Foundation-laying ceremony in Aschau: Rheinmetall is constructing one of Europe’s largest and most modern powder plants – national production capacity for over one million propellant charge modules

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Contact Dr. Jan-Phillipp Weisswange Deputy Head of Public Relations / Spokesperson Vehicle Systems & Weapon and Ammunition Phone: +49 211 473-4287 23/07/2026 | Press release Foundation-laying ceremony in Aschau: Rheinmetall is constructing one of Europe's largest and most modern powder plants - national production capacity for over one million propellant charge modules shareOntwitter shareOnlinkedIn shareOnxing 1 Document Key Facts Rheinmetall subsidiary Nitrochemie Aschau is expanding significantly One of the largest and most modern powder factories is being constructed Several hundred new jobs; expansion of production to over one million propellant charge modules Rheinmetall is one of the largest ammunition manufacturers in the Western world and is continuing to significantly expand its production capacity through the Project Firepower. For this purpose, one of Europe's largest and most modern powder factories is being constructed at Rheinmetall's long-standing Aschau am Inn site, which is also home to the headquarters of its subsidiary Rheinmetall Nitrochemie. The Minister-President of the Free State of Bavaria, Dr Markus Söder, Member of the Bavarian Parliament, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Dr Nils Schmid, and the Bavarian Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, Dr Hubert Aiwanger, Member of the Bavarian Parliament, are expected to attend the foundation-laying ceremony for an information visit to the site. Production capacity for propellant components for barrel artillery and other large-calibre systems will be significantly expanded at the Aschau site. The site currently covers 90 hectares and is set to grow to around 110 hectares. Around €350 million will be invested in the project. The workforce in Aschau continues to grow. Since 2022, the number of employees has risen by around 80 per cent to over 800. Several hundred more jobs are set to be created, meaning that 1,300 employees will work here in future. Production is set to begin gradually at the newly established facilities from 2027 onwards. The Aschau site currently operates in shifts around the clock to produce around 1,700 tonnes of powder and 300,000 propellant charge modules per year. Over the next 24 months, the production of powder and propellant charge modules is set to more than double. This equates to an additional 2,500 tonnes of powder, over five million combustible components, and over one million modular propellant charge modules to be manufactured in Aschau. The entire value chain for modular propellant charges is managed from a single source and site. Maximum production capacity will be reached in 2028. The propellant charge, or powder, is one of the most important components in weapon systems. Once ignited, it burns in a controlled manner, leaving no residue. This propels the projectile out of the barrel and towards the target. "Since its foundation, Rheinmetall has been a competence centre for weapons and ammunition systems. We are one of the few manufacturers in the ammunition sector to cover the entire value chain, from propellant charges and primers to fuzes and shell bodies, as well as explosive and active charges" , said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG. "None of these components shall be a bottleneck. This is particularly important when it comes to propellant, as there are only a few manufacturers worldwide. Self-sufficiency is therefore crucial. The Aschau site will thus make a decisive contribution to the national sovereignty and credible defence capability of Germany and Europe". Background: Rheinmetall's Firepower project and further capacity expansion In response to the urgent need for ammunition in the Western world, Rheinmetall has launched Project Firepower. The company is investing heavily in its manufacturing operations by building new plants, such as the one in Unterlüß, and expanding existing sites, such as Nitrochemie. The aim is to increase the Group's annual propellant powder capacity to 20,000 tonnes by 2030, in order to meet the ammunition requirements of the Bundeswehr, NATO and the EU. Over a fifth of this capacity - 4,200 tonnes - will come from Aschau. Rheinmetall is investing a total of around €650 million in the production of propellant powder and its energy-intensive precursors, €350 million of which is being invested in Aschau. Alongside the Aschau am Inn site, production facilities in Wimmis (Switzerland) as well as in Murcia and Burgos (Spain), amongst others, are contributing to the capacity expansion. About the Rheinmetall Nitrochemie Group The Rheinmetall Nitrochemie Group is a German-Swiss company. It is based in Wimmis in the Swiss canton of Bern and in Aschau am Inn in Upper Bavaria. Both sites have a long-standing tradition of gunpowder production: Wimmis has been manufacturing gunpowder since the end of the Frist World War. The Aschau site has been operating under the name WNC Nitrochemie since 1953 and has been producing gunpowder there. It was taken over by Rheinmetall in 1994. In 1998, SM Schweizerische Munitionsunternehmung AG's (Swiss Munition Company) "Powder & Charges" division in Wimmis merged with WNC Nitrochemie to form the Nitrochemie Group. Since then, the Aschau site has operated as Nitrochemie Aschau GmbH, while the Swiss site has operated as Nitrochemie Wimmis AG. Further Information Filter close Reset Show all Product High performance propulsion systems for civil and defence applications Our portfolio Detailed information on our propellants products: Ignition powders Nitrocellulose, Propellant and Premix Artillery Naval Mortar Tanks Our product portfolio includes modular charge system #Effect #Propulsion systems & Propellants #Propulsion systems & propellants Download search results in PDF format close Please select whether you would like to create a PDF from all documents or from your current filter settings. It may take a few minutes to create the filtered document. The unfiltered PDF is available immediately ("All documents"). As soon as the document is available for download, please click on "Open PDF". All documents Filter close Reset Show all Content Page Nitrochemie Group Reliable partner to the chemical and defence industries About us / Nitrochemie with its operational companies Nitrochemie Aschau GmbH and Nitrochemie Wimmis AG is a joint venture of Rheinmetall Group and RUAG MRO Holding AG. / For decades Nitrochemie is Download search results in PDF format close Please select whether you would like to create a PDF from all documents or from your current filter settings. It may take a few minutes to create the filtered document. The unfiltered PDF is available immediately ("All documents"). As soon as the document is available for download, please click on "Open PDF". All documents Filter close Reset Show all Content Page Careers at Rheinmetall in Aschau am Inn Overcoming global challenges together On site in Aschau On site at Nitrochemie Aschau GmbH The products of Nitrochemie Aschau GmbH can be found in many defence and civilian applications. In ammunition for large and medium calibres, but al Download search results in PDF format close Please select whether you would like to create a PDF from all documents or from your current filter settings. It may take a few minutes to create the filtered document. The unfiltered PDF is available immediately ("All documents"). As soon as the document is available for download, please click on "Open PDF". All documents Do you have a question or need further information? Contact us Contact Dr. Jan-Phillipp Weisswange Deputy Head of Public Relations / Spokesperson Vehicle Systems & Weapon and Ammunition Phone: +49 211 473-4287 Available documents close 2026-07-23-Rheinmetall-foundation-laying-ceremony-Aschau-powder-plant .pdf 400.7 kB

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