Comatec Group, Customer Magazine 2/2012
news The world in 2050
The world changes – and so do we Pump module provides more reliable water supply high in the air Bronto Skyli Oy Ab
Comatec Employee in the spotlight Managing director Sami Luhtaanmäki, Oucons Oy
Kaivos 12 mining trade fair in Oulu
news
Table of Contents
Editorial
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The world in 2050
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Pump module provides more reliable water supply high in the air – Bronto Skyli Oy Ab ..................................................
The world changes - and so do we
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Comatec Employee in the spotlight – Managing director Sami Luhtaanmäki, Oucons Oy ................................................
Comatec news – Kaivos 12 mining trade fair in Oulu – Office manager Ma Tuomela, Hämeenlinna
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Editorial
A
dis nc ve feature of the first half of the year has been the news about economic mismanagement in the Mediterranean countries and their excessive debt burden. And it does not look as if there will be a quick end to this news. Finland is firmly commi ed by many interna onal agreements to the EU’s common currency mechanism, and through this to the euro. Some poli cians have made populist proposals about withdrawing from the euro and reintroducing the markka as the currency in Finland. Those who propose such ideas should examine closely the consequences of withdrawing from the euro and should realise that this step would not remove our interna onal obliga ons, and would scarcely even reduce them.
1990s. Surely no-one wants to experience mes like that again. From the viewpoint of our interna onal compe ve standing, the stability and predictability of the country’s economy and financial policy are assets both for the requirements of our export industries and for domes c employment. It should be realised that we actually benefit quite considerably from the low exchange rate for the euro and from low interest rates. Exports are performing well, even if they have slowed down somewhat. The labour market is quiet, at least for the me being, and costs can be predicted well into the second half of next year. Nothing has happened in Finland to give rise to par cular concern over prospects in the near future. One disturbing phenomenon is looming on the horizon, however. It seems that hands-on machine shop work is increasingly being transferred to countries where costs are lower, away from Finland.
Thanks to the stabile, disciplined management of its economy Finland has a strong triple-A credit ranking, but would that be the case if the country gave up the euro? Maintaining the stability of the small currency of a small na on is not easy, as we saw during the recession in the
Aulis Asikainen Comatec Group CEO
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: Bronto Skyli Oy Ab
Feedback, subscrip ons, cancella ons Taina Syrjänen, tel. +358 40 5931 259, taina.syrjanen@comatec.fi
Heikki Harri Miikka Rii nen Taina Syrjänen
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The world in 2050 The Danish physicist Niels Bohr once stated with a touch of irony that it is very difficult to make predic ons, especially predic ons about the future. Even so, in all human ac vi es it is necessary all the me to make decisions with a longterm impact based on various assump ons about future events and trends. Before we get submerged in our work for the winter and the turmoil in the global economy, we should stop and think about the future, aided by some summer reading. TEXT: MIIKKA RIITTINEN
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A couple of years ago an American Professor of Geography Laurence C. Smith wrote a book en tled ‘The New North: The World in 2050’, which immediately became a best seller. The book gives food for thought especially for those involved in Finnish business, since it describes in a scien fic way, but illustrated by anecdotes from real life, the enormous speed at which four global forces will change the northern hemisphere in par cular during the next decades. These four forces are demography, demand for natural resources, globalisa on and climate change. Smith describes these forces separately, but also states that they are closely linked to each other. It is forecast that in the year 2050 the world will have a popula on of about 9.2 billion people. The urbanisa on of the human race passed a significant milestone in 2008; in that year the number of people
living in ci es overtook those living in the countryside. This means that the majority of human beings can no longer grow their food themselves or obtain drinking water direct from natural sources. The human race has become almost en rely dependent on technology and commerce. The trend to urbanisa on is forecast to con nue, which will further increase demand for consumer goods and through this for natural resources. Forecasts have been made for a long me about the sufficiency of oil, coal and other important natural resources, usually giving dire warnings of how these are going to run out. Professor Smith claims that as the use of natural resources per inhabitant in the world increases, these resources will not actually run out, but their value will rise even higher. As a result, it will become profitable to exploit deposits that are more and
more difficult to access but are of a considerable size, for example in the Arc c regions. Climate warming is making new areas in the Arc c regions accessible and new transport routes feasible. This again makes it easier to exploit the natural resources in these regions. Globalisa on has turned the global economy into a single large playing field where no region can isolate itself from the others. Although China’s and India’s shares of global industrial produc on have become large, no single country can make decisions concerning globalisa on. Smith highlights mul na onal conglomerates as major players, as they take decisions for example on where to locate produc on or on the use of natural resources purely on commercial grounds. In 2050 therefore, there will be more people on the earth, most of them living in ci es, and a large propor on of the new people will be born in Asia and Africa. The popula on in the northern regions will also rise in consequence of climate warming and increasing work opportuni es, but this growth will take place mainly in the ci es, and the fringe areas will suffer from increasing depopula on. The overall standard of living will
probably rise, so more natural resources will be needed, and climate change will increase the importance of the Arc c regions in the produc on of raw materials and in transport routes. Although the picture painted by Smith of the world in 2050 is to some extent pessimis c, according to him none of the global forces he men ons are a law of nature, and the trends they bring about are not unavoidable. All four forces that he men ons can be controlled by mankind, and they can be affected by choices made by society and by individuals. It is a ques on of the sort of world in the future that we wish to live in. The Finnish engineering and shipbuilding industries, and through this Comatec as well, are involved in designing more eco-friendly mobile machines, trains and ships, more efficient produc on and power plants, and ever be er machinery that is needed to process raw materials. We believe that as the world changes we are able through our exper se to take advantage of megatrends and par cipate in poin ng developments in a posi ve direc on. Source: Laurence C. Smith: The New North: The World in 2050.
