Lenovo, the renowned technology company, has accomplished a significant feat by manufacturing and delivering one million workstations and servers from its state-of-the-art, in-house manufacturing facility in Europe. Located in Budapest, Hungary, the facility commenced operations just over a year ago and has successfully catered to the needs of customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the facility was completed in a remarkable span of 10 months and officially opened its doors in June 2022. Designed to support customer requirements for server infrastructure, storage systems, and high-end PC workstations, the facility has witnessed a surge in operations over the past year, serving over 1,000 customers in 69 countries. It has also fostered collaboration and transparency by welcoming more than 180 customers to the site, strengthening relationships with Lenovo’s customer base in the EMEA region.
Expressing his views on the achievement, Szabolcs Zolyomi, Factory Site Leader at Lenovo, emphasized the significance of the Hungary facility as an extension of the company’s international manufacturing operations. He highlighted the economic potential it holds for both the private and public sectors in the country. Zolyomi also acknowledged the role of collaborative efforts with employees and customers, which enabled Lenovo to respond effectively to customer needs, enhance efficiency, and maintain control over product development and supply chain operations. Throughout this process, Lenovo remained committed to sustainability and actively supported the local community.
Since its inauguration, the facility has witnessed a 20% increase in its workforce, representing 15 different nationalities. Lenovo’s contribution to job creation in Hungary was recognized by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Trade, earning the company an award. Furthermore, through the Lenovo Foundation, the facility has partnered with the local community, offering volunteer work and technology support to schools. Additionally, it has collaborated with the Hungarian Red Cross Foundation for monthly blood donation drives.
Lenovo’s Budapest manufacturing facility was constructed with sustainability in mind. Various measures have been implemented to reduce energy consumption and optimize resource utilization. These include improving building heating isolation, installing lighting sensor systems, and utilizing waste heat from air compressors. The facility is also in the process of expanding its solar panel installation to generate 4 megawatts of power, equivalent to the energy produced by approximately 12 fuel tanker trucks of natural gas. The rerouting of heat within the production house and the utilization of cold air for cooling purposes during winter have further contributed to a 14% reduction in energy costs.
Aligned with its commitment to combating climate change, Lenovo aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by FY2049/50. Through innovative manufacturing processes like the low-temperature solder process, Lenovo has already witnessed a more than 90% reduction in CO2 emissions from shipments, primarily due to reduced freight miles facilitated by the facility’s central location in Europe.
In addition to its environmental endeavors, Lenovo continues to serve as the leading provider of supercomputers on the TOP500 list for the past five years. The Hungary facility has enabled the company to extend its capabilities in serving customers with large-scale supercomputing requirements. Notable institutions, such as the Barcelona Supercomputing Center in Spain, Leibniz Supercomputing Center in Germany, and SURF in the Netherlands, rely on Lenovo for their high-performance computing needs.
The Hungary facility is part of Lenovo’s extensive global manufacturing network, which comprises 35 sites across eight markets, catering to customers in 180 markets worldwide. Lenovo’s hybrid manufacturing model, combining in-house and contract manufacturing, has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in meeting customer demands.
With the successful production and delivery of one million units from its European manufacturing facility, Lenovo has solidified its position as a leader in the technology industry while prioritizing sustainability, customer collaboration, and community engagement.
