Comatec Group, Customer Magazine 2/2011
news
Sub-zero quality control
Metso Automation
Welding expert
Anna-Mari H채m채l채inen Nordkalk Lappeenranta
Winter conditions impact train design Floorball
Finnish champions Koovee C Junior Girls
news
Table of Contents
Editorial
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Sub-zero quality control – Metso Automation Oy
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Anna-Mari Hämäläinen – welding expert
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Nordkalk – Lappeenranta
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Floorball Finnish champions – Koovee C Junior Girls .................................................
Winter conditions impact train design
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Lappeenranta office has newest Comatec Group personnel
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Introducing new Comatec personnel – Sales manager Miikka Rii nen – HR manager Tuula Korkeemaa
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Comatec news – New office in Tallinn – New office in Lappeenranta – Arto Timperi, D.Tech., joins Mobile Machinery ................................................. 2 ComatecNews
Editorial
I
am wri ng this at my holiday co age in Heinävesi, eastern Finland. It is 11.11 pm on Friday 11.11.11 and, according to the news, numerous couples around the world have got married on this day. Today the Group’s management has also met for its management days at the Mobilia Automobile and Road Museum and to review the business plans and budget for 2012. Preparing a budget for the coming year is difficult, for the message given repeatedly in the news for several months now has been that a downturn in the economy, a recession or even a slump is on the way. The underlying, largely hidden reasons for all this are largely due to the reckless management of their economies by the Mediterranean countries and the resul ng debt problems. It is feared that a financial crisis similar to that in 2008 will sweep across the en re world if correc ve measures are not taken in me. Or banks will go under if their capital is not boosted by the public sector. There are also fears that unemployment will increase sharply, and people otherwise will not be doing very well. And food will be more expensive than it used to be.
The financial year now drawing to a close has been one of the be er years for the Group, both financially and in its business opera ons. Net sales will show growth of almost 30 per cent from the previous year. The financial result of business opera ons, using whichever indicator, is clearly posi ve. Direct exports have developed posi vely for the third year in succession. We opened new offices in the autumn in Tallinn and Lappeenranta. The number of personnel and the order book have also grown, and we have not had to lay-off personnel. Facing these contradictory messages we are preparing forecasts for the coming financial year. What should we do and what should we believe? During its history the company has gone through two completely different deep recessions. But it has made it through them, taking a bigger or smaller ba ering, but s ll full of life and full of confidence in its own abili es and knowhow, and in a be er future. It is good to remember and be aware that running a business is a marathon not a hundred metre sprint. On the budget day, listening to the views and expecta ons of managers for the year ahead, it was possible to sense clearly their strong faith in what they were doing, in their knowhow, and their desire to develop this. I am very happy to be able to state that the coming year, despite all the fuss made by the media, will be a healthy year of strong growth for the company, and for all of us. We are making good progress in building a new, be er and more compe ve Group that employs outstanding engineers full of innova on and ini a ve, primarily in Finland but also now in Estonia. I would like to thank our customers and our personnel for the past year and wish everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
So it all doesn’t sound very encouraging. And these fears are very understandable as the media day a er day pile on this anxiety. And yet, at the same me the real economy – at least for the me being – is moving in a completely different direc on.
Publisher
Edi ng and implementa on
Comatec Group, Kalevan e 7 C, FI-33100 Tampere, tel. +358 29 000 2000 www.comatec.fi
Comatec Group Taina Syrjänen, tel. +358 40 5931 259, taina.syrjanen@comatec.fi
Cover: Sub-zero quality control, Metso Automa on Oy
Aulis Asikainen Comatec Group CEO
Feedback, subscrip ons, cancella ons Taina Syrjänen, tel. +358 40 5931 259, taina.syrjanen@comatec.fi
Taina Syrjänen Kirsi Huhtala
ComatecNews 3
Sub-zero quality control Tomi Junnila from Metso Automa on Oy and Pekka Jaakola from Insinööritoimisto Comatec Oy show with pride the cryogenic test laboratory at Metso’s new technology centre. The whole factory is new. Metso Automa on’s move from Roihupelto to the site by the Vanha Porvoon e Road in Vantaa was completed in autumn 2011. The new premises have a floor area of 23, 000 square metres. Pekka Jaakola headed up the Comatec team that designed the instrumenta on, the Siemens S7 automa on system and the Intouch opera ng system for the low temperature test laboratory, and the hatches for the low temperature test tanks. Comatec’s work also included prepara on of procurement, supervision of installa on, and commissioning.
