Centre of Excellence move for Swedish global giant
Dienstag, 14 Juli 2009
Sandvik, which is a leading partner to medical technology companies, is to move into a 112,500 sq ft facility at Beighton Link Business Park in South Yorkshire. Jobs are expected to be created as a result of the relocation, which was aided by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.
Sheffield-based JF Finnegan has secured the pre-let deal, with a £1.7m supporting grant from Yorkshire Forward, on a 15 year lease. The pre-let deal is thought to be one of the largest of its type so far this year.
Work is now underway on the Rotherham facility which incorporates a 90,000 sq ft workshop, 22,500 sq ft of office accommodation over three floors and 150 parking spaces.
When completed later this year, the Sandvik European Centre of Excellence (SECoE) will bring together all the finish processing and supply management activities for the production of orthopaedic implants and instruments from Sandvik’s existing Sheffield facilities.
The manufacturing company will then be able to streamline its operations and reduce lead times.
David Beighton, president and managing director of Sandvik Medical Solutions, said: “The new SECoE will bring together state-of-the-art technology with our commitment to skills development, faith in the Sheffield workforce and a determination to ensure excellent facilities both inside and surrounding the SECoE, making Sandvik a true employer of choice in the locality.
“Our Sheffield facilities have been successful over many years. The combination of our materials expertise, cutting edge production techniques and proactive approach to innovation have consistently delivered real competitive advantage to our customers.”
Philip Ryan, chairman of JF Finnegan, said: “The development of Sandvik’s SECoE at Beighton Link is a major coup for both the scheme and the region and confirms our initial confidence in the development as an integral part of South Yorkshire’s regeneration.
"It further demonstrates the ability to secure large pre-let deals in the current climate and we will be undertaking an intensive programme of works over the forthcoming months to enable Sandvik to be fully operational by the end of the year.”
Sandvik will join existing tenant, Viaturn, which is located within the 55,000 sq ft of industrial and business units developed in phase one of the 15 acre site.
Future plans for the remaining three acres at Beighton Link include potential retail and leisure development for which planning consent has been granted.
Yorkshire’s gross value added (GVA) is in excess of £87bn ranking it alongside the top 20% of global economies.
Businesses in the region benefit from operating costs up to 20% lower than the UK average while four of its major cities have been identified as amongst the best locations in the UK for business.
Along with Sandvik, other leading global players include Smith & Nephew, NPIL Pharmaceuticals, Bharat Forge, Doncasters, BAE Systems, Johnson & Johnson, Depuy, B Braun Medical, Arla Foods, ConocoPhillips and Covance.