2026 has begun, and transformation across all industries is accelerating. Sustainability, digitalization, and talent development are now firmly at the top of the manufacturing agenda, redefining the way companies operate and compete. Against this backdrop, Helen Blomqvist, President of Sandvik Coromant, reflects on more than 80 years of market leadership in the cutting tools industry and the forces that will shape the years to come.
We build the future on the foundations of our heritage
Sandvik Coromant's position as a global leader in cutting tools and manufacturing solutions is rooted in its history, but it is also firmly oriented towards the future. At a time when transformation is at the top of the global agenda, we actively support customers around the world, helping them navigate change and seize new opportunities.
Leadership in a changing world requires clarity of direction without losing sight of our roots. Even with a strong brand and a proud history, we cannot rest on our laurels; we must strive to grow and be effective today, while simultaneously transforming our capabilities to remain the undisputed market leader tomorrow.
A key part of this approach is creating a culture of learning. Psychological safety and curiosity are essential, and it's crucial to create an environment where people feel safe to experiment with new ideas. High-performing and empowered teams, with a strong customer-focused mindset, are at the heart of how we translate strategy into action. Eliminating the fear of failure, combined with curiosity and a strong customer focus, is essential to moving forward.
A sector in full transformation
The manufacturing sector is experiencing a rapid technological leap. But it's important to recognize that this represents an opportunity, rather than a threat. The sector is undergoing significant change, with customers at different stages of the journey. Sustainability, digitalization, severe cost pressures along the entire value chain, and the skills gap are the trends characterizing this shift.
This is particularly evident in sectors like aerospace, where growth is driven by the demand for lightweight structures, next-generation engines, and greater fuel efficiency. These requirements are accelerating the adoption of advanced materials like titanium and heat-resistant superalloys, pushing manufacturers to invest in more sophisticated processing technologies.
Market forecasts, such as those detailed in the Deloitte 2026 Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook, point to a new era of growth, with global aircraft production accelerating thanks to recovering passenger demand, intensified fleet modernization, and the beginning of OEMs' clearing of long-standing backlogs. At the same time, defense and space programs continue to expand, creating sustained demand for high-performance materials and precision components. Together, these forces are driving one of the strongest production cycles the aerospace industry has seen in over a decade.
AI as a strategic driver for people and production
Artificial intelligence is moving beyond experimentation to become an essential tool. Across industries, leaders are integrating AI into operations, supply chains, purchasing, and quality control.
Sandvik Coromant has recognized this for several years and has a dedicated AI team focused on getting the most out of the technology. The organization isn't alone in this: data from Xometry's Manufacturing Outlook 2026 reveals that 82% of executives consider AI a key growth driver, with nearly half already reporting significant ROI.
Artificial intelligence has moved beyond the hype stage to become a fundamental tool for manufacturing, and its adoption is expanding in critical areas such as supply chain, purchasing, and quality control. Looking to the future, we can expect AI systems to be fully integrated into smart factory operations. Machines will learn and adapt in real time, intelligently optimizing production parameters, reducing waste, and proactively scheduling maintenance.
Looking ahead, the manufacturers that will succeed in 2026 will be those that treat AI not as a standalone technology, but as a strategic capability woven into culture, processes, and leadership, leveraging data and automation to unlock new levels of efficiency, resilience, and customer value. Used responsibly and transparently, AI will be a critical driver of productivity, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness across the entire manufacturing ecosystem.
Sustainability translated into action
It's difficult to look at the future of manufacturing, both short and long-term, without considering its impact on our planet. "We can choose to lead or be led to ruin," said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the opening of the COP30 climate conference held in Belem, Brazil, in November. "Choose speed, scale, and solidarity. Choose to make this moment a turning point. Stand up for science. Stand up for justice and future generations," he urged.
His words reflect a truth the industry can no longer ignore: sustainability is not optional, but a determining force in the way manufacturers operate. What matters now is the ability to translate ambition into concrete, scalable initiatives that deliver real environmental and commercial value, especially at a time when the prices of critical raw materials like tungsten and other metals are rising sharply, putting further pressure on manufacturers' cost structures.
At Sandvik Coromant, this shift is already underway. One example is our buyback program, which allows customers to sell used carbide tools back to us for recycling and circular production. In a market where raw material prices are rising significantly, circular solutions like this help both customers and suppliers reduce exposure to volatile input costs while strengthening long-term resource security.
Supported by a digital portal, the program simplifies logistics, pricing, and CO2 reporting, while reducing the need for virgin raw materials. It transforms circularity from a concept to a practical, everyday process in the workshop. We are also developing similar digitalized processes for our remanufacturing offering, enabling customers to maximize their inventory and leverage easy-to-use self-service platforms, improving efficiency, extending tool life, and supporting margin resilience in an increasingly cost-constrained environment.
