TPT July 2013

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28 July 2013
Industry News
Sandvik to open new
R&D centre
SANDVIK is to invest in a new high-
tech research and development centre
adjacent to its manufacturing facilities
in Zhenjiang, an important milestone in
the company’s continuing development
in China. At a symbolic ground breaking
ceremony to mark commencement of
the development, Sandvik Materials
Technology (SMT) management team
and Zhenjiang local government officials
turned the first soil on the site, watched
by SMT China employees.
“This ceremony marks a further
significant step in Sandvik’s long
established commitment to the market
in China and throughout Asia,” said
Johan Hedlund, SMT head of human
resources.
Sandvik’s investment in research and
development provides the company with
a route to introduce new products, and
allows it to review and invest in product
research and development programmes
designed to bring long-term operational
benefits in some of the most demanding
applications.
On behalf of the Zhenjiang local
government, Qiliang Gui, vice secretary
of Zhenjiang Municipal Government
and vice director of Zhenjiang New
Area Administration Committee,
emphasised, “SMT’s new R&D centre
in Zhenjiang will help to promote the
pace of development of the Zhenjiang
local market. Meanwhile, we, as a
community, will continue to provide the
best services and infrastructure to all
international enterprises.”
Building work on the 1,440m2 centre
will commence in the summer, with plans
for the centre to be operational early in
2014. It will accommodate specialist
laboratories, a learning centre, offices
and an exhibition area.
Sandvik China president ZZ Zhang
commented, “Our ambition in developing
this new, dedicated centre is to create
a powerful R&D team which covers all
technical competence needed to support
the demands of the Chinese market.
“It will work in close liaison with SMT
R&D units worldwide. The laboratories
will be equipped to the highest
standards with modern analytical
equipment, including scanning electron
microscopes and advanced mechanical
testing facilities.”
The centre will support not only
production units, but also the sales
organisation and customers with
technical training seminars and detailed
research into material applications for
the benefit of Sandvik customers. It will
also provide materials analysis for other
Sandvik business areas, especially
Sandvik Construction and Sandvik
Machining Solutions.
Sandvik Materials Technology –
Sweden
Website:
Turning the first soil at the ground breaking ceremony