European manufacturers confident in future

Leading compaction equipment manufacturer Bomag has recently broken ground for a new 12,600 sqm drum factory – an extension of its main manufacturing facility in Boppard, Germany. The €21.5m investment in this facility is the largest single investment in Bomag’s 55-year history, and will double capacity once the factory is completed in 2013.

Modern production facilities will include use of robots for applications such as washing or spray-painting the drums, greater use of automation and use of driverless transport systems.

While production technology is a key element of the new factory, improvements will also be the result of smart design, such as locating component storage closer to the locations where the components are used in production and improving integration with other parts of the existing factory. While efficiency is a key element of the new factory, the opening will see employment increase by up to 160 jobs.

While Bomag is in the early stages of a new factory, Wacker Neuson recently commenced production at its new compact equipment factory in Linz, Austria. This facility represented a €65m investment by the company.

The new factory replaces an existing facility in the same area of Austria, and is manufacturing equipment up to 14t operating weight including excavators, compact loaders and site dumpers. A significant driver in the need for the new factory is the agreement with Caterpillar to produce its mini excavators up to 3t operating weight, but Wacker Neuson is also experiencing strong demand for product badged with its own brand.

The mini excavators are distinctive for their Vertical Digging System, which levels the slew ring (and thus the cab and digging arm) when working on side slopes, providing increased stability, ease of digging vertical trenches and increased vertical reach.

More information: www.bomag.com / www.wackerneuson.com