Germany : SPIE realises the technical modernisation of nine supermarkets in Hesse and Bavaria

Germany : SPIE realises the technical modernisation of nine supermarkets in Hesse and Bavaria

Frankfurt am Main, 17 January 2022 -SPIE, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, has been awarded a contract to refurbish four Rewe and four Penny supermarkets in Frankfurt am Main, Eschborn/Schwalbach, Wettenberg and Obernburg am Main. The teams will also implement all technical services involved in the full renovation of a Rewe supermarket in the Oberrad district of Frankfurt am Main. The contract involved the complete energy system improvement and the technical modernisation of the retail spaces, which amount to roughly 15,000 square metres.

Modernization in line with energy standards

To cut the energy consumption of the Rewe and Penny supermarkets, SPIE converted the lighting to energy-efficient LED bulbs and replaced the entire wiring network for the cooling systems, which had been modified to use environmentally friendly CO2 refrigerant. The multi-technical service provider also took care of all the IT cable systems in the buildings. Almost all the modernisation work took place while the supermarkets were fully operational. "This called for careful planning and coordination with site and supermarket management to ensure that customers could go about their shopping as normal," says Andreas Philippi, responsible Team leader at the Building Technology & Automation operational division of SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa.

The SPIE team's scope of services in the full-scale modification of the supermarket in Oberrad, part of Frankfurt am Main, included installing the wiring for the refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation system as well as the intruder and fire alarm systems, video technology and electroacoustic (ELA) systems. The multi-technical service provider also fitted new LED lighting, new electrical distribution boards and new cable trays. "Material planning presented us with quite a challenge. However, thanks to our flexibility and wealth of expertise in that area, we succeeded in finishing our work at the nine supermarkets on time and to the complete satisfaction of our customer despite the current shortages of key materials," says Philippi.

Successful partnership lasting over 40 years

SPIE has a close and long-standing partnership with REWE and Penny. The multi-technical service provider has been handling fit-out and retrofitting projects as well as new locations for various Rewe and Penny supermarkets across Hesse and neighbouring German federal states since 1980. As part of its work, SPIE provides technical services for electrical, safety, security and fire alarm systems.

"We have a history of exceptionally successful projects for the Rewe Group dating back more than 40 years. In total, more than 50 supermarkets have now benefited from our technical expertise," says Philippi. "We're delighted to have given nine more supermarkets state-of-the-art status in the space of six months and are extremely proud that in giving us the contract, the Rewe Group has once again demonstrated just how much it trusts us. Plans for the next supermarkets are already under way. We are looking forward to the further cooperation."