Sandvik to set up research centre in Pune

Sandvik Asia Limited (Sandvik), the wholly-owned India subsidiary of the $8-billion Swedish group Sandvik, on Wednesday announced its plans to set up a research and development centre in India.

The new R&D modeling centre to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2008 will strengthen Sandvik's competence in Materials Technology, a press release said.

A new building equipped with state-of-the-art modeling systems and connectivity with Sweden will house the centre on SAL premises in Pune.

To be Sandvik Materials Technology's first international R&D extension outside Sweden, it will complement and supplement projects of central R&D in Sweden as an integral part of the group's research efforts.

Peter Gossas, president, Sandvik Materials Technology, said, "India ranks high in research capabilities both from competence and cost point of view. The new centre in Pune will showcase the local representation of modeling experts in Asia, where the market is surging with a rapid pace."

Sandvik's managing director and president Hakan Kingstedt said, "The new R&D centre will utilize the research infrastructure in Pune and elsewhere in India. Sandvik will be looking at establishing India as a global hub for knowledge sourcing by starting this project."