10 year anniversary in Neuhausen

American toolmaker Kennametal’s European HQ recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in Canton Schaffhausen. The business now employs over 40 staff here.

Time flies and it’s now 10 years since US toolmaker Kennametal embarked on its quest to find the right location for its European HQ. And it struck gold in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, situated by the famous Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen.  In fact, the process was wrapped up faster than anticipated. The benefits of the new location were immediately persuasive: proximity to Zurich international airport, high-quality and competitively-priced office premises and attractive corporation tax rates. «Throughout the whole process of setting up here, Kennametal received constant support from the Economic Promotion Team in Canton Schaffhausen. That was an enormous help and made it easy to take our first steps here». Those are the words of the current Vice President and Managing Director EMEA, Joost Berting. Kennametal’s European HQ was opened in Neuhausen am Rheinfall in July 2005 and employed around 25 staff. The headcount in Schaffhausen has now risen to 40 specialist staff who form a vital part of the global operations of the Kennametal concern.

Birthday Party on the Rhine

To celebrate its 10th anniversary in the summer, Kennametal invited the whole team to drinks and a BBQ at a local outdoor swimming pool along the River Rhine. «We recognise that the growth and success of our business depends on our personnel»,Joost Berting is keen to emphasise. «We really appreciate the contribution to maintaining our competitiveness which our staff in Neuhausen provide».

European HQ is part of a truly global player

Kennametal Inc. was founded in the USA in 1938 by metallurgist Philip M. McKenna. The company manufactures hard-wearing carbide cutting tools. Kennametal has a market presence in around 60 countries around the world and supplies a wide range of sectors including aviation, space flight, machine tool manufacturers, the automotive sector, highway construction and mining as well as the energy sector. In all, the company employs 13,500 staff.

Kennametal Office Neuhausen am Rheinfall

About the author

Christoph Schärrer is head of Economic Promotion of the Canton of Schaffhausen. Schaffhausen is a dynamic and flourishing commercial region in the heart of Europe and a prime location for international and innovative businesses. The Economic Promotion of the Canton of Schaffhausen is your expert partner for all questions about locating and doing business in Schaffhausen and is looking forward hearing from you.