Interview: The strategic challenges facing NTN Europe's new headquarters

Work on NTN Europe's future head office, which is currently underway, has reached some key stages. The timber-frame structure is now complete, the roof has been laid and the indoor crane has been dismantled. The building is taking shape and the teams are due to move in mid-2026. 

The transformation of the Annecy site is part of the Group's overall industrial transformation programme.  Christophe Ulrici, Vice President and sponsor of the project on the Executive Committee for the past three years, reports on the progress of the work and discusses the strategic challenges of this major transformation for NTN Europe. 

A head office focused on innovation and European industrial excellence 

With a surface area of 10,000 m², the new building is designed to accommodate up to 850 flex-office employees. The wooden structure will house the support and general functions - finance, human resources, supply chain, quality, marketing - as well as the various business units. The technical and R&D center will be located in the concrete section, designed to limit vibrations. It will house laboratories, whose equipment requires a stable environment so as not to impair the quality of measurements and analyses. 

Designed to encourage collaboration, this new working environment will feature services grouped by district, a pleasant working environment and a collaborative central hall designed to encourage exchanges and creativity. 

These strategic choices testify to NTN Europe's strong commitment to innovation, an essential driver of its competitiveness in the European market. 

Annecy: preserving and enhancing its historical roots 

NTN has chosen to remain at its historic site in Annecy, where it has been established for over 100 years. This symbolic choice confirms the group's determination to preserve its roots while transforming its site and resolutely entering a new era. 

Located in the heart of the city, in the immediate vicinity of the train station and the main roads, this strategic site offers a number of advantages: 

• Easy access via soft mobility (bikes, bus, train) 
• Geographical continuity appreciated by current employees 
• Greater attractiveness to future talent, thanks to a modern, city-centre working environment. 

Strategic investment to support industrial transformation

In a difficult economic climate for manufacturers, NTN Europe, with this major investment of over €30 million, is confirming its confidence in the European market and reaffirming Annecy's central role as the Group's European decision-making centre.   

The new building, with its innovative mixed wood/concrete structure and organisation, provides a responsible and modern working environment for all its stakeholders: employees, local communities, partners, customers ....  

More generally, NTN Europe, as a manufacturer, is adopting a genuine strategy of industrial transformation with :  

• Adapting production to new market expectations (electrification),  
• The transformation of tools (sites) and industrial processes (transformation of production sites). 

The company has also launched two major investment plans to modernise its sites at Seynod (Automotive) and Argonay (Aerospace). 

These investments are helping to consolidate NTN's position as a modern, innovative and leading manufacturer in the European market.

What are the next steps in the transformation of the Annecy site?  

With this major project, NTN Europe is once again asserting its industrial leadership and its determination to act as a responsible player. The transformation will not only modernise the facilities, but also strengthen the strategic role of the research and innovation centre at the heart of the group's business. 

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