— By Plasteurope.com staff — 

The Horst Brandstätter Group (Zirndorf, Germany; www.horst-brandstaetter-group.com) announced it plans to invest a nine-figure sum in the development of a data centre campus at the former Playmobil production site in Dietenhofen, Germany.

The approximately 18-hectare industrial site is to be transformed into a data centre under the name Playmobil digital, with an initially planned electrical grid connection capacity of 100 MW and scope for further expansion, according to the parent company of toy manufacturer Playmobil.

The planned campus is designed primarily for artificial intelligence applications and computing-intensive processes. Existing production halls are to be converted to accommodate the first data centre modules, while additional buildings are also planned. According to the company, initial discussions with potential customers are already under way.

Related: Playmobil CEO cautiously optimistic despite perceived loss of relevance

With Playmobil digital, the group is establishing another independent business division alongside Playmobil, its Lechuza plant container business, and its theme parks.

The foundation-owned group intends to handle the development and operation of the campus itself. It emphasises that the site will remain under German ownership and promotes data sovereignty as a competitive advantage. The company did not provide a timetable for commissioning.

Earlier this year, the Horst Brandstätter Group announced that it would cease Playmobil production in Dietenhofen by the end of June 2026 and relocate manufacturing to other sites. The decision was attributed to rising production costs and challenging economic conditions. Around 350 employees were affected.