LEGO Factory – The Brick Post!

The LEGO Group Announces Program Lead & General Contractor for Virginia Factory!

Greg — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 08:34:11 +0000

In 2023, the LEGO Group broke ground on its new billion-dollar manufacturing site in Chesterfield County, near Richmond, Virginia, US. LEGO has announced a permanent program lead and general contractor.

Starting in April, Preben Elnef will lead the project which includes the construction and opening of the factory. Elnef is also involved with the Vietnam Factory, which is scheduled to begin production next year. The company has also named Gray Hourigan as general contractor who will prepare the location to start work later in the year.

If you live local and are interested in working at the factory, check out the dedicated hiring page.

Official details:

The LEGO Group announces program lead and appoints general contractor at its Virginia, USA site

Preben Elnef named permanent program lead.

Gray|Hourigan selected as general contractor.

Virginia, USA, February 2024: The LEGO Group today announced it has appointed a permanent program lead and general contractor as it advances work on its more than US $1 billion manufacturing site in Chesterfield County, near Richmond, Virginia.

Preben Elnef named permanent program leader

Preben Elnef will assume program leadership from April 2024, and will be responsible for all aspects of the project, including the factory’s construction and opening. He takes on this new role after three years with the company’s Vietnam business, where he established an operating unit and oversaw the construction of the company’s second new factory, which is scheduled to begin production in 2025.

Preben has worked for the LEGO Group for the past 10 years and brings extensive experience leading large-scale investment projects and expertise in engineering, supply chain, and facilities management in both the private and public sector.

Gray|Hourigan appointed general contractor

The company also announced it has engaged Gray|Hourigan, a joint venture between industry leader Gray and Richmond, Virginia-based Hourigan, for general contracting services. Gray|Hourigan will manage deep foundation and continued site preparation works this year to put the LEGO Group on the path toward its production start targets.

The appointment of a general contractor marks a significant milestone for the program. Since breaking ground in spring 2023, the company initiated site readiness, continued design work, and opened a temporary packing facility in Colonial Heights, Virginia in October 2023, where it employs over 200 people. The external packing site opened ahead of schedule and plays an important role in meeting consumer demand in the United States.

The company expects construction of the factory buildings to begin later this year and full production to commence in 2027, around 12 months later than originally planned. The company remains committed to creating over 1,760 jobs over the next ten years.

Carsten Rasmussen, Chief Operations Officer said: “We are pleased with the progress we’re making with our investment in Virginia and grateful for the continued support from the local community. We are excited Preben has agreed to become the program leader, where the team will benefit from his recent experience establishing our presence in Vietnam and building our second new factory. We are looking forward to partnering with Gray|Hourigan to commence construction work and retain the good momentum we’re seeing across the site.”

Preben Elnef, Vice President and LEGO Manufacturing Richmond Program Lead said: “I am excited to join the team. This is an important program in support of our mission to inspire and develop kids across the Americas region for generations to come. It is also a step towards operating more sustainably, as we’re building a site designed to minimize energy use. I look forward to continuing our important partnerships in the local community to bring play to more children in Virginia.”

LEGO Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Vietnam Factory!

Greg — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 21:39:34 +0000

LEGO have announced today that they have broken ground on the new $1 billion factory in the Binh Duong Province of Vietnam!

The new factory will be the sixth one in Asia to be built and with it the most sustainable. Perhaps even cooler than that is it was designed by local children’s LEGO builds. Please see the official statement below for more details.

Official details:

THE LEGO GROUP BREAKS GROUND ON NEW USD 1 BILLION VIETNAM FACTORY

• Ceremony attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and His Excellency, Standing Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Binh Minh.
• Company’s sixth factory globally and second in Asia will support growth in the region.
• Facility is designed to be the company’s most sustainable to date.
• Factory design inspired by local children’s LEGO® builds.
• Company commits US $150,000 to support children in need.

Billund, November 3, 2022: The LEGO Group today celebrated breaking ground at its new US $1 billion factory in the Binh Duong Province in Vietnam, bordering Ho Chi Minh City to the South. This is the largest investment by any Danish company in Vietnam and part of the company’s strategy to expand its supply chain network to support long-term growth and locate production facilities close to its major markets.

The groundbreaking event was attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and His Excellency, Standing Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Binh Minh, LEGO Group Chief Executive Officer Niels B. Christiansen, LEGO Group Chief Operations Officer Carsten Rasmussen, national and provincial officials, as well as business and community partners.

Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of the LEGO Group said: “Today marks a significant milestone for us as we celebrate breaking ground at what will be our sixth factory globally and first carbon-neutral run facility. Not only will it allow us to reach even more children with learning through play and create long-term growth in the Asia-Pacific region, but it will also enable us to quickly adapt and respond to shifts in consumer demand.”

