Neighborhood Information

Neighborhood Information pursuant to Section 11 of the Major Accidents Ordinance (12th BImSchV) for residents of Böblingen South

About the Work

PFINDER KG
Rudolf-Diesel-Straße 14
71032 Böblingen

Dear Neighbors, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your safety as residents living near our facility, as well as the safety of our own employees, is a top priority for our family-owned business, which has been based in Böblingen for over 60 years. At our plant, which manufactures and stores specialty chemical products for the automotive industry, there has never been an accident that would qualify as a reportable incident.

PFINDER KG maintains an active and cooperative relationship with the relevant authorities, implements comprehensive safety measures in its production, storage, and shipping areas, ensures the continuous modernization of its technology, and meets the high requirements of quality standards as well as occupational safety and environmental protection standards. The company has been certified for many years to ISO 9001, ISO/TS and IATF 16949, TISAX, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.

This section of our website is intended to provide you with a summary of important information about our operations, the hazardous substances and solvents used in our production facilities, and the procedures to follow in the event of major incidents—such as fires or explosions—that may pose an immediate or subsequent danger to people and the environment or cause property damage.

Due to the quantities of hazardous substances present on our premises, PFINDER KG is subject to the provisions of the Major Accidents Ordinance. All details regarding plant components subject to reporting requirements have been submitted to the Stuttgart Regional Council in accordance with Section 7 of the 12th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV) and have been approved by the relevant authorities.

However, since the quantities at the Böblingen site have decreased significantly due to the continuous reduction and removal of hazardous substances, PFINDER KG submitted an application to the Stuttgart Regional Council on August 8, 2024, to reclassify an operational area from the upper class (extended obligations) to the lower class (basic obligations). The official written decision granting approval under the Major Accidents Act pursuant to Section 23b of the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) was issued on August 28, 2025, based on the significant reduction in quantities of hazardous substances throughout the entire operational area and the associated reclassification of the operational area from the upper to the lower class.

PFINDER KG has established in its guidelines and principles the goal of reducing or avoiding negative impacts on the environment. Accordingly, the product portfolio and the raw materials used are continuously reviewed for their environmental and occupational safety impacts. The same applies to new product developments. This helps reduce environmental impacts.

Environmental performance is continuously monitored and improved through the ISO 14001 environmental management system. Reducing the risks posed by hazardous substances is an essential component of the environmental policy. In the event of a potential reclassification of existing raw materials to a higher hazard category, substitution projects are carried out immediately.

For potential new substances, upstream approval processes are always carried out. Each substance is evaluated individually for potential hazards, and rejected if necessary.

All of these organizational measures ensure that there is no increase in risk at the PFINDER KG site and that we remain a safe operating area in the lower risk category.

In addition, an updated version of the safety report or a safety concept, prepared in accordance with legal requirements, is regularly provided to the authorities to demonstrate the reliability of our technical facilities and the effectiveness of our safety organization. Furthermore, “on-site inspections (VOB)” are conducted every three years on our premises by the responsible representatives of the Stuttgart Regional Office (RP Stuttgart), during which compliance with legal requirements is verified. The last VOB was conducted on July 12, 2024. The next VOB is scheduled to take place in 2027.

One of the basic obligations as a lower-class operating facility is therefore to inform local residents in accordance with Section 8a of the 12th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV).

PFINDER KG, located at Rudolf-Diesel-Straße 14 in Böblingen, manufactures specialized chemical-technical products for the automotive industry and its suppliers. This is carried out in facilities that are suitable and approved by the authorities. Various hazardous substances and solvents, such as gasoline, additives, resins, and preservatives, are used in this process. The products are manufactured using processes such as heating, mixing, pumping, cooling, and dispersing by our employees—who receive regular training on safety aspects and hazard prevention—and are then filled into their delivery containers. Raw materials and finished products are delivered and shipped via trucks and tanker trucks. Through active and cooperative engagement with regulatory authorities and through significant investments in buildings, technology, and systems for early warning and the prevention of fires and environmental damage, we continuously adapt the traditionally very high safety standards in our production and storage areas to keep pace with technological advancements. As a result, old facilities have been decommissioned and dismantled. This has freed up space in recent years, allowing us to invest in modernized production technology in new production areas while expanding the existing fire compartments designed to mitigate risks.

Guidelines and Recommendations on Potential Hazards and How to Respond in Emergencies

Despite the use of modern technology and all safety precautions, we must still be prepared for an incident. That is why this neighborhood information bulletin also includes recommendations on how you can help protect yourself. Please read this information carefully so that you and your family can act appropriately in any situation.

