07.05.2026
In Erstein, Equans France supports the transformation of the Würth logistics platform
In Eastern France, the 3rd most industrialized region in France, adapting factories to increasingly stringent safety and energy performance requirements has become a central issue. In Erstein (67), Equans France is supporting Würth France, a multi-specialist in fastening products and services, tools and workshop consumables for professionals, in modernizing its logistics platform to support business growth.
Classified as a Seveso low-level facility due to its storage of flammable products, the site faces a number of challenges: regulatory compliance, working conditions and decarbonization. The project, started by Equans France at the end of 2024, is due to continue until 2027, under the supervision of the DREAL and the project management provided by OTE INGENIERIE.
A site that has to adapt to multiple regulatory requirements
Würth France has two logistics centers in France: one in Montélimar, the other in Erstein. Covering an area of 73,000 m², the Erstein site includes several buildings dedicated to logistics activities, as well as technical facilities, administrative buildings and a museum.
Classified as a Seveso low-level facility due to the storage of flammable products, the site has to meet stringent industrial safety and regulatory compliance requirements.
In fact, tighter restrictions on PFAS, the need for energy efficiency and increased attention to the quality of the working environment have led to a wider rethinking of the site's infrastructure.
The challenge is clear: to modernize the site, whose oldest building was erected in 1967, without interrupting operations. To meet these challenges, Equans France, through three of its entities - Axima Sécurité Incendie, Axima teams specialized in HVAC engineering, and Equans Services Bâtiments & Infrastructures - mobilized complementary expertise.
On the historic part of the warehouse, the transformation combines the reinforcement of the fire protection system, the upgrading of the heating, cooling and air treatment systems, and the maintenance of the technical installations.
Drone view of the Würth logistics platform in Erstein ©Würth France
Customized modernization for safety, energy and maintenance
Axima Sécurité Incendie is managing the complete renovation of the fire system, with more than 7,100 PFAS-free sprinklers covering 16,000 m². This development enables Würth to be ahead of European regulatory developments (EU 2025-1988), which impose a ban on fluorinated emulsifiers in fire systems by 2035 at the latest. 50 fire hydrants (RIA) and 15 new water stations complete the system to reinforce the network supply.
At the same time, Axima's HVAC teams are redesigning the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to provide heating, cooling and better air treatment all year round. The project involves large logistics halls, some of which present specific constraints, such as oxygen-depleted zones to limit the risk of fire outbreaks. The installation of 4 air handling units will enable Würth France to improve operator comfort and secure operating conditions, thanks to 230,000 m³ of air treated every hour.
Lastly, Equans, Services Bâtiments & Infrastructures is responsible for the maintenance of HVAC installations and technical equipment. Among these, the compressed air production system occupies a strategic position: a veritable nerve center for the logistics platform, it supplies several kilometers of automated conveyors, essential for bin circulation, order preparation and product distribution among the 25,000 or so items stocked on the site.
Würth Museum in Erstein ©Würth France
The unexpected detail: a museum in the heart of the industrial site
Würth France also houses a museum of modern and contemporary art, with 20,000 works of art.
For the past 7 years, Equans France teams have been maintaining the HVAC system, which is essential for maintaining a stable temperature and hygrometry to guarantee the proper conservation of the works.
For example, some of the rarer paintings require a museum temperature of 21°C +/- 1°C, summer and winter alike.
The next step, scheduled for summer 2026, is to connect the museum and an additional logistics hall to the site's heating network. Ultimately, this development could reduce the museum's energy consumption by 30%.
"The project carried out with Equans France will enable us to significantly enhance site safety, improve working comfort for our employees, and make tangible progress towards our energy performance and decarbonization objectives, all without interrupting business. This transformation illustrates our determination to invest over the long term in responsible, high-performance infrastructures, in the service of our customers and our teams", emphasizes Philippe Zimmerer, Deputy to the Chairman of the Management Board and Training Director at Würth France.
"This project illustrates Equans France's ability and synergy to mobilize its expertise, from installation to maintenance, with several dozen employees working alongside Würth France. A flagship project in the eastern part of France, it is also the region's largest project in terms of sales for our fire safety business. We're proud to have been working with Würth France since 1997, and look forward to continuing this long-term partnership", says Jérome Bonnet, Regional Director at Equans France.
