Finkenwerder industrial area

Focus on innovative strength

Best known for its aviation cluster and maritime tradition, the Finkenwerder industrial area is a centre of innovation and economic growth. With important facilities such as the Airbus Technology Park, the Center of Applied Aeronautical Research (ZAL) and the Finkenwerder Technology Centre, the consistent expansion of R&D infrastructure ensures a solid foundation for the future of aviation. What is more, initiatives such as the Finkenwerder Innovation Park and the Airbus BizLab add to the location’s vibrant startup scene. The continued development of research space and the creation of new architectural landmarks further contribute to a productive environment for stakeholders and guests alike.

Here you can view an interactive map of the most important industrial locations in Hamburg.

To the interactive map of the most important industrial locations in Hamburg — © Freiland Hamburg

Key figures

Total size of the location: 471 ha

Companies located her: 71

Gainfully employed individuals: 27,211

Total revenue of all companies: € 12,701,504,000

Locational benefits of Finkenwerder

The Beluga XL is one of the largest aircraft in the world. — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Stakeholders from the Hamburg Aviation cluster

Hamburg Aviation, the business cluster of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, is Germany’s largest aviation cluster. With over 40,000 skilled professionals, the cluster proudly ranks as the third largest location in the global civil aviation industry. A broad network of companies covers the entire life cycle of an aircraft. Finkenwerder constitutes the heart of this hub, and here you can also find Airbus – one of the three key players of Hamburg Aviation. In 2023, Airbus bucked the trend and exceeded its own growth forecast by delivering as many as 735 commercial aircraft. Finkenwerder is also home to suppliers, higher education institutions, research facilities and startups, all of which add to Finkenwerder’s relevance in the aviation industry.

Shipyards on the Rüsch peninsula in Finkenwerder — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Traditional shipyards and maritime services

The Rüsch peninsula on the River Elbe is a maritime centre in Hamburg and home to small shipyards as well as the city’s largest marina, Marina Rüsch. Yachts with a length of up to 15 metres can moor here irrespective of the tide and make use of the on-shore sanitary facilities. Here you can also find the Hamburg Port Authority’s Stackmeisterei site, which is in charge of ensuring the functionality and development of the Elbe as a transport route. The locality’s shipyard tradition dates back to 1767, when the Schiffswerft von Cölln GmbH shipyard was founded. Today, this is where vessels such as barges, fireboats, workboats and sailing yachts are extended, converted, repaired and built using state-of-the-art technology. In addition, a 16-tonne crane at the Heuer shipyard enables boats to be launched and retrieved irrespective of the tide, thus avoiding time-consuming slip manoeuvres. With their commitment to training, these shipyards help preserve local traditions.

Visitors watch an airplane taking off from the Finkenwerder industrial area — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Attractive environment for staff and guests

Finkenwerder is an attractive business location as it combines large open spaces, impressive architecture and great recreation opportunities. Built in 1912, the historic tower of the pilot house at Seemannshöft is a local landmark, while contemporary architectural ambition is reflected in the NAVAL project, which is currently under development. The 14-storey tower block will provide additional office space and represents another leap in Hamburg’s quest for height. From here, you will have magnificent views of passing container giants and the picturesque parkland along the Elbe. Nature lovers will be delighted with the adjacent nature reserves of Finkenwerder Süderelbe and Westerweiden, and aircraft enthusiasts can book a guided tour around the Airbus works or engage in plane spotting on the public viewing platform. This mix of professional environment and leisure opportunities makes Finkenwerder a unique location.

New Mach2 logistics property by Four Parx — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Port of Hamburg and major logistics providers on your doorstep

The Finkenwerder industrial area is situated directly on the Elbe and less than 10 kilometres away from the HHLA container terminals of Burchardkai, Waltershof and Altenwerder. This favourable location allows logistics and production companies to benefit from easy access to inland waterway transport and the port railway. Via Südkreuz, lorry traffic can be handled efficiently in a north-south and west-east direction using the A7 and A1 motorways. Likewise, the Materials Management Centre of Airbus in the Hausbruch/Bostelbek industrial area is less than 15 kilometres away. What is more, the new Mach2 logistics property in the Wilhelmsburg district offers great potential for growth, with a total area of around 62,300 square metres. Satair, a wholly-owned Airbus subsidiary, occupies some of the space here. As well as making use of the logistics and storage facilities, the company also coordinates a number of services from here. The Finkenwerder location thus offers a flourishing logistics environment and prime opportunities for development.

