Norton
Motorcycles has announced the completion of its new global headquarters. The
all-new facility houses state-of-the-art manufacturing capability and the
company’s new global design and R&D hub. It forms a key part of Norton’s
strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming the world-leader in luxury
hand-crafted motorcycles.
Within
just 18 months of acquiring the iconic British marque, TVS Motor has overseen
the creation of its world-class facility in Solihull, West Midlands, UK paving
the way to design and produce an exciting new generation of motorcycles built
with world-leading manufacturing standards.
Sudarshan
Venu, Joint Managing Director, TVS Motor Company “The opening of the new headquarters
represents a significant step forward for Norton Motorcycles and is a proud
moment for everyone. We are creating the foundations for a sustainable
long-term future for the Norton marque.
“We
are setting out to create a bold future for the company, our employees, our
customers and our partners that lives up to the highest expectations ,enabling
Norton to once again become the real global force its legacy deserves.”
Robert
Hentschel, CEO, Norton Motorcycles.“The new Norton Motorcycles headquarters is
a true embodiment of this iconic British marque. The facility is home to
design, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing, and support departments, as
well as the highly skilled production team overseeing the build of our new
generation of motorcycles. It is the perfect platform to re-energise our
businessas we lead the Norton brand to onward success where it will play a key
role in the future of mobility.
“This
investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the motorcycles we build.
We will not compromise on quality, and we continue to work alongside every
supplier to ensure that our high standards are always met. With this new HQ
opening, Norton is now fit for the future – creating an innovative and
sustainable business model which will see us producing world-class motorcycles
that are true to the unrivalled legacy of Norton.”
The
new Norton leadership, together with TVS Motor Company, has conducted a
wide-ranging review of Norton Motorcycles operations, resulting in new
appointments and processes, specifically in engineering, design and
manufacturing to ensure that the highest quality standards are met. The
headquarters is creating over a hundred of new high-skilled jobs (and more in
upcoming years) and will be able to build around 8,000 motorcycles a year.
As
part of the new manufacturing process, every single component of every new
Norton motorcycle will be evaluated in a new quality-testing laboratory to
ensure the highest build quality. Within the laboratory are inspection rooms,
testing areas including destruction testing and a rolling road. A customer
reception and showroom, service workshop, and office are also housed at the new
Headquarters.
The
Norton manufacturing facility has been engineered to be highly sustainable and
to minimise waste. The result is an intelligently engineered solution using
flexible components that mean that Norton Motorcycles can expand and evolve,
within the new space. The build used numerous sustainable and rapid build
techniques on the project, the components of which are almost 50%
reconfigurable as a proportion of total construction cost – in order to
increase special flexibility.
Julian
Lipscombe, Director, Bennetts Associates “It has been a great privilege to play
a key role in the rebirth of a global icon.
We have created an environment for Norton that embodies their commitment
to design quality, innovation and sustainability. A project ethos from the outset of ‘simple
things done beautifully’ has resulted in a refined solution that could be
delivered at great speed.”
The
new facility is supported by West Midlands Growth partnership, the UK
Government, and is a shining example of Anglo-Indian cooperation. Focused on
bringing a renowned British motorcycle marque back to world-class levels of
global business performance, Norton Motorcycles has defined its new brand
approach that prepares it for an exciting and sustainable future.