The Norican Group has a very modern production center in Changzhou, China. The state-of-the-art production facilities are proof of Norican's tireless efforts for sustainability, innovation, research and performance at the forefront in the foundry industry.
Changzhou is the heart of Norican China
With a presence in Changzhou for 27 years, Norican has grown from a modest team of three employees to over 300 dedicated professionals today. Based in Changzhou, a dynamic city with a population of 5 million people, Norican Engineering & Manufacturing in China provides a comprehensive range of engineering and manufacturing services. A beacon of modern engineering is the Changzhou centre, which contains six of the Group's leading brands: DISA, Wheelabrator, StrikoWestofen, ItalPresseGauss, Simpson, and Monitizer. Mirroring that of Norican's European counterparts, the production quality ensures the highest standards in all aspects.
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 surface finsihing, StrikoWestofen furnaces, and ItalPresse die-casting cells. The center produces 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.
Advancing 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 is leading sustainable growth globally. In China Norican not only practices low carbon production in its own workshop by using Solar 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.
There is a hype of 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 cover from 1,400t to 11,000t clamping force, as flexibility is crucial and involves more than just size.
Market development and 24/7 Service
Wei Baohua, Senior Vice President China Northeast Asia of Norican, sees significant opportunities for the company as it expands its presence across Asia, exploring new markets in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, in which Norican has created a new region in SEA. This expansion presents a vast aftermarket field alongside traditional new business.
Norican China's focus is on the 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.