The Institute of Aircraft Systems Technology (FST) of the Hamburg University of Technology in the finkenwerder industria area — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Knowledge-intensive and manufacturing companies

Thanks to the Airbus Technology Park (ATP) and the Center of Applied Aeronautical Research (ZAL Tech Center), Finkenwerder is a thriving business location with considerable potential in the area of knowledge- and research-intensive jobs. Here, a robust ecosystem of aviation suppliers and development partners is working towards making aviation more sustainable. The Hamburg-Finkenwerder Technology Centre, which is part of the Finkenwerder Innovation Park, plays a vital role in this. The Institute of Aircraft Systems Technology (FST) of the Hamburg University of Technology is also based here. Since its foundation in 1992, FST has been researching innovative system solutions for future aircraft with a view to making aviation more economical and eco-friendly. Special attention is paid to mechatronic aircraft systems, which are required for the future More Electric Aircraft (MEA) and the transformation to an all-electric “green” aircraft. In an effort to combine economic success with state-of-the-art research, Airbus BizLab evaluates promising innovative research concepts via its on-site startup accelerator programme.

New construction of the Europa Center Air Doc — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Dynamic site development

The Finkenwerder site continues to grow, e.g. with the planned construction of further high-calibre research, development and office space. With the completion of ElbAir, the new service and visitors’ centre by Airbus, and the expansion of the ZAL Tech Center in spring 2024, another 30,000 square metres of floor space have been added to the location. The Europa-Center AirDock and Naval planning projects are scheduled to provide another 45,000 square metres of floor space. ZAL will be expanded by 8,000 square metres by 2024 to meet the growing demand for space. On the opposite side of the road, a planning permit has already been issued for the ZAL3 Clean Mobility Centre. ElbAir will certainly be an architectural highlight and will serve as the new gateway to the Airbus premises. Alongside the Airbus visitor centre it will house a hotel, a supermarket as well as office and retail spaces across three buildings. The Naval project on the former site of Deutsche Werft AG will be another landmark building, offering 15 floors right on the waterfront, possibly with more than 20,000 square metres of gross floor space.

Impressions from Finkenwerder

Headquarters of Harry's Fliesenmarkt in the Bornkampsweg/Ruhrstraße industrial estate — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Company premises of KROENERT GmbH & Co KG on the Bornkampsweg/Ruhrstraße industrial estate — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Thematic maps of Finkenwerder

Infographic on traffic links in the Finkenwerder industrial area

Connectivity

The proximity to the port of Hamburg allows for efficient sea transport, while access to the motorway ensures smooth arrival and departure. The site is also embedded in the public transport network, with several bus routes as well as the 62 port ferry.

Standard land values

The standard land value signifies the average value for a certain zone in a given municipal area. In the Finkenwerder industrial area, the standard land value is approx. € 440 per square metre.

Finkenwerder: selected company profiles

Airbus plant at Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport — © Manufacturing Cities/Kai Michael Dietrich

Airbus SE

Boasting a 50-year track record of innovation, technological breakthroughs and industry milestones, Airbus is a leader in the design, manufacture and delivery of aerospace products, services and solutions. Serving customers worldwide, the company is active in the fields of commercial aircraft, helicopters, defence, aerospace, and security. Hamburg is Germany’s main location for Airbus’ commercial aircraft activities and also the largest Airbus site in Germany. The site plays a key role in the development and production of all Airbus jetliners, making the Airbus facility at the Hamburg-Finkenwerder Airport the world’s third largest civil aviation industry site. The Finkenwerder plant is in charge of more than 50 % of the annual production of the Airbus A320 family. The site is also home to the Airspace Customer Definition Centre (CDC) as well as the Airbus Maintenance Training Centre.

Center of Applied Aeronautical Research (ZAL)

The idea behind the ZAL Tech Center is to provide an international platform for aviation research under one roof. Since its opening in 2016, this research centre has been providing some 600 workstations across different halls, labs and offices to partners from industry and science. As well as offering modern research infrastructure, the Tech Center also hosts a number of knowledge transfer and networking events. Following the successful marketing of the first construction phase, external companies have been able to flexibly rent labs, offices and hall space in the 8,000 square metre extension since late 2023 – enabling them to join the local aviation research network alongside the Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul and the Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics. Both institutes are part of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Airbus Technology Park

On the grounds of the Airbus Technology Park (ATP), which is close to the Airbus site, you can find dozens of Airbus suppliers. The front of the imposing building complex resembles the bow of a passenger ship. A total of 20,000 square metres of office, production and storage space has been created here across five floors. All of the companies based here are manufacturers of high-end system components for Airbus aircraft, and the adjacent site provides 250 car parking spaces. A shuttle bus service, which runs south of the thoroughfare from Finkenwerder, connects the aircraft factory with the ATP via the Rüschtor entrance without putting any additional strain on local roads. The service was introduced with the first occupancy at the ATP.

