Sandvik Coromant, a world-leading supplier of tools, tooling solutions and know-how to the metalworking industry, officially opened its new Manufacturing Centre in the Midlands last week — the company now has 15 such centres worldwide. Sandvik Coromant UK, which has been based at the same site in Halesowen since 1958, will use the new hub which is sited right next to its old building, to showcase manufacturing innovation and customer service. The old building is in the midst of being demolished to make way for a residential development.
David Harbon, sales director for the UK and Ireland, said: “Our ties to the Midlands go back over 100 years and this investment proves how important the UK market is to Sandvik Coromant. The company has long been a flagship employer and a recognisable name for the region, and we want this to continue. We also take our community involvement very seriously, and continue to be the sponsors of community projects in Halesowen, Dudley and the wider Midlands region. Moreover, we have many customers, strong partnerships and links to academia in the region.”
“In addition to the Sandvik Coromant Centre, the facility will provide working space for the company’s UK employees, containing flexible desk space for 100 office-based workers. The site also boasts an eco-conscious design, with installed solar panels and a number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, plus dedicated EV parking spaces.”
Magnus Ekbäck, Sandvik Coromant’s vice president strategy and business development, who was the managing director of Sandvik Coromant UK from 2010 to 2015, added his support. He said: “Since 1942 Sandvik Coromant has been passionate about innovation and delivering solutions and solving problems for our customers. Fast forward to today and digitalisation automation and sustainability top the agenda. I am confident that at this new centre in Halesowen we will see a lot of collaboration, projects and innovation being put into action with our customers’ projects.”
The new Manufacturing Centre will offer a wide range of services, including: training in the latest machining technologies; demonstrations of new products and solutions; collaboration with Sandvik Coromant experts on machining challenges; access to the latest industry research; and events and networking opportunities.
Remote trainingThe facility contains two education stations equipped with a five-axis DMG Mori DMU 80 eVo milling machine and a Mazak Integrex i-200S AG lathe to undertake tooling demonstrations, application training and engineering projects both face-to-face and remotely. Prior to the official opening on 16 May, Paul Campbell, training and centre manager, said the new facility had already hosted over 7,200 interactions, 120 activities, trained 6,800 people and undertaken 40 tooling projects. Using integrated cameras, multiple views of cutting demonstrations were visible on screens across the centre and showed how the equipment can be used for remote training purposes.
Machine demonstrations at the education stations stations include the CoroTurn Prime for all-directional turning, which can be programmed with Sandvik Coromant’s specialist PrimeTurning methodology and in combination with the CoroPlus Tool Path software.
Other equipment in the new centre includes the CoroPlus Tool Supply, an automated tool vending machine with software that enhances the shopfloor’s inventory control for improved profitability, productivity and sustainability.
He added: “There are many many different ways of interacting with customers. We can now offer DLM (digital live machining) for instance where we can broadcast training or live projects showing real images inside a machine and talk to customers anywhere in the UK and if required we can call upon experts from our other centres around the world to participate.”
Michael Eneberg, vice president and head of global sales and marketing at Sandvik Coromant, added: “This new facility is Sandvik Coromant’s 15th Manufacturing Centre which are located all around the world in locations as far afield as Brazil, the USA, Mexico City and China. We have created a place where we can learn and work with our customers and partners.”
Kim Orlander, marketing manager at Sandvik Coromant UK, concluded: “The journey with the new facility began in 2017 and it was always our wish to stay in Halesowen. Well we did it.”
Sandvik Group achieved a turnover of more than £350 million in the UK in 2022.