Another important initiative is the Sustainability Analyzer, which we launched in 2025. Through this tool, our team can clearly demonstrate the CO2 reductions customers can achieve by using more efficient processing solutions, making sustainability measurable and actionable in investment and production decisions.
Looking ahead to 2026, sustainability will be increasingly data-driven and integrated into core manufacturing workflows. Customers will expect transparent carbon metrics along with performance and costs, and suppliers will be judged on their ability to support decarbonization across the entire value chain. Digital tools will play a central role in enabling this shift, transforming environmental impact into a shared and quantifiable responsibility.
Looking to the future
Customers are already starting to expect more than just the products they buy. They're looking for solutions that create value through strategic partnerships, digital innovation, and a shared commitment to sustainable manufacturing.
Sandvik Coromant is strongly positioned for the future, combining today's performance with tomorrow's transformation, serving as both a natural partner in industrial matters and an employer of choice. Contributing to learning, innovation, and building strong teams is the hallmark of success.
Sandvik Coromant
Together with customers and partners, Sandvik Coromant paves the way to a sustainable future and provides tooling solutions to mechanical engineering industries worldwide. Over eighty years of practical experience have allowed us to build a wealth of knowledge in metal cutting and machining. This expertise transforms every challenge into an opportunity for innovation, collaboration, and cutting-edge solutions. Our goal is to pursue positive change by promoting sustainability, efficiency, and growth to shape a future where innovation is at the forefront. Part of the global industrial engineering group Sandvik, Sandvik Coromant is committed to building the future, together with its customers.
Digital monitoring improves motor reliability in a cement manufacturing plant
WEG and Nuova Ites implement WEGSCAN solution to improve efficiency Nuova Ites Srl, a leading European company specializing in the repair and overhaul of rotating electrical machinery, recently partnered with industrial equipment manufacturer WEG to improve operational monitoring of one of the key industrial motors at a cement plant. As part of its ongoing commitment to reliability and performance, Nuova Ites installed the WEGSCAN electric motor monitoring system, a cutting-edge solution developed by WEG to monitor motor performance and identify potential issues before they impact operations. Nuova Ites, a specialist in the repair and overhaul of rotating electrical machinery across Europe, with over 800 wind turbines fully serviced in collaboration with leading operators such as Vestas, Enel, and ERG Renew, identified the need for continuous motor monitoring in a high-load application. In this case, a 132 kW, 2-pole WEG special series motor was coupled to an Atlas Copco compressor, forming a critical component of the customer's production process. Performance and reliability in this mixed-equipment configuration were crucial, but visibility into the motor's condition was limited. To address this issue, WEG supplied and installed a complete monitoring solution consisting of the Cassia X2000 Gateway and the WEGSCAN 100 unit. Following a WEG technical visit to the Nuova Ites workshop in late 2025, the equipment was ordered and delivered in early January 2026. The system was configured on-site to meet the specific application requirements and integrated into the monitoring processes of both Nuova Ites and the cement plant. The WEGSCAN system is designed to support real-time monitoring of multiple operating parameters, including vibration signatures, temperature trends, and other mechanical and electrical health indicators. Its dual-access capability allows engineers to view data from a standard PC interface or smartphone, facilitating remote condition monitoring and immediate performance visibility. Supporting the monitoring infrastructure is the Cassia X2000 Gateway, which serves as the system's communications hub. The gateway enables reliable wireless connectivity between the WEGSCAN device and the wider network, ensuring that operating data from the engine can be transmitted and accessed in real time. Designed for demanding conditions, the gateway operates over a wide temperature range of −40 to 65°C, ensuring stable communication between sensors and monitoring systems in harsh operating environments. By acquiring continuous operational data, Nuova Ites is now able to identify early signs of abnormal behavior and proactively plan maintenance, helping to reduce unplanned downtime, optimize service interventions, and improve overall energy efficiency. This level of insight is particularly valuable in environments where the costs of downtime and reactive repairs are high. "For Nuova Ites, the monitoring system has become an essential tool in its service portfolio, helping to integrate condition-based maintenance into the standard workflow and offering customers greater reliability and full lifecycle support," said Fabrizio Arosio, Head of Drive and Automation Systems at WEG Italia. “With the ability to more closely monitor critical engines, the company is better equipped to anticipate problems, optimize maintenance planning, and provide data-driven insights that add measurable value to asset performance and business continuity.” Digital monitoring technologies like WEGSCAN also help make industrial operations more sustainable. By providing continuous information on engine performance under real-world operating conditions, operators can keep equipment closer to its optimum efficiency point. In energy-intensive industries like cement production, improving the efficiency and lifespan of critical rotating equipment plays an important role in reducing overall resource consumption and supporting more sustainable plant operations.
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