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and its predecessor organisations have been present in Hamburg since the 1950s. In recent years, the DLR site has become ever more relevant: in 2017, two new institutes were established here, both of which make a major contribution to digitisation in aviation. With this, Hamburg, the world's third largest aviation location, now features as many as six DLR institutes and one innovation centre for quantum computing. The research conducted is embedded in the larger DLR network, as well as national and international research partnerships and collaborations with industry. The anchor institutions for the expansion of the ZAL, which will be realised in the course of 2024, are the Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul and the Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics.

Safran Cabin

Safran Cabin is a leading provider of cabin interiors, systems and services aimed at enhancing the flying experience. With a global workforce of 10,000 employees, the company supplies customised interiors to aircraft manufacturers, airlines, leasing companies and VIP customers. The tailor-made solutions are used in various types of aircraft. The Hamburg plant is one of Safran Cabin’s main locations. This is where aircraft cabin control systems, electronic components, sensors and instrument panels are manufactured. The site is equipped to meet the highest requirements, making it suitable for highly specific requests in particular. With a comprehensive portfolio and an extensive, highly qualified network of specialists, Safran Cabin is one of the leaders of the aerospace industry, providing not only products, but also solutions and services that drive the industry forward. Combining innovative technology and customised solutions, Safran Cabin has become an indispensable partner in the aerospace community.

Diehl Aviation

With over 5,000 employees and an annual turnover of around € 1.5 billion, Diehl Aviation is one of five subgroups in the Diehl Group, a German family-owned company with business units in several sectors of industry and a global workforce of more than 17,000 people. The Hamburg site is an integral part of Diehl Aviation’s business activities. In close proximity to customers and partners in Hamburg-Finkenwerder, Diehl develops and produces modules for aircraft cabins, such as washrooms and galleys. In addition, the Hamburg office coordinates the company’s worldwide customer service network. For the Airbus plant in Finkenwerder, Diehl Aviation provides on-site support in the area of final assembly. Customers are not only provided with original air cabin equipment, i.e. line-fit solutions, but can also avail of retrofit solutions. Diehl Aviation’s retrofit business activities are managed from Hamburg, as is the digital transformation department.

Disclaimer

Note on area sizes: The industrial and commercial area referred to in the key figures indicates the gross area according to the maps displayed. These include different proportions of water areas, transport areas and green areas. Therefore, it is not possible to make a direct comparison between the individual locations presented on these pages, e.g. in terms of workforce per hectare.

Note on employment figures: Information on the local workforce is mostly provided by the German Federal Employment Agency. In some cases, figures are not broken down by individual company branches and locations, i.e. aggregate employment figures are provided instead. In such cases, the statistical business register does not include more detailed figures. Moreover, please note potential limitations of data collection e.g. in terms of minimum thresholds. As a result, the figures provided should be regarded as approximate figures that are intended to provide general guidance only.

Note on revenue figures: These figures are based on the tax returns of the companies as of 31 December 2022. In some cases, figures are not reported for each individual branch, but only for the relevant group of companies. These values are subsequently broken down on a case-by-case basis. Moreover, tax reports may be updated following a longer period of time. Therefore, the figures provided are intended to provide general guidance only.

Note on standard land values: The map provides information on standard land values for use in production/logistics. The relevant values were converted (i.e. standardised) to a plot size of 1,000 square metres or a value-related floor-area ratio of 1.0, respectively. Both the lowest and the highest standard land value in the building block are provided. The map aims to serve as a reference and is not suited for determining the actual value. At BORIS.HH you can view an interactive standard land value map of Hamburg. The website offers detailed information on standard land values in Hamburg and lets you convert the standard land value to account for individual property characteristics. All values displayed refer to the reference date of 1 January 2024.

Note on hazardous operations: Locations of establishments pursuant to §3 para. 5a of the German Federal Immission Control Act (BimSchG) in the jurisdiction of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Further metadata / publication / created on 30 September 2014.

Sources: Standard land values: Geoportal Hamburg / hazardous operations: Geoportal Hamburg / key figures: business register of the Northern Germany Statistical Office / definition of “undertaking”.