“We are grateful for all the support we have received to realise our manufacturing ambitions and look forward to working with authorities and partners to build our factory and have a positive impact on the local economy and community.”

Inclusive workplace for technology & innovation jobs
The 44-hectare site, the size of 62 football pitches, will use state-of-the-art technology to mould, process and pack LEGO® products. Production is set to start in 2024 with skilled local employees trained to operate high-tech equipment that ensures each brick is made to the accuracy of 1/10th of a hair’s width. The factory will employ 4,000 people over the next 15 years.
The LEGO Group is committed to providing diverse and inclusive workplaces where everyone feels welcome, and the new factory will be no different. It will feature wellness and prayer rooms, braille wayfinding signs and be accessible for wheelchair users.

Most sustainable factory to date

The factory is designed to be the LEGO Group’s first carbon-neutral run facility – and most sustainable to date. It will feature rooftop solar panels and a solar farm will be built on a neighbouring plot of land, which combined will match the total annual energy requirement of the site.

It will also use the latest energy-efficient production equipment and will be constructed to meet a minimum standard of LEED Gold – a globally recognised green building certification. These efforts will contribute to the company’s target of reducing its absolute carbon emissions by 37 percent by 2032 (compared to 2019).

Factory design inspired by children’s creativity

Guided by the belief that children are the LEGO Group’s role models, aspects of the factory’s design will be inspired by ideas from local kids. Over 40 children from Hoi Nghia Primary School participated in a ‘Build the Change’ workshop where they used LEGO bricks to create ideas for the factory’s employee and play spaces. Their ideas ranged from gardens filled with local plants to fun playgrounds made up of a rollercoaster, aquarium and soccer stadium, which some of the children shared with the guests at the ground-breaking ceremony.

As the construction starts, the LEGO Group is partnering with the local government, community organisations, NGOs and charities to ensure children in Vietnam benefit from greater learning through play opportunities.

As an integral part of the community, the company is committing US $150,000 before the end of this year to offer more playful learning opportunities to children in the local area and beyond with partnerships, including Save the Children Vietnam and Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation.

The LEGO Foundation pledged US $4 million in 2019 to VVOB iPlay programme in a Vietnam for a four-year partnership designed to introduce learning through play practices to teachers.

15,000 Down 35,000 To Go – LEGO Planting 50,000 Trees in Vietnam!

Greg — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 06:31:50 +0000

Recently the LEGO Group announced that they were planting 50,000 trees in Vietnam, near their new factory, with 15,000 trees already planted, another 35,000 are planned over the next couple of Years!

The trees are to compensate for the 25,000 trees that will be cut-down during the upcoming construction in November. The new LEGO factory in Vietnam, announced last year, will be the company’s first carbon-neutral run site which will start production in 2024.

Official details:

The LEGO Group to plant 50,000 trees as one of many sustainability initiatives in Vietnam

50,000 trees will be planted close to new LEGO® factory site and have a positive effect on nature and quality of living

Construction of LEGO® factory to begin in November 2022

New factory set to be the LEGO Group’s first carbon neutral run site

Ho Chi Minh City, September 6: In November 2022, the construction of the new LEGO® factory in Binh Duong province in southern Vietnam will officially begin. The LEGO Group aims to ensure the factory has a minimal impact on the environment and as a part of the ambition the Group has begun the planting of 50,000 trees over a period of three years supported by Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park Joint Venture Company Limited (VSIP), in locations close to the new site.

The 50,000 trees are being planted to compensate for the approximately 25,000 trees that will be removed during the construction of the new factory and is one of many initiatives on the LEGO Group’s long-term sustainability ambitions and investments in Vietnam.

Preben Elnef, Vice President and program Lead for the LEGO Group in Vietnam said:
“As we progress as planned on establishing our new factory in Vietnam, it is key for us to deliver on our ambition to operate the factory with a minimal impact on the environment. We will do so by investing in a solar farm to provide energy to operate the factory and we are exploring many other initiatives that will make our new site a global lighthouse for sustainable operations.

At the same time, the LEGO Group wants to improve the quality of living in the urban areas near the factory and support a greater biodiversity in the long term. Urban planting has been shown help reduce temperatures in cities, has proven positive effects on physical and mental health for local residence, and helps to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants*.

To ensure the best outcome seven different types of trees native to Vietnam will be planted across multiple locations near the factory, and planting will take place at the most optimal times during the year. Currently 15,000 trees have already been planted, and the LEGO Group will plant further 35,000 trees supported by VSIP in 2023 and 2024 where the factory opens.

