Creative, innovative, globally marketable
Key industries
Amongst the around 120,000 companies located in the Niederrhein Region there are a number of world market leaders and hidden champions. The export quota of the eight broad based key domestic industries is over 50 %. Incidentally, being international is not a one-way street in this location; more than 11,000 companies are foreign owned.
Agriculture
Strong agriculture business
Although all the location factors are right for agribusiness, the Niederrhein Region is more than just agriculture and livestock breeding. A modern sector mix of producers, processors and marketers has grown organically here. Horticulture is also flourishing. Plain landscapes, fertile soils and temperate climatic conditions make the Niederrhein Region an ideal marketplace for food producers, retailers and end-consumers along the entire value chain. A current best case example is the international horticulture organisation Landgard, located close to the border with the Netherlands. Regional products quickly find their way from here to bulk buyers, processors and retailers.
Chemistry
Formula for success
From the Niederrhein Region out into the world – this is hardly as important for any other sector as it is for the chemical industry. Some of the big players and global chemical companies manage their activities from the Niederrhein Region. North Rhine-Westphalia is considered Germany’s most important chemical production location. The best examples in the Niederrhein Region are the three successful chemical parks in Dormagen, Krefeld and Rheinberg. The fine and speciality chemicals industry is continuing to grow significantly in this area. This expansion is attributable to a strategy based on strong exports. The focus hereby is primarily on research-intensive and higher-value speciality chemicals and plastics that meet the highest safety standards and promise strong profitability.
Electrical Engineering
In full swing
A diverse electrical industry operates from the Niederrhein Region. In addition to cable products (e. g. made of fibreglass for plant construction, telecommunications, drive technologies and shipbuilding), innovative high-tech companies create electrotechnical masterpieces. Furthermore, think tanks and international university courses in electrical engineering/computer science, technology and bionics at no less than three universities provide the theoretical and practical foundations for the next generation of world-class engineers. Electrical engineering “made in Niederrhein” also stands for quality and reliability.
Energy
A fresh breeze
The transformation process from lignite production to renewable energy is in full swing in the energy centre Niederrhein Region. The energy structure is constantly changing. The premise of the energy industry at the Lower Rhine is the sustainable, climate-friendly transformation of our energy supply. Renewable energy generation is being vigorously promoted at the Lower Rhine. Wind and sun are the most important pillars in the electricity mix. About one fifth of Germany’s electricity is generated in NRW, which once again highlights this immense importance. For viable and sustainable energy supply – from and for the Niederrhein Region.
Logistics
Logistics? Logical solution!
The Niederrhein Region is a logistics location. And that’s not all: it is the gateway for many global players in the industry. Another reason why logistics companies feel at home here: the unbeatable location between the Benelux countries and the metropolitan areas of Cologne, Düsseldorf and the Ruhr region. In addition, there is an excellent trimodal infrastructure, accessible by land, water and air. Therefore, it was only logical for the Fraunhofer Institute to certify the region as a “European gateway” and logistics “champion”. The Niederrhein Region and logistics, a dream team with a success and growth story. Perfectly prepared for the future. As one of Western Europe’s central goods hubs.
Mechanical Engineering
Made-to-measure
From a purely historical point of view, modern mechanical engineering is of immense importance with regard to the textile stronghold of the Niederrhein Region. The roots of the numerous mechanical and plant engineering facilities on the Lower Rhine lie in the textile industry. However, the mechanical engineering industry is now also extending its reach in many other areas. The steel industry, food production, the packaging industry, the chemical industry and logistics also benefit from the strong mechanical and plant engineering sector in the Niederrhein Region. The core focus of mechanical engineering companies is special solutions for very unique customers. Made-to-measure instead of off-theshelf. That means they provide a broad spectrum for one of the key industries on the Lower Rhine.
Textile
Textile-Hightech
Textile high-tech Industrialisation began in the Niederrhein Region in the 19th century with the production of cotton, linen, velvet and silk. Today, the Niederrhein textile region impresses with technical speciality textiles, technology-based system solutions and brand-name fashion in the high-quality segment. Re-regionalisation sets new accents here. Consistent digitalisation and full focus on sustainability are quite simply the future-oriented key disciplines of the textile industry. These are also the subject focus at, for example, the Textile Academy NRW and at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, which is highly respected in the textile world.
Tourism
Like a holiday
Green, greener, Niederrhein Region. Local forests and meadows, varied cultural landscapes with nature parks, picturesque villages, churches and castles – in short: pure nature in the Niederrhein Region. Local recreation guaranteed. In the beautiful German-Dutch border region, premium trails not only invite you to go hiking. With a length of more than 2,000 kilometres, Germany’s longest signposted cycle path network also boosts tourism on two wheels. In addition to cycle tourism, other outdoor and leisure segments are also in high demand on the Lower Rhine. Whether they are here for business or pleasure, nature lovers get their money’s worth in the Niederrhein Region.