The site, situated in the suburb of Heatherbrae just north of Newcastle, will be an integrated manufacturing, research and development and distribution centre, combining six Hunter region factories and service centres into a single operation.

The company has set the official opening date for March 28 and will host a press conference with Sandvik president and chief executive Olof Faxander.

Sandvik Mining Australian president Rowan Melrose will also take questions at the grand opening.

The 16-hectare, 600-employee facility is expected to generate a total annual turnover of $200-300 million for on-site activities including $40 million per year for manufacturing.

Sandvik’s LS range of underground coal mining load-haul-dumps are used in Australian and New Zealand underground coal mines.

The centre will be equipped with a modern test track to trial and assess new products, a gym and a main office to host sales, R&D and management.

Sandvik said the centre would provide a “one-stop shop” for a wide range of products and services and also consolidate the re-branching of its various acquisitions under the Sandvik name.

The site also incorporates a 132kWh solar system which provides the main office building with 50% of its energy.

Sandvik says the building-integrated photovoltaic solar system is believed to be the largest of its kind in New South Wales and the second largest in Australia.