Valves must work – and keep working The Vantaa factory manufactures process valves for the oil and gas, pulp and paper, refining, energy and chemical industries. Valves come in so many different types, sizes, materials and pressure classes that most of them are tailored to customer requirements. “Customer needs determine the requirements for the valves,” states Junnila. Metso Automa on also makes the regulators and posi oners for adjus ng the valves. The tes ng is part of the quality control chain. Pressure tes ng in accordance with the standards is carried out internally on all products. On some of them NDT or other addi onal tests are carried out in accordance with customer requirements.
Tests ensure quality The low temperature tes ng area is totally isolated from the rest of the factory. Liquid nitrogen is used to cool the valves and this must not vaporize in other parts of the factory. Metso Automa on tests valves at the temperatures laid down in the customer’s requirements. The lowest test temperature is -196 degrees cen grade, which is the boiling
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Pekka Jaakola, Tomi Junnila and Timo Brinck eaxmining a 20-inch valve that has passed the low temperature test.
The surface of a valve tested at -196 degrees cen grade is so cold that the moisture in the air freezes before it touches the surface. On a hot summer day the moisture turns to snow.
- Metso Automation Oy point of liquid nitrogen. Metal contracts in the cold. Valves have to close absolutely ghtly even in the toughest condi ons. The tes ng is part of quality assurance, as are the pressure tests.
Test tanks in the rock The valve is submerged in a four-metre deep, 55 cubic metre tank made of stainless steel that has been sunk into the floor. The rock has been excavated to a depth of five metres for the tanks. “In the larger tank we can, for example, test 100 inch bu erfly valves,” explains Junnila. The oxygen balance in the test chamber is monitored carefully. If there is too much nitrogen in the air, the door to the factory closes automa cally, the outside door is opened and the area is ven lated. Comatec has designed the automated systems so that they take into account the movement of the gantry crane. As well carrying out low temperature tes ng, the test chamber can be used for cold trea ng large items. “When we are not carrying out our own low temperature tes ng, we could well take on the cold trea ng of large items under contract. I know that it is hard to find such big tanks for cold trea ng,” says Junnila. “We have excellent facili es for that here.”
Effec ve coopera on Metso Automa on is very happy to work in partnership with Comatec. Encouraging experience of Comatec’s exper se and reliability over a long period has made a posi ve impression on project manager Tomi Junnila. “We have worked together with Comatec for a long me. Our experiences have been very posi ve.”
Size gives credibility Junnila thinks that Comatec is a sufficiently large and credible supplier. “Comatec has been flexible and provided us with the experts we have needed in each situa on.” In a large company, nothing depends
Even a 100-inch valve fits in the 4-metre deep, 55 cubic metre tank. Comatec has designed the hatches on top of the test tanks.
completely on one person, which creates credibility. Two experts at Comatec worked on the cold laboratory project for 1.5 years. Metso would not have been able to allocate personnel itself for the design work. “Indepth Siemens knowhow was another factor,” explains Junnila. “This was a really challenging project because of the extremely low temperatures used in the tanks,” says Pekka Jaakola, department manager, electricity and automa on at Comatec.
Low temperature tes ng process • Equipment is tested at room temperature • Equipment is cooled (may take one day) • Equipment is pressurized with helium and checked for leaks • Equipment is operated, repea ng input and checking • The equipment is li ed up and the valve casing is checked on the outside to ensure that the helium does not leak out
Metso Automa on Oy Metso is a global supplier of technology and services in the process industries, including mining, construc on, recycling, pulp and paper, power and oil and gas. Its 29,000 professionals in over 50 countries deliver sustainability and profitability to customers worldwide. Metso’s automa on product line develops and supplies valve solu ons for the process industries, process automa on and informa on management systems and applica on networks, maintenance monitoring systems, and expert and life cycle services. Metso manufactures each year thousands of process valves for the oil and gas, paper and pulp, refining, energy and chemical industries. The Neles product brand has a history going back more than 50 years. About 800 people work at the new valve technology centre in Vantaa.
