Andy Turner, sales and operations manager for SEW-Eurodrive UKNormanton-based
SEW-Eurodrive UK, an industry-leading specialist in drive technology, is celebrating the first anniversary of DriveAcademy, its bespoke training institute. Since opening its doors a year ago, the facility has delivered over 400 hours of electronics and mechanical training to 35 major UK brands, including Next, Ocado, Pepsico, and Amazon, alongside cohorts of SEW-Eurodrive employees. Other blue-chip companies to complete the training include BMW, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), New Look, Premier Foods, Tarmac, Unilever PLC, and Warburtons.
DriveAcademy, located at the firm’s Normanton site in West Yorkshire, was launched in January 2024 by SEW-Eurodrive UK to help its customers and workforce improve their knowledge of gear drive technology and automation, and ensure they are confident in using SEW products with best practice techniques. DriveAcademy sessions are tailored to each team receiving training, and take into consideration individuals’ various job roles, end applications and markets to deliver a truly bespoke advanced training experience each time.
Andy Turner, sales and operations manager at SEW-Eurodrive UK, was responsible for developing and launching the training academy in the UK. He said: “I am immensely proud of the team here and the success of the first year of DriveAcademy.”
Knowledge and skillsetHe continued: “Ensuring that our customers and product end users have the knowledge and skillset to use their drives effectively and efficiently is a crucial component in helping them operate competitively in their respective industries. Development periods are getting shorter and shorter, especially in technical fields, making continuous learning an increasingly important factor in future success.
“A big transition that our customers are experiencing at the moment is the move from generation B inverters to Movi-C inverters. While this is a big change it has brought some incredible benefits in terms of efficacy and efficiency, and we are committed to helping our customers through this transition. As a leader in drive technology and drive automation, we offer our customers extensive and multifaceted practical product training.”
The latest learning methods, multifunctional training models and a fully equipped environment ensure the most learning possible. “Through the DriveAcademy, we are also keen to invest in young people interested in engineering and put the building blocks in place for to them to have progressive and goal-oriented career paths.”
The SEW-Eurodrive team has ambitious plans to expand DriveAcademy further in 2025 and build on the success of its first year. This includes investment into new training rigs and updates to the training room as well as increased marketing activity to drive awareness.
SEW-Eurodrive UK’s West Yorkshire production site employs 160 people and holds stocks of 5,100 components ready for assembly 24/7. Headquartered in Germany, SEW-Eurodrive was established in 1931 and currently has a network of 17 production plants and 92 drive technology centres in 56 countries worldwide.