“We are excited to now have started the planting of 50,000 trees, as it marks the first of many activities on our sustainability journey in Vietnam. A key reason for locating our new factory in Vietnam was the strong support from the Vietnamese government when it comes to our environmental sustainability agenda, and we look forward to their continued support during the construction phase,” said Preben Elnef

Making a positive social impact through play
The LEGO Group is also celebrating another milestone, with the first collaboration with a local school to inspire students and equip them with the necessary skills to protect the environment and people around them.

“We believe children are our role models and their creativity and imagination truly inspire us. More than 40 students at Hoi Nghia Primary School have participated in a Build the Change workshop in the past days, where they used LEGO® bricks as a creative medium to solve challenges and express their ideas to build a better and more sustainable world. Hopefully they will inspire us as well as many others to create a better future,“ said Preben Elnef.

The collaboration is one of many initiatives from the LEGO Group in Vietnam to meaningfully engage local communities and deliver on the Groups ambitions on social responsibility. The ambition is to collaborate with NGOs and authorities at local, regional, and national level to inspire and learn from children across Vietnam and contribute positively to society.

.* World Health Organization, Reducing global health risks through mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants, Scoping report for policymakers (Geneva, 2015)
www.who.int/phe/publications/climate-reducing-health-risks

New $1 Billion Carbon-Neutral LEGO Factory To Be Built In Virginia, US!

Greg — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 07:19:20 +0000

The recently announced $1 billion carbon-neutral LEGO factory will be built in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

It’s speculated to create a whopping 1,760 jobs with construction starting as early as this year. The factory is projected to start production in the second half of 2025.

The LEGO Group are set to start hiring too with a plethora of job vacancies available and a large range of career paths. To be notified of when jobs are available please click here and see the dedicated jobs page.

Jobs available include:

Packing Technician
Decoration & Assembly Operator
Warehouse & Shipping Operator
Material Handler
Quality Inspector
Quality Control Technician
Molding Operator
Molding Technician
Mold Cleaners
Mold Maintenance Technician
Maintenance Technician
Automation Technician
Team Leader
Supervisor
Operations Management
Human Resources
Environmental Health & Safety
Finance & Accounting
Engineering
Distribution & Logistics
Import/Export (Customs)
Procurement
Information Technology
Production Planning

Official details:

The LEGO Group to build US$1 billion, carbon-neutral run factory in Virginia, USA

• New factory to create more than 1,760 jobs.

Onsite solar park will produce enough energy to 100 percent match the factory’s requirements.

Seventh factory will expand the LEGO Group’s global manufacturing network, shorten supply chain and support long-term growth in Americas.

Richmond, VA, USA, June 15, 2022: The LEGO Group today announced plans to invest more than US$1 billion to build a new factory in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Once completed, the 1.7 million square foot (160,000m2 ) facility will employ more than 1,760 people.

The factory will be designed to operate as a carbon-neutral facility. 100 percent of its day-to-day energy needs will be matched by renewable energy generated by an onsite solar park. The site will also be designed to minimise energy consumption and use of non-renewable resources.

Niels B. Christiansen, CEO, the LEGO Group said: “This is an exciting step for the LEGO Group. More and more families are falling in love with LEGO® building and we are looking forward to making LEGO bricks in the US, one of our largest markets. The location in Virginia allows us to build a solar park which supports our sustainability ambitions and provides easy links to country-wide transportation networks. We are also looking forward to creating fantastic employment opportunities for the people of Virginia.”

Construction will commence in fall 2022 with production projected to start in the second half of 2025. A temporary packaging site will open in an existing building nearby in early 2024 and create up to 500 jobs.

The Virginia factory will be the LEGO Group’s seventh factory globally and the second in the Americas. The company’s manufacturing site in Monterrey, Mexico primarily supplies the US market and will be expanded and upgraded to meet growing demand for LEGO products.

Carsten Rasmussen, Chief Operations Officer, the LEGO Group said: “Our factories are located close to our biggest markets which shortens the distance our products have to travel. This allows us to rapidly respond to changing consumer demand and helps manage our carbon footprint. Our new factory in the US and expanded capacity at our existing site in Mexico means we will be able to best support long-term growth in the Americas. We are fortunate to find a location where we can begin construction quickly and create temporary capacity in under two years.”

The new factory in Virginia, like all LEGO facilities, will use state-of-the-art technology to mould, process and pack LEGO products and ensure they meet the company’s rigorous safety and quality requirements.

“Our bricks are made to last for generations, so we need skilled employees trained to work with precision moulding technology. We look forward to working with the Virginia Talent Accelerator programme to help build a great team who are motivated by our mission to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow,” said Mr Rasmussen.

LEGO factories in Europe and China are also being expanded, and in December 2021, the Group announced plans to build a factory in Vietnam to support further growth in Asia.

The LEGO Group currently employs approximately 2,600 people in the US where it has been operating since the 1960s. Its US head office is in Enfield, CT, and operates 100 LEGO branded stores across the country.