Playmobil: Data Centre plans spark controversy

The Horst Brandstätter Group’s plans to turn its former Playmobil factory in Dietenhofen into a 100-megawatt data centre campus have triggered criticism over energy capacity, job losses and an ongoing dispute with a former works council member.

Playmobil digital

The project, called Playmobil digital, was announced in October following the closure of the toy production facility in June 2026, which resulted in around 350 job losses. The group plans to invest a three-digit million-euro sum in the development of the approximately 18-hectare site. Its existing 110-kilovolt grid connection and secured power capacity from regional provider N-ERGIE are key elements of the project.

Anthropic

The allocation of this capacity has become a point of contention with neighbouring communities. A planned data centre project by US AI company Anthropic in Hirschneuses, just a few kilometres away, is currently on hold due to a lack of available grid capacity. Local politicians have criticised the situation and called for electricity resources to be shared between the projects. The Horst Brandstätter Group has stated that it does not oppose other data centre developments in the region.

Concerns about employment

The project has also raised concerns about employment. While the factory closure cost approximately 350 people their jobs, the highly automated data centre is expected to require significantly fewer employees than the former manufacturing operation.

Separately, a legal dispute has developed between the company and former works council member Willi Wening over continued salary payments following his release from work duties. Wening has filed a lawsuit, claiming that payments have been withheld for several months. The company says it has offset the payments against alleged counterclaims, a position disputed by Wening.

The transformation of the site marks a shift from toy manufacturing to digital infrastructure, but has left unresolved questions about regional energy availability, employment and the treatment of former employees.

Source: www.horst-brandstaetter-group.com/news/playmobil-digital