The LEGO Group Officially Inaugurates Expansion At Its Hungary Factory

The LEGO Group officially opened a major expansion at its manufacturing site in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. This expansion is the result of a two-year investment programme, which has seen the site’s production capacity increase by 30% to meet strong demand for its products.

The company also announced it is investing in a geothermal heating system to support its long-term sustainability ambitions by enabling a shift away from using non-renewable natural gas to heat the factory.

Niels B Christiansen, CEO of the LEGO Group, said:

“Today marks a very important milestone for us as we proudly celebrate the successful completion of the expansion of our factory in Hungary. The site reflects our commitment to sustainability, and through increased manufacturing capacity we will be able to bring more LEGO® play to more children and fans in Europe and around the world.”

Over the past two years, the factory expansion has created 300 new jobs, bringing the total number of employees to over 4,300, including the seasonal workforce, and making it one of the largest employers in the local region.

All major manufacturing steps in the production of LEGO sets are carried out at the factory, including moulding, decoration, assembly, packing, and warehousing. The moulding hall now houses more than 1,000 injection moulding machines, and the number of packaging lines has increased by one third to a total of 73.

New warehouse and administrative areas have also been added to the site, making it the second largest LEGO factory worldwide. With the completion of this latest expansion phase, the site is now twice the size it was when it originally opened in 2014 – growing from 120,000 square metres to 262,000 square metres today.

Chresten Bruun, SVP of EMEA Manufacturing and General Manager of LEGO Manufacturing Kft, said:

“We are very proud of the sustainability programmes we have implemented, including being the first in this region of Hungary to harness the power of geothermal energy to this scale in an industrial setting. We are deeply grateful for the support of our many partners who are helping us on our ambition to further reduce our environmental impact. We remain committed to the region, both as a major employer and an active player in the local community.”

The LEGO Group has an ambition to reduce its reliance on fossil gas and to reduce absolute carbon emissions by 37% by 2032, compared to 2019 levels. To support this goal, the company has been exploring the use of geothermal energy to heat the factory in Nyíregyháza, aiming to stop the use of natural gas in its heating systems by 2028.

Over the past two years, two wells have been drilled and a potential source of heat found more than two kilometres under the surface. In the next two years the infrastructure and technology needed to circulate hot water through the factory will be installed. The closed system, where extracted water will be pumped back into the ground towards the initial extraction location, is scheduled to be fully functional by 2028.

The site currently has three solar parks which contain more than 24,000 solar panels. 8.61 MWp of capacity will be installed by the end of 2025, an increase of over 200% compared to last year. An extra 11,000 panels will be installed across the area and on the roofs of nine more buildings before the end of next year, bringing the overall capacity to more than 17 MWp.

The company also supports biodiversity in an area of 50,000 square metres. It has planted over 46,000 drought-tolerant trees and shrubs to support local wildlife and planted 3,800 square meters with bee-friendly plants.

Recognised several times as one of the most attractive workplaces of Hungary, LEGO Manufacturing Nyíregyháza remains committed to creating an inclusive and engaging workplace and supporting the community in which it operates. The company supports local institutions and initiatives and has formed long-term partnerships with local NGOs to make learning-through-play more accessible to children in need.

LEGO Manufacturing Nyíregyháza is one of six LEGO factories worldwide, each located close to major markets. The LEGO Group continues to expand and upgrade its global manufacturing and distribution network to support long-term growth.