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New mechanical division manager oversees move to Leeds

09 October, 2010

UPDATED: Simon Nadin has been appointed general manager of Siemens Industry’s Mechanical Drives (MD) division, replacing Nick Garthwaite, who has left the Siemens group. Nadin, who has been with Siemens since 1998, was previously based at the company’s drives factory in Congleton. He took up his new post in July.

One of Nadin’s first tasks has been to relocate the division’s manufacturing facility from Bradford to a new purpose-built factory in Leeds, with more space and improved facilities (below).

Since Siemens acquired Flender’s gear and gear-motor business for €1.2bn in 2005, it has been investing in the operation. The new 4,645m2 (50,000ft2) factory has 30% more production space and a 150% increase in working height, making it easier to install 25-tonne cranes and to optimise the production cell layouts, as well as materials and handling flow.

The new site, in Stourton, will be used to assemble gears, geared motors, motors and couplings for general industrial use and for renewable energy technologies such as wind and wave power.

“Siemens is committed to manufacturing in the UK and the mechanical gears aspect is a key element in the drive train,” says Nadin (above). “This new facility will not only enhance our manufacturing capability; it will also be used to train apprentices and hold technical seminars to benefit others in the industry along with Siemens partners.

“The MD business is very well established in the UK, with highly respected customers and world-leading products in gear units, geared motors and couplings,” he adds. “We have some exciting new developments in emerging and green technologies, along with increasing synergy with other brand-leading Siemens products and systems.

“Our new factory in Leeds,” he continues, “will help us improve the value proposition to our customers through enhanced product benefits and higher levels of service.”

Nadin believes that with the right strategy and investment it is possible to be successful in the current economic climate. “A relentless commitment to process improvement is an essential part of our business DNA,” he states. “Without this focus, we open the door to competition.”

Siemens is benchmarking energy use, water consumption, waste management and recycling at the new site. Employees will have flexible working days to avoid Leeds traffic congestion and some are cycling to work or using public transport. These factors are also being benchmarked to measure future improvements.

The factory is due to be opened officially in early 2011.