Sapa: Automating production to stay ahead in Europe

Sapa has signed an agreement with the international flooring solutions company BerryAlloc for the delivery of aluminium skirtings for BerryAlloc’s wet room panels and laminated floor products.

Sapa will deliver 37.5 million skirtings from its extrusion plant in Magnor, Norway.

“I find it exciting that automation and the smart use of technology can make it profitable to move production closer to our customers and business operations,” says general manager John Vonli of BerryAlloc Norway. “We developed the new aluminium locking systems here in Norway. The new machines at Alloc and Sapa have been developed and built by Tronrud in Hønefoss. This is a good example of modern Norwegian industrial cooperation.

“We chose Sapa as the supplier and manufacturer of the aluminium parts for our flooring and wall panels because of their competitive price. We also see a great advantage in being geographically close to our suppliers.”

Sapa’s first deliveries to BerryAlloc – profiles used in wall coverings for kitchens and bathrooms – left the Magnor plant in February. In March, the plant began shipping aluminium extrusions for BerryAlloc’s high-tech laminate flooring. Thanks to its high-pressure surface, the flooring is suitable for use in high-traffic areas like hotels, restaurants, shops, offices and airport terminals. The new skirtings enable the entire floor to be installed in record time.

As part of the move to Sapa’s plant to Magnor – BerryAlloc had been receiving its aluminium products from a supplier in China – Sapa invested in new manufacturing equipment from the Norwegian supplier Tronrud Engineering. The new sorting machine can handle 4,500 profiles per hour by cutting and sorting profiles at an extremely fast pace. Sintef Raufoss Manufacturing has contributed expertise in industrialization and project management.

“Companies that compete internationally need to have world-class production and logistics. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a dynamic manufacturer like BerryAlloc and show that automation and high productivity can make us competitive also in high-cost countries,” says managing director Henrik Futtrup (pictured with BerryAlloc's John Vonli) of Sapa Profiles in Magnor.

President & CEO Egil Hogna says Sapa has strong faith in Norwegian industry. "We see that many customers, here in Norway and elsewhere in Europe and North America, want to be closer to their suppliers,” he says. “It is possible to win in global competition and to build efficient and profitable industry by concentrating on what we are good at and by investing in new tools and employee development. Using our knowledge and talented people, we can develop manufacturing solutions and improve material use in production.”