Adtran opened a new “Terafactory” in Meiningen, Germany.
The company says the new facility brings production back to Central Europe, fortifies supply chain resilience, and creating local jobs. The Terafactory also streamlines workflows and reduces resource consumption by harnessing advanced automation technologies. The move towards supply chain autonomy for Adtran’s core European market echoes a similar strategy in the US, where the company has recently expanded its manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama.
As part of the BMBF-sponsored 6G-Terafactory project, Adtran will deploy an Open-RAN based private mobile network across the campus, enabling automated processes, making the production of hardware, such as the company’s flagship FSP 3000 open optical transport platform, more efficient. Quality control is also simplified, as this can now be conducted by experts at the Meiningen site prior to distribution. And with its photovoltaic solar power system, Adtran is further reducing its carbon footprint as it moves towards energy self-sufficiency throughout the Terafactory. This significant initiative has been bolstered by a substantial investment from the Thuringian government.
“Our new Terafactory helps us mitigate against supply chain challenges like those we experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. By enhancing the production and logistics side of our business, we’re not just reducing our dependency on third parties but also putting us in control of our own destiny. This strategic move makes us more responsive and resilient to shifting supply chain pressures,” said Christoph Glingener, CTO of Adtran. “Our new Terafactory generates a significant portion of the power it needs, making day-to-day operations more energy efficient. And by bringing the production of our world-leading optical transport technology back to Germany, we can more easily ensure precision and quality. What’s more, it will strengthen Europe’s position in optical transport technology, fostering regional innovation and setting new benchmarks for the industry worldwide.”
