LOBA has marked the biggest milestone in its corporate history to date: on 16 July 2025, the company celebrated the grand opening of its new Center for Research & Development at its headquarters in Ditzingen, covering a total gross floor area of 3,500 m². Constructed to meet the DGNB Gold Standard for sustainable buildings, the facility is nearly ready for occupancy after just 20 months of construction. To mark this special occasion, LOBA Managing Directors Alfred Melka and Mario Probst welcomed the entire LOBA team, the management of the ARDEX Group and WAKOL GmbH, Ditzingen’s Mayor Ulrich Bahmer, and Sigrid Zimmerling, Managing Director of the Ludwigsburg District Chamber of Commerce of the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Representatives of the main contractor Franz Traub GmbH and the general planner REM Assets AG also attended the event.

The celebration took place outdoors on the LOBA company grounds, featuring inspiring speeches. A symbolic highlight of the event was the ceremonial handover of a baked “key” by Jörg Steiner, Executive Board Member at REM Assets, followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Mark Eslamlooy, CEO of the ARDEX Group, Ulrich Bahmer, Alfred Melka, and Mario Probst. Undeterred by the weather, speakers praised the efficiently planned new build, expressed their gratitude to everyone involved, and underlined the importance of this site development for the region.

Research & Development Under One Roof

The new sustainable three-storey Center for Research & Development is located in the northwest section of the existing administration and production buildings on Leonberger Straße. "As you can see, it is not a showpiece in an architectural sense – its true brilliance lies within," explained Alfred Melka during his speech. "Our Center for Research & Development is pre-certified to the DGNB Gold Standard by the German Sustainable Building Council." Constructed in reinforced concrete, the building unites all product development, application technology and production logistics functions under one roof. "The modern, light-filled offices and laboratories promote a sense of belonging across departments, fostering creativity and innovation. The spatial layout between functions has been optimally designed to ensure seamless processes," Melka added. In line with its sustainability goals, the building is entirely powered by a photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the adjacent warehouse and operates on a CO₂-neutral basis.

The ground floor houses machinery for application technology, while all offices for product development and application technology are located on the first floor—facilitating close collaboration right from the development stage. Laboratories and quality control areas are directly integrated, acting as the interface between development and production. From there, access leads to the rooftop terrace, which features extensive test areas complemented by additional indoor testing spaces. These allow LOBA to simulate real-life conditions for the application of lacquers, oils, cleaners, and care products—such as different building site situations, underfloor heating, or various climate zones. This ensures that LOBA products can be used safely and effectively across the globe.

The basement contains a 1,000 m² warehouse for supplying production, complete with loading ramps and an adjacent container yard. Located next to the Glems river and on the same level as the neighbouring production building, it offers optimal infrastructure for easy manoeuvring and storage. Initially, around 25 employees will move into the new facility—with ample space available for future expansion.

Site Expansion – An Investment in the Future

In his address to the workforce, Mario Probst expressed heartfelt appreciation: "A big thank you goes out today to our strong LOBA team. Your dedication and enthusiasm have played a vital role in LOBA’s continued development, even during challenging times." He highlighted the company’s resilience and steady growth in recent years as a remarkable achievement for a medium-sized enterprise. The significant support of the ARDEX Group was also acknowledged, especially its strategic contributions to LOBA’s growth and its commitment to investing in the headquarters expansion. With a total investment of €9.6 million, the new Center for Research & Development represents the largest single investment in LOBA’s history. 

ARDEX Group CEO Mark Eslamlooy also expressed his satisfaction with the successful collaboration with the LOBA WAKOL Group: "Success is the foundation for an investment like this." He described the Ditzingen site expansion as "a strong signal of the ARDEX Group’s future viability and innovative strength." Addressing the company with its 103-year legacy, he added: "Be bold and creative, yet critical and responsible. Let us work together as one group and intensify the synergies between LOBA and WAKOL." Looking ahead, he confirmed the ARDEX Group’s continued willingness to support long-term investments. The site development is not only significant for ARDEX and the LOBA WAKOL Group, but also for the wider region. 

Mayor Ulrich Bahmer expressed “pride, gratitude and respect for this commitment by one of the city’s oldest companies,” and highlighted LOBA’s consistent and trustworthy role within the local community. Through prudent management and long-term stability, LOBA positions itself as a reliable regional employer. Sigrid Zimmerling praised the company’s efforts to create an open, inspiring, and employee-friendly environment in the new facility: "You are offering your staff optimised working conditions while simultaneously enhancing your employer appeal," she stated, also thanking the company "for its longstanding and successful involvement in dual vocational training."

LOBA WAKOL Group – Stronger Together within the ARDEX Group

LOBA, a long-established company based in Ditzingen and a global innovation leader in floor finishing, has been part of the LOBA WAKOL Group since 2018 and, as of 2024, is wholly owned by the international ARDEX Group. While LOBA focuses on premium products for the protection, design and care of floors, WAKOL manufactures high-quality parquet adhesives and levelling compounds for substrate preparation. Together, they offer a comprehensive product range for professionals and have succeeded in gaining market share over the past two years—despite the challenges facing the parquet sector.
"In 2024, LOBA generated nearly €50 million in global revenue, while the LOBA WAKOL Group achieved a combined turnover of over €150 million," summarised Mario Probst, expressing strong confidence in the company’s future.

About LOBA

For over 100 years, the design, finishing and care of parquet and wood flooring has been the core business of LOBA, headquartered in Ditzingen near Stuttgart/Germany. The company also operates in the field of coatings for elastic and mineral floor coverings. LOBA has subsidiaries in Brazil and China and joint ventures with WAKOL in Poland and North America. Since 2024, LOBA has been a wholly owned member of the international ARDEX Group. Around 120 employees work at LOBA’s headquarters in Ditzingen, with approximately 400 employees across the LOBA WAKOL Group. The ARDEX Group employs over 4,000 people in total. Technical excellence, premium-quality products, and outstanding customer focus are the key success factors behind LOBA’s global brand recognition in over 60 countries – since 1922. LOBA On Top!

Press Contact:

Wiebke Ullmann
M: +49 174 34 88 163
Email: wiebke.ullmann@loba.de

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