Paving the way for autonomous manufacturing
In the quiet village of Lottum, Netherlands, the Sandvik brand Seco is leading the way in autonomous manufacturing. Under the guidance of Production Unit Manager Bert-Thijs Theunissen the factory is undergoing a major transformation, aiming for 80 percent autonomous production within a couple of years.
This goes far beyond machine-level automation. The initiative includes automating the transport of both manufacturing orders and individual products, while connecting all systems and machines through real-time data communication.
“What we are developing doesn’t really exist yet,” says Theunissen. “But we believe it’s a game changer – not just for us, but for the whole industry.”
The benefits of autonomous manufacturing
The case for change is compelling. Today, workers at the site handle products over 9 million times per year, with 7 million of those actions carrying a safety risk. They also walk over 19 million meters annually to move tools between steps. With autonomous systems in place, the site expects to reduce lead times by 60 percent, energy use per tool by 20 percent, and cost of goods sold by 22 percent.
Beyond efficiency, the transformation has a strong sustainability focus. The site plans to become the first net-zero factory within Sandvik by 2028 and is aiming for Lighthouse status from the World Economic Forum.
“We’re not just building an autonomous factory,” Theunissen says. “We’re building the new standard: a factory that runs itself today and knows how to improve itself tomorrow.”
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