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Anna-Mari Hämäläinen – welding expert Comatec supports its personnel in their professional development Anna-Mari Hämäläinen, M.Sc.(Mech.Eng.), has worked at Comatec since March 2008. Her master’s thesis was on welding, specialising in welding metallurgy. Anna-Mari is currently working and studying at the same me for the Interna onal Welding Specialist qualifica on. She aims to qualify in spring 2012. ”I have enjoyed working at Comatec,” says Anna-Mari. “I have been able to develop at my work. The company has also supported me in further training, as is shown in my a endance on the IWS course. I think highligh ng welding exper se would offer engineering companies a useful market niche. ”Requirements in the sector are con nuously increasing, so at Comatec we have given par cular priority to developing expert services,” says Ar u Lai nen, department manager for expert services. “The qualifica on that Anna-Mari is currently studying for will reinforce our offering. Arto Toivonen has previously obtained interna onal welding inspec on accredita on (IWI-C). The interna onal IWS course, accepted as a European standard, qualifies a person for the work of a welding co-ordinator. From the designer’s viewpoint the course provides exper se when designing welded structures. “An expert designer is able to take into account different materials and their proper es when welding. Welding creates a high temperature which affects the proper es of a material. Cold formed steels, for example, are not suitable for a welded structure if the aim is to take advantage of the proper es obtained through cold forming. Welding destroys the benefits obtained through cold forming,” explains Anna-Mari. The use of robot welding has become widespread today, as companies aim to improve produc vity and ensure consistent quality. “If a product has been designed for hand welding, then usually it is not suitable for robot welding as it is. An expert can see when a product needs to be redesigned,” states Anna-Mari. “Today welded products are compe ng with cheap imports. So the quality of the welding is what can provide the dis nguishing factor. But the quality of welding produc on is o en not followed through right to the end, or people are not able to iden fy the actual source of problems that arise in welding,” says Anna-Mari.
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“Considering the size of the sector that u lises welding, the number of people with for example IWS qualifica ons is s ll
What is interna onal welding specialist (IWS) training? When a company needs a welding co-ordinator with an interna onally accredited qualifica on in quality assurance for welding, Interna onal Welding Specialist (IWS) training is the answer. A co-ordinator is responsible for developing welding produc on, for seeing that welders are suitably qualified, for drawing up welding instruc ons and for overseeing produc on. Anna-Mari Hämäläinen is taking part in a course arranged by AEL.
Anna-Mari Hämäläinen is taking part in a course arranged by AEL.
quite small. Comatec once again shows its pioneering spirit as it has also given priority to this specialist field and can offer exper se in welding as well. Mechanical engineering is s ll very much a male domain, so inevitably the ques on arises of how Anna-Mari finds working in a male-dominated field. “I don’t really have a par cular opinion about this since I have nothing to compare it with. I can’t say if my gender ma ers, since I don’t know how older men treat young male colleagues who have just graduated. Some mes I feel that some of the men I meet in my work don’t know how to relate to me in a natural way, but that may just be because they are not used to me. Usually these situa ons have sorted themselves out once we have got to know each other be er.
Con nuous personnel training and professional development is vital for Comatec Indepth knowhow is a major compe ve factor in an expert organisa on. The ability to cooperate and sharing knowhow also become increasingly important when experts in different fields are working on the same projects but are based in different loca ons.
training packages for mechanical, electrical and automa on engineers. We also support personnel pursuing their own studies, like Anna-Mari,” explains Tuula. “Strategically important training would for example be coaching in project skills for different target groups, such as project managers, project designers and other personnel working on projects.”
“One of Comatec’s values is con nuous learning, and we are constantly ac ve in developing the skills and knowhow of our personnel,” says HR manager Tuula Korkeemaa.
”I had a summer job once where one man asked me to make their coffee, but this ’sexual discrimina on’ died a quick death when I announced that I don’t drink coffee and don’t know how to make it,” Anna-Mari recalls with a laugh.
“When developing knowhow, we try to link the goals of the organisa on with the knowhow of the individual and their points of interest. Everyone then has the opportunity to develop and upgrade their exper se and through this to obtain new challenges in their career.
“I would say that something like this depends very much on how you take it yourself.”
