenten. Dirk Leßmann adds: "This service concept is very important at Bosch. For us, it is essential for long-term cooperation. This includes not only project support, but also advice on technical innovations that could be of interest to the BABOR BEAUTY GROUP. Even after the implementation, the Bosch team is still at the cosmetics company's side and will ensure the reliable operation of the overall solution for the next 10 years as part of an operator model.