The new competence centre at WIKA Switzerland provides about 7,000 square metres of additional production and office space. In particular, the injection moulding department was extended, alongside improvements to equipment construction and the turning shop.
Equipped for future years
Two turbulent months preceded this celebration. In November 2019 ? slightly greater than a year after the ground-breaking ceremony ? this building, measuring 120 metres long and 48 metres wide, was completed to the stage where production operations could possibly be set up inside it. Sticking to a very tight schedule, inside a matter of weeks, three departments were dismantled at their old location, transported with their new site and were then commissioned. Plastics production was the first ever to enter service, with its gigantic injection moulding machines, each one weighing many tons.
Before schedule, the toolmaking shop left its old location, making rapid strides to set up itself in the generously proportioned new building, and turning the long-cherished layout dreams into reality. Finally, the turning shop moved into its new home. Scarcely had Wild vanished from their old location than several assembly lines, previously squashed into a very confined space, took ownership of these orphaned premises. Walls were torn down, new ones were built, floors were painted, machines were fine-tuned to perfection and were polished until they gleamed.
Sustainable use of energy
WIKA Switzerland is committed to sustainability also it makes full use of the power of the sun, the bottom water and of heat emissions from machinery. There exists a photovoltaic system on the top with an annual output of 355,000 kWh. Using ground water to cool the machines, and using the heat radiated by those same machines for heating achieves a big reduction in power consumption. WIKA Switzerland is quite well equipped for future years using its new competence centre.
Note
More info on WIKA Switzerland are available on the Swiss website (in German). Our nations can be found on the WIKA website.