“Developing exper se can roughly be divided into professional courses and other strategically important training. Our partner in the former is AEL, and we have designed our own, tailored
ComatecNews 7
Nordkalk - Lappeenranta Industrial opera ons at Nordkalk’s limestone quarry celebrated their 100th anniversary last year. Coopera on with the Metso office that opened on 19 September in Lappeenranta is just in its early stages, but it has got off to a promising looking start.
“Once our own capacity was no longer sufficient, we were looking for a partner for two or three years,” says Vesa Pekki, Department Manager for Technical Planning at Nordkalk Oy Ab’s Pulp and Paper division. ”Finland is full of engineering companies. It’s good that the office is in the same town.” In his opinion, as a partner Insinööritoimisto Metso combines the nimbleness of a small office with the strength of a large one. The partnership was not a leap into the unknown for Nordkalk. Although the Lappeenranta office has only just opened, Nordkalk has worked previously with the Imatra office. Pekki also knows the Metso personnel in Lappeenranta. Metso’s parent company Insinööritoimisto Comatec Oy is also a
familiar partner. Nordkalk and Comatec have carried out a safety analysis together, and decisions about the next stage in this are s ll awaited. Pekki praises Insinööritoimisto Metso for its ac vity in keeping in touch. “We don’t need to wait and see what they happen to come up with, we are kept informed and know exactly where we are heading.” Keeping in touch is useful when Nordkalk’s own engineers and users want to have a say in the plans. “We don’t just receive a completely ready pile of papers, we can affect the plans.” Pekki’s department carries out technical planning in Lappeenranta for Nordkalk and Suomen Karbonaa . Insinööritoimisto Metso designs working surfaces and access routes.
Zero accidents Nordkalk is improving the access routes in the older parts of the old works to bring them in line with current ergonomic and safety regula ons. The quarry celebrated 100 years of industrial opera ons last year, and some departments s ll have old machinery in opera on, but the quarry is no museum. Nordkalk has carried out ac vi es under a ’Zero accidents’ programme In the Lappeenranta quarry site since 2003. It has spread from there to other parts of the Group. The number of accidents has gone down. “We were guinea pigs. The results have been very encouraging: there has been a big change,” says Pekki. ’Zero accidents’ also looks a er the safety of outsiders visi ng the area. Everyone who works in the area must have a current work safety card. People coming to work there for the first me are given ini al training in environmental and occupa onal safety.
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Vesa Pekki and Petri Lammi on the edge of Nordkalk’s 100 year old limestone quarry in Lappeenranta.
Everyone also has to have protec ve gear and appropriate fluorescent working clothing. Any hazardous situa ons are reported to the client for the work.
Rare wollastonite Adding water to burnt lime produces slaked lime, which is used in purifying drinking water and waste water, in the metallurgical industry and in the building material industry. Wollastonite is the rarest of the rocks mined in Lappeenranta. Finland is the fi h largest producer of wollastonite in the world. In Europe the nearest producers of this rock are in Spain.
Nordkalk’s Lappeenranta limestone quarry has an impressive size. The open pit mine has a depth of 150 metres and covers an area of 40 hectares.
Leading limestone producer The limestone quarry is part of Nordkalk Oy Ab, which produces high quality limestone products under the Nordkalk brand. The leading producer of limestone products in Northern Europe, Nordkalk had net sales in 2010 of EUR 331.9 million. It has about 1,200 employees and opera ons at more than 30 loca ons in nine countries. Nordkalk has mines and quarries in five countries. In Finland the company produces limestone products at 10 loca ons.
Lappeenranta open pit mine On average 600 people work on the site in Lappeenranta which covers more than 400 hectares, and about 200 of these are employed by Nordkalk and Suomen Karbonaa . Suomen Karbonaa Oy produces calcium carbonate coa ng pigments and fillers for the paper and board industry. Nordkalk has a 51 per cent holding in the company. The quarry is an open pit mine. The stone is processed, crushed and sorted underground. As well as the quarry and the works, there are also refineries producing paper pigment raw materials and wollastonite in Lappeenranta. The
quarry produces cement, calcite, limestone and wollastonite. Limestone products are used by the paper, steel and building material industries, in managing the environment and in agriculture. Burnt lime, ie. calcium oxide, is used in the manufacture of steel, in ore refining, in the produc on of cellulose, in purifying drinking and waste water, and in cleaning the flue gas emissions at coal-fired power plants.
