Changzhou: The Heart of Norican China
Norican China engineering & manufacturing located in Changzhou, a vibrant city with a population of 5 million. Accompanied by Mr. Wei Baohua, Senior Vice President China Northeast Aisa of Norican, we traveled by high-speed train, covering the 200 km from Shanghai-Hongqiao in just 47 minutes. Norican has been present in Changzhou for 27 years, growing from a modest team of three to over 300 dedicated professionals today. The Changzhou center is a beacon of advanced manufacturing, housing six leading brands of the group: DISA, Wheelabrator, Strikowestofen, Italpresse Gauss, Simpson, and Monitizer. The quality of production mirrors that of Norican’s European counterparts, ensuring the highest standards in every aspect.
A standout feature of the two production facilities in Changzhou is their scale and efficiency, as they complete all equipment on site. This includes DISA molding lines, mixers, sand processing units, Simpson sand testing, Wheelabrator wheel & air blasting systems for perfect surfaces, Strikowestofen furnaces, and Italpresse die-casting cells. The centre is producing the full range of StrikoWestofen dosing furnaces and melting units in the same production hall as the huge variety of Wheelblast and Airblast solutions. In the second hall, the sand equipment and the DISAMATIC C3 model is manufactured alongside with High Pressure diecasting equipment as per European standards with CE certificates as consistency is paramount at Norican’s Changzhou site, underscoring the company’s dedication to excellence.
Embracing Digitalization and Sustainability
Digitalization is at the forefront of many societal, economic, and political activities in China, influencing and supporting Norican’s strategy. The manufacturing facility leverages advanced digital solutions to significantly enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Norican’s digital innovation, Monitizer, has transformed the management of machine information, transitioning from paper records to AI-powered digital systems. This shift aligns with Norican’s visionary goal of creating an almost human-free foundry. Young colleagues like Jeffery and Ocean are poised to be integral parts of this digital future.
Norican Group is one of the first groups committed to Science Based Targets Initiatives (SBTi) which leading the sustainable growth globally. Norican China not only practices low carbon production in its own workshop by using Sollar Power on the roof and Electrical Vehicles but also actively promotes SBTi concepts to customers and suppliers cross the value chain. It creates great common sustainable growth value in the market.
The Chinese government actively supports these initiatives, promoting artificial intelligence, digitalization, autonomous vehicles, and human-free production. This support bolsters Norican’s innovation capabilities and helps maintain its competitive edge. Norican’s brands are distinguished by their excellence and are positioned in the high-end market segment. The Norican managers recognize their advantage in quality and sustainability, understanding that excellence ultimately prevails.
Companies in China and worldwide appreciate and meet these international standards.
The Hype around Giga-/Megacastings
In addressing the strategic thinking of the company, Norican highlights the complexity of single-piece mega castings compared to multipart solutions, adapting to the demands of both the European and Chinese markets. The Smart platform Toggle Free (TFs) series of die-casting machines are covered from 1,400t to 11,000t clamping force, as flexibility is crucial and involves more than just size.
Developing Markets and 24/7 Service
Mr. Wei sees significant opportunities for Norican as it expands its presence across Asia, exploring new markets in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, in which Norican has created a new set up in SEA. This expansion presents a vast aftermarket field alongside traditional new business.
The visit consistently demonstrated the company’s strong focus on aftermarket and sustainability. Norican prioritizes high-end market segments to ensure sustainable success, combining European technology with responsive Chinese service, offering 24/7 availability. This approach is particularly vital as the Chinese market matures, with increasing emphasis on sustainability and quality. Our host takes great pride in his team, who understand that logistics and speed are critical, especially when it comes to spare parts.
We had an exceptional visit to Changzhou, delving into the manufacturing world of the Norican Group in China. Our heartfelt thanks to Wei Baohua, Senior Vice President China Northeast Aisa, and his team for their extraordinary hospitality and insightful exchanges. We return to Europe inspired by their commitment, inspiration, and opportunities in the transformation of the foundry industry, wishing them continued success!
