At YKK’s long-established location in Weimar-Wenkbach (Lahn) in Central Hessen, the company has been pioneering new developments for more than half a century. Alongside a close and trusted collaboration between Japan and Germany, the site continues to deliver innovation in a highly specialized industrial niche. The Japanese market leader produces up to 20 kilometers of zippers here in a wide variety of designs: flame-retardant or waterproof versions for workwear, emergency responders, or aerospace applications; high-value products for the luxury sector; and extremely durable models for technically demanding B2B applications. Products manufactured at the Wenkbach site range from plastic to metal designs, featuring individually machined teeth and specialized slider variants. Backed by precisely engineered components, highly specialized machinery from the parent company, and extensive local expertise, YKK DEUTSCHLAND can realize an exceptionally broad spectrum of product solutions.

YKK is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and developers of closure and fastening systems. Its three distinctive letters can be found on countless products. However, even this widespread visibility does not reflect the full reach of the company’s offerings, as many of its items carry other brand names or are labeled directly with customers’ own trademarks. That customer base is substantial and is supported by the Japanese parent company’s global network of more than 45,000 employees in over 70 countries. Founded in Tokyo in 1934, YKK became only the second Japanese company to establish operations in Germany more than 50 years ago, forming a strong and lasting connection with the state of Hessen.

YKK DEUTSCHLAND opened its main production facility, including its in-house development department, in 1972 in the Wenkbach district of the Marburg-Biedenkopf region. The administrative headquarters has always been located further south in the internationally oriented Frankfurt Rhein-Main area. It was initially based in Mainhausen and has been located at an expanded site in Seligenstadt since 2023. “For our global expansion, our strategy prioritizes access to an international airport within roughly one hour, along with strong rail and shipping connectivity. There is nowhere better than Hessen to meet these requirements: we are located not only in the center of Germany but also in the heart of Europe. In Wenkbach, we are positioned between two major German economic regions with large Japanese communities – the Frankfurt Rhein-Main region and North Rhine-Westphalia. We also secured affordable land here and have space for future expansion,” Sann explains.

A key focus of local expansion is sustainability. To future-proof the plant, YKK DEUTSCHLAND has invested several million euros in the energy sector at the Weimar-Wenkbach site in recent years. These efforts are aimed at significantly reducing the production-related carbon footprint, with the company targeting climate neutrality by 2030 at the latest. In early 2025, a 1.5-megawatt solar power facility on an open area directly adjacent to the plant went into operation, covering around 45 percent of the site’s electricity needs. With support from the LEA LandesEnergieAgentur Hessen, the company is also developing an energy storage concept to further increase the benefits of its self-generated solar power in the future.

While the parent company is active internationally in other product areas such as high-rise cladding and window construction, the Central Hessen plant focuses primarily on highly specialized zipper applications. At the same time, the site is undergoing a transformation toward expanded development and production of technical applications for the B2B sector, including the corresponding automation. “These products of ours can be found in items such as suitcases, tents, roller blind profiles, cable ducts, and pool covers. Many of these require extremely durable or highly specialized fastening systems, and we have the necessary expertise for them here on site. Our focus is on advanced applications rather than standard solutions,” Sann emphasizes.

This is in part because many of the approximately 140 employees are continuing a family tradition and are now in their second or third generation working for YKK. “We place a strong emphasis on in-house training to fully qualify our employees and continually prepare them for new developments,” Sann explains. At the same time, Hessen offers a significant pool of skilled workers. While the Marburg-Biedenkopf region features a strong industrial cluster, particularly in its long-established metal industry, the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) and the University of Marburg provide excellent education across a wide range of disciplines.

Together with increasing automation, this creates major growth opportunities for YKK DEUTSCHLAND.

Plans are already underway for a new building that will allow the development department to be even more centrally organized in the future. While production in Wenkbach primarily serves the European market, the expertise within the research and development division is used by the parent company worldwide.

Central Hessen is an important region for the Japanese global corporation due to its combination of strategic advantages.

Acting on behalf of the Hessen state government, HTAI is responsible for statewide economic development, supporting international companies as they establish and expand their presence over the long term. Working alongside regional and local partners, HTAI maintains direct contact with YKK DEUTSCHLAND through the network of Hessen economic development agencies, embedding the company firmly within Hessen’s economic ecosystem. During a visit to the Wenkbach site, HTAI CEO Dr. Rainer Waldschmidt and Tobias Kurka, CEO of the Marburg-Biedenkopf Economic Development Corporation, held detailed discussions with Alexander Sann and his team at YKK to explore various aspects of future collaboration. In early 2026, HTAI will also present the wide range of opportunities for foreign direct investment at an FDI event in Tokyo. There, the German federal state of Hessen will showcase itself as a hub for research and development as well as digitalization. YKK stands as a flagship example of a successful, long-term partnership between Japan and Hessen.