The ceramics industry needs wollastonite for glazes and ceramic bodies. The plas cs industry uses it to modify the mechanical proper es of plas cs, such as their rigidity and shock resistance. Wollastonite is also used by the metallurgical industry. Limestone is usually blasted from the bedrock, but so er rock can be excavated by machine. The rock is taken for rough crushing and then for further processing. The rock is crushed and si ed once or several mes. The rock is ground into powder at various grinding plants. In the process at the Lappeenranta works, a er crushing the limestone is first ground into a wet slurry and the concentrated calcite is separated by flota on from the slurry.
Nordkalk Oy, Lappeenranta Nordkalk’s produc on plants in Lappeenranta include a quarry and limestone works and refineries producing raw materials for paper pigment and Wollastonite. A subsidiary, Suomen Karbonaa Oy (Nordkalk 51 per cent), producing paper pigments also operates on the site. Other companies in the integrated plant are Paroc Oy Ab , Finnsemen Oy, Rudus Oy, Astepa Oy, Sodexo Oy, ISS Suomi Oy and Securitas Oyj. Nordkalk’s Lappeenranta produc on plants in figures Number of personnel 170 Quarried stone 2,100,000 tonnes a year Depth of open pit mine 150 metres Quarry area 40 hectares Produc on plant area 400 hectares
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Floorball Finnish champions – You become champions when you work with determina on towards achieving this goal. Koovee’s C junior girls floorball team, the Reds, have learnt this. The team took the Finnish championship for their age group last spring a er two years’ hard work towards this goal. ”A lot of hard prac ce, a tude and a brilliant team spirit,” were how team captain Johanna (Johkis) Homi, 16, summed up how the team reached its goal. “Everything we did was based on a clear target, having the right material and confidence in their own ability,” says Jouko Vähälä, who coached the team to the championship. The team played a total of 26 games in the league and the playoff finals. The girls played another 10 games in the Premium and Särkänniemi cups and as many prac ce games. The league games offered a maximum of 72 points, and
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the Reds lost only five of these. In the finals in the spring the Reds won the series 2-1 against the Porvoo team PSS Pelitytöt, which won the other sec on in the Finnish league.
Commitment The new season sets new demands on the team. There is a new coach, a new age group and this championship team is blending in with another team. The games get tougher and faster, but it will only be a ma er of me before this group reaches its own level again and is ready to take its due, a new Finnish championship. More than half of the players moved up to the older age group for junior girls. They started their season with a victory. The new season brought new goals for Johkis, who comes from Nokia. “I want to develop and become a more versa le player and make my debut in a women’s league match.” She has started her fi h season playing floorball. Her interest
Koovee’s C junior girls was first aroused because her big sister was playing, but one of her present team mates actually got her to play. “Floorball demands much me for prac sing, concentra ng on the game and commitment to the sport.” There are four prac ce sessions a week, and matches almost every weekend. “Success and friends keep me mo vated.”
Professional approach The team’s strength lay in a professional approach on and off the field. “The team itself arranged the warm-up sessions off and on the court and all the rou ne ac vi es before the start of a match. At mes it was really quite awesome to watch the team warming up, all in precise sequence in their iden cal tracksuits, while the players on the opposing team were sca ered around in the stands, each warming up on their own,” explains Vähälä. “The only goal for the team was to be Finnish champions. They worked together towards that goal and all the players accepted this.” Vähälä points out that floorball demands many social skills and perseverance. “In team sports players must be able to rely on others and on the skills of other team members.”
Future lies with the young Comatec wishes to support specifically youth sports. These young people will grow into the creators of the future. “We need skilled individuals who want to con nuously develop and are prepared to work hard to achieve this. Above all we also need a team that func ons absolutely smoothly together and improves its performance as a team. A successful team is more than just the
“The best thing about the championship was when we got the whole team to func on together and work to achieve the goals that we had set together,” says head coach Jouko Vähälä.
sum of the skills of the individuals in the team,” says Comatec ‘head coach’ Aulis Asikainen. “Team sports also have projects. This floorball C junior girls championship team had a specific two year project, which got underway when they set themselves the goal of winning the championship in spring 2011. During the project all ac vi es ul mately aimed at achieving the championship. Comatec’s opera ons have a similar goal-oriented approach.” ”In top level compe ve sport, even with juniors, there is an absolute demand to take things seriously, to do things in a professional way and with determina on. But it s ll needs to be fun all the me, otherwise it won’t work and in the long run there will be no point in it all,” states Asikainen.
