Normet, the specialist in mining and tunnelling processes, is investing EUR1 million at its production facility in Iisalmi, Finland to advance technology in underground service vehicles. At the same time, the company is developing its spare parts logistics and opening a global spare parts distribution centre in The Netherlands. The year has begun in a promising way, with 20 machines sold to Hong Kong for EUR5 million.
“Considering the market conditions, 2009 was a good year for Normet. Expectations for this year are positive. The global tunnelling market is continuously growing and investments in capital equipment in mining market are picking up due to the increase in the price of raw material, ” says CEO Jari Osmala.
The technology centre investment, announced a year ago by Normet, is now underway at Normet’s premises in Finland, vacated by a co-operation partner. The renovation and modification of the premises has started. The new production and technology centre operations will start gradually during the first half of the year. The investment will increase Normet’s assembly capacity by 25%. At the same time, Normet’s product development activities will be significantly expanded.
The global spare parts distribution centre to be opened in Holland will improve Normet’s customer service by improving logistic connections and bringing spare part services closer to the customers. An external service provider will operate the distribution centre in Holland. The new operations will start at full capacity by September 2010.
“Normet has internationalised quickly, and centralising the spare parts operations continues the trend. Finland is quite far from the main flow of global logistics, and we want to offer our customers a high standard of spare parts logistical services. This new location saves hours, if not days, in the delivery times of spare parts,” notes COO Tom Melbye.
Normet’s international distribution network includes 23 locations in 16 countries. The newest of these is Normet Canada in Sudbury, Ontario.
Normet’s delivery to Hong Kong includes 20 different machines and cassettes for sprayed concrete and material delivery, among others.
Normet develops, manufactures and markets equipment and vehicles for mining and underground construction needs and offers services for the maintenance and operations for the entire lifetime of the products. Normet Group is a global market leader in its product groups. Over 90% of the production is exported to international end users. In 2008, the group’s turnover was EUR107 Million.