CONTACT WITH HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES:

In this section, you will find a brief classification of the main hazardous substances used at PFINDER KG that could be released in the event of an incident:

Are flammable; liquids form explosive mixtures with air

May cause health problems; may irritate the eyes, skin, or respiratory system

Are harmful, toxic, or very toxic to aquatic organisms, either acutely or with long-term effects.

Types of Hazards in the Event of an Incident and Potential Impacts

Should an incident occur—despite all safety measures—that has an impact beyond our company premises, the surrounding community may be affected by vapors and gases that pose a health hazard, such as smoke.

The main hazard is the unintentional release of hazardous substances in large quantities outside the facilities designated for that purpose. In the worst-case scenario, despite the installed containment pans and firewater retention systems, soil or water contamination may occur, or—in the case of highly flammable substances—a fire or explosion may result. A fire and the resulting combustion gases and soot clouds could also affect public areas. If solvent vapors explode, the blast may be felt even outside the plant premises.

Internal Measures in the Event of an Incident
Safety systems (fire alarms and automatic fire suppression systems) are installed throughout the plant and are directly connected to the fire department’s control room. Our emergency response plan specifies in detail the measures that PFINDER KG employees must take in the event of an incident, in coordination with emergency and rescue services, to minimize the impact of the incident as much as possible. This emergency response plan is also available to the authorities responsible for emergency response and disaster management. These authorities are responsible for protecting the public.

Warnings and Information in the Event of Reportable Incidents
In the event ofan incident, the Böblingen Fire Department control center is always notified by the plant. Firefighters are familiar with the site conditions through constant contact and regular small- and large-scale drills conducted on the premises. Examples include:

Evacuation drill on December 13, 2024
Civil protection command post exercise on May 7, 2025, with the Böblingen Disaster Control Authority, the Böblingen District Office, the City of Böblingen, and the Böblingen Fire Department. Simulation of an incident scenario involving a hypothetical threat to the neighboring community.

The fire department’s command center alerts the necessary emergency response teams from the fire department, emergency medical services, and the police. The public is informed, if necessary, by the relevant authorities, e.g., via loudspeaker announcements or radio broadcasts. See below for details.
Important Phone Numbers
Fire Department Emergency Dispatch Center: 112
Police Emergency Number: 110
Please call these emergency numbers only in urgent cases so that the phone lines are not unnecessarily tied up.

What to Do in an Emergency/Safety Instructions

In the event of an incident, we will immediately notify the relevant authorities of the scope of the incident and the measures already implemented in accordance with the “Emergency Response Plan.”

WARNINGS TO THE PUBLIC are issued via:

loudspeaker announcements. Therefore, please pay attention to announcements from the fire department or the police. You will be informed about specific safety guidelines, further measures, and when the all-clear is given. Please be sure to follow all instructions from emergency and rescue services during an incident and observe their safety guidelines!

Radio announcements
Turn on yourradio: Reports on incidents, guidelines, and all-clear announcements are broadcast on regional stations:

Radio BB, FM 104.3
Antenne 1, FM 104.3
SWR1, FM 94.7
SWR3, FM 92.2
You can find the current frequencies for Kabel BW stations online at www.kabelbw.de

STAY AWAY from the AREA NEAR THE FACILITY
Stay away from the incident site. Do not smoke.
Keep the road clear for emergency responders.

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTIFICATION
Notify your neighbors. If necessary, assist children, the elderly, or people with disabilities.

BUILDINGS AND WINDOWS
Close windows and doors.
Turn off ventilation and air conditioning systems.

TELEPHONE
Use the telephone only in urgent cases. Do not tie up the lines to the police, fire department, and PFINDER KG with unnecessary calls.

ALL-CLEAR SIGNAL
Wait for the all-clear signal. Listen for public address announcements and radio reports.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding PFINDER KG’s emergency management, our
managing directors, Dr. Peter Moritz and Dietrich Schmezer, as well as the environmental management officer, Dr. Karsten Leßmann, are available to provide further information at 07031 27010 (switchboard).

(Neighborhood Information, Revised October 2025 / Josef Ebensberger)

+49 7031 2701-0

Zum Shop

Neighborhood Information

Guidelines and Recommendations on Potential Hazards and How to Respond in Emergencies

Types of Hazards in the Event of an Incident and Potential Impacts

What to Do in an Emergency/Safety Instructions

Questions?

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