Team captain Johanna Homi, Johkis, 16. High point in career so far C junior girls floorball Finnish championship 2011.
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Winter conditions impact train design CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles,S.A.) asked for Comatec’s assistance in finding out how Nordic winter condi ons affect the structures and systems on the l ng body high speed train under tender to Swedish Railways. The train will have to withstand the tough Nordic condi ons, with their freezing temperatures, ice and snow storms. “The Spanish company itself does not possess very much experience of winter condi ons. As a Finnish company, at Comatec we are very familiar with Nordic condi ons,” says rolling stock expert manager Jorma Nordfors. ”Comatec has extensive experience in carrying out winter condi ons analyses and has worked with CAF in the past. First of all CAF ordered from Comatec a report on the exis ng standards rela ng to winter condi ons. The next phase
was to look at the areas where winter condi ons cause problems for train opera ons.” Jorma Nordfors examined the designs supplied by CAF, looking for areas that need improving or where freezing temperatures and snow may cause problems. “There are many cri cal points on trains that are suscep ble to sub-zero temperatures and whirling snow,” states Nordfors.
Comatec has also made a winter condi ons report for the Sm5 trains built by Swiss company Stadler Rail. “This report on winter condi ons is the first for an end product that will not be coming into service in Finland,” states Nordfors.
”For example the bogies, air intake grills and filters, and compressed air equipment are weak points. “Whirling snow blocks the air intake grills and the snow packs under the bogies. Sub-zero temperatures can easily cause compressed air equipment to freeze if the compressed air is not completely dry. Lumps of ice flying under the train can break sensi ve equipment. “However, most of the problems that cause trains to be late in winter are caused by faulty or frozen points.”
The InterCity2 train operates in the demanding Nordic condi ons in Finland. Comatec’s exper se was also used in the design of the aluminium bodies of the IC trains.
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Comatec has previously provided similar consul ng services on winter condi ons for the Sm4 commuter train in the Helsinki metropolitan area. CAF was the train manufacturer then.
Til ng trains A l ng train has a train body that lts at curves in the track. This enables the train to travel through curves at speeds up to 35 per cent higher than non- l ng trains. The Pendolino train in service in Finland is a l ng body train.
This autumn Insinööritoimisto Metso opened a new office in Lappeenranta. The company officially took over the new premises on 19 September, with everyone busy working. ”We haven’t had me yet to arrange an opening ceremony,” says office manager Petri Lammi. ”The Nordkalk limestone quarry near here took us on as a partner straight away. And the design work at our office has in fact focused on the stone industry and machinery for this.”
This is the first me that the designers at the Lappeenranta office have been employees at the same company, although they have worked together in the past on produc on line deliveries for the stone industry. “The goals for the new office are in fact in the stone industry,” states Petri Lammi. “In addi on we are looking over the border to Russia. In our recruitment Russian language skills are considered a major advantage. We already have some Russian-speaking skills in the office and we aim to increase this in the future,” he con nues.
Office manager Petri Lammi and senior designers Anu Kaipainen and Harri Haavisto at the new office of Insinööritoimisto Metso in Lappeenranta. Senior designer Marko Takala is missing, he was away on business and could not make it for the picture.
“An important factor in the loca on of the new office was coopera on with manufacturers and engineering produc on in the area and of course the closeness of the Russian market,” explains Kalle Korento, managing director of Insinööritoimisto Metso Oy. “The cu ng edge knowhow and expert training in technology and finance given by the University of Lappeenranta are a further undisputed local strong point. We have several graduates from the Lappeenranta University of Technology working at Comatec.”
City of Lappeenranta Lappeenranta, with its 72,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in south-eastern Finland and the administra ve and commercial centre of the South Karelia region, popula on 140,000. Lappeenranta is also a university town and the business and cultural centre of south-eastern Finland. The city has a unique posi on in the European Union: it is the only town on the border between the EU and Russia where the border can be crossed without difficulty by all modes of transport: by road, water, rail and air.
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Presenting new Comatec personnel Miikka Rii nen and Tuula Korkeemaa are new Comatec employees. They both started at Comatec in August this year, Miikka on 1 August and Tuula on 15 August. They both possess indepth knowhow and experience in their fields. What do they think about their work and Comatec as a place to work, and what do they do in their free me?
Why Comatec?
Miikka Rii nen Sales Manager
“I knew something about Comatec already and found its business sector interes ng. I had the impression that Comatec invests in its personnel and in developing its business processes. A posi ve factor was that it has its head office in Tampere and that ownership of the company is in Finland, in other words that it is not a vast global company. The size of the company was also a plus. My job descrip on is quite broad and gives me a good challenge,” replies Tuula. “I have worked for almost 10 years in sales and marke ng. In my previous job with a contract manufacturer for the metal sector the customers were to some extent the same companies that Comatec works with. So I am familiar with the business sector and I also knew some aspects of Comatec’s business. Comatec is a company that is held in high esteem by customers and is on the move, it is involved in major projects in many different industrial sectors,” says Miikka.
Challenges in your work? “The broad scope of my job descrip on is a challenge. My days consist of many different li le ma ers, but I also deal with major principles – from office chairs to interpre ng employment contracts. I have lots of mee ngs, but there isn’t enough me to actually meet individuals,” says Tuula. “I am responsible for project sales in line with the company’s strategy, for developing this and for Comatec Group marke ng. In my work I find it a challenge to increase awareness of Comatec in certain growth sectors and to develop the service offering. The company is currently in the midst of a restructuring that affects all the work and how we tell customers about our services,” says Miikka.
Your strong points? “I have broad experience in various areas of human resources management. I am quick to act and react. I have extensive networks in the HR management sector. My strongest points are in business opera ons, in processes and organizing,” replies Tuula. “I have wide-ranging experience in the metal industry, in marke ng ac vi es and front-line selling, as well as in customer rela ons management and procuring new customers. My studies were in technology and business, and it looks as if I will be able to apply the full range of these at Comatec,” replies Miikka.
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Tuula Korkeemaa HR Manager
Have you se led in? “I have felt welcome in the company right from my first day at work. I feel as if I have always worked here. My colleagues are really pleasant and are very willing to help someone who is new. It doesn’t feel difficult to ask for assistance and Comatec’s corporate culture is open and suppor ve,” states Tuula. “I have felt very much at home at Comatec. My work began with an intensive ini al training phase, when I got to know the work of the regional offices and customers. I have pleasant colleagues in the company, it has a fair, open atmosphere, and a feeling that everyone is doing their utmost. At Comatec, everyone’s opinion is highly valued, as are hard work and taking on responsibility as if it was your own business. You can also actually affect decision making and the future of the company with your own work,” says Miikka.
Comatec news
New office in Tallinn Comatec Estonia Oü started opera ons in Tallinn on 1 September 2011. Comatec Estonia Oü is part of Comatec Group, and it func ons in Tallinn as an independent company with the task of carrying out primarily work from local customers and those in the other Bal c countries. Tõnis Tiedemann is office manager in Tallinn and Hugo Klaos is mechanical design engineer.
Leisure ac vi es? “My family comprises my husband, a 10 year old son and 4 year old daughter. We live in a detached house the middle of nowhere in Lempäälä,” says Tuula with a laugh. “I enjoy cycling, swimming in the hole in the ice, picking mushrooms and in general ge ng out in the countryside. My goal is at least once a year to go hiking, for example in Sarek in Sweden. Travel is a passion of mine,” says Tuula. “I have a wife and a 1.5 year-old daughter. We live in the north of Helsinki. As far as my hobbies go, my year follows the pa ern of rowing prac ce in the summer and elk hun ng in the autumn. An extremely lively Parson Russell terrier takes me out for exercise every day,” reports Miikka.
New office for Insinööritoimisto Metso in Lappeenranta A separate office has been established in Lappeenranta, and it officially took over its premises on Monday 19 September 2011. There was work to do on the very first day, and the opening ceremonies were put off to a later date because everyone was so busy. At the moment those working in the office are senior designers Anu Kaipainen, Harri Haavisto and Marko Takala and office manager Petri Lammi.
Arto Timperi , D.Tech., joined the company on 12 October 2011 as design manager in the mobile machinery department, with responsibility for developing knowhow and for interna onal expansion. He has previously worked at John Deere, VTT (Technology Research Centre of Finland) and Metso.
ComatecNews 15
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