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Pump module provides more reliable water supply high in the air To get water to a fire located high off the ground, some mes more than 100 metres up, requires an effec ve, reliable system. The aerial pla orms built by Tampere-based Bronto Skyli face situa ons like this quite regularly, for they are made specifically for reaching high places. Bronto has manufactured special aerial pla orms since 1972, supplying well over 6000 pla orms in 130 countries. It is no wonder that the company is the global leader in its field. TEXT: HEIKKI HARRI
In 1995 Bronto Skyli was acquired by US-based Federal Signal Corpora on. Bronto has opera ons in Finland and subsidiaries in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. The company’s current produc on por olio comprises about 50 models, with li ing heights ranging from 23 metres up to 112 metres. The main clients are fire brigades, emergency services and equipment hire companies. Bronto’s knowhow has a worldwide reputa on, but it is always possible to make improvements and raise efficiency . ”When they order a fire truck with an aerial pla orm, many fire brigades also include a water pump in the order, to ensure they can get the water up to the height at which the aerial pla orm can operate. We used to assemble the pump and install it on
the chassis while fi ng out the rest of the vehicle, but then we realized that we could do that phase of the work more efficiently,” says Jorma Pispala, design engineering director.
Enhanced efficiency “Bronto has made use of Comatec’s services in various design jobs over a period of 15 years, so we asked their representa ve to come round to discuss designing a water pump module,” states Pispala. So in October last year the companies launched a project that has proved to be effec ve and efficient. Bronto Skyli and Comatec have together designed a water pump module that can be installed directly on most truck chassis models. Designer Pasi Näse was in charge of the project at Comatec.
Raising water from ground level high in the air means that the pump unit must be of high quality and durable.
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PHOTO: BRONTO SKYLIFT
Members of the design team standing by the pump module, le to right: Lassi Hietala, Pasi Näse, Toni Mäkinen, Jarmo Kokkola and Jorma Pispala.
“We need to adapt the module individually for certain makes and models of trucks, but overall the module has made our work significantly more efficient,” says Pispala. “When the pump was assembled while fi ng out the rest of the vehicle, the work might take even four weeks. Now, when the module is installed as a single part, the me required has dropped to one or two days. Fi ng out one truck can take anything from a few weeks to even three months, and the module certainly helps speed up the through put me,” comments Jorma Pispala, adding that orders for trucks fi ed with pumps have increased considerably. “At one me a water pump might be ordered for just a couple of trucks a year, but nowadays several dozen a year are ordered.”
Subject to high pressure Raising water from ground level high in the air means that the pump unit must be of high quality and durable. As a rule of thumb, every ten metres of height requires one bar water pressure. So the pressure needed to raise water to a height of 100 metres is 10 bar. But even that is not enough, for then the water will just trickle out of the nozzle. The actual pressure needed for pu ng out a fire at a height of 100 metres is at least 15 bar. The nozzle pressure is then 4-5 bar, which gives the required spraying power. “It is obvious that with a pressure like that all the components have to be of the highest possible quality and all the work has to be precise, high quality work,” stresses Jorma Pispala. High quality work has always been a top priority at Bronto.
“With this pump module concept, we can manufacture modules and keep some in stock, which also helps in maintaining quality standards. Since the modules are iden cal, they can be assembled separately with their own schedule,” he comments. ”Working with Bronto has been challenging but rewarding. The work has been carried out as seamless team work, requiring fairly frequents visits to the workshop to see what has been achieved. The dimensions of the chassis structures and components o en vary, so we have had to aim at construc ons that fit on very different components and trucks. Close communica on with the other project personnel is of primary importance,” says design manager Arto Timperi from Comatec.
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The world changes – and so do we As he re res, Tapio Ranta has a working life of more than 30 years behind him. He worked for 11 of these years for VR. Design manager Hannu Parviainen handing Tapsa a gi from his colleagues.
Comatec senior designer Tapio Ranta has been on secondment to VR Technology in Hyvinkää for many years. As he re res, his place as Comatec’s VR engineer is taken by Jenny Lo a, a recently qualified engineer. A new, younger person is taking over as Comatec’s VR contact person, but the work con nues as before. The world changes, and so do we. TEXT: TAINA SYRJÄNEN
“Tapio Ranta is now re ring a er a career las ng for more than 30 years. That is longer than the history of Comatec, which is 26 years old. Tapio is a real expert in many different fields,” says design manager Hannu Parviainen. “Tapsa has had all sorts of job tles. At Comatec he has been involved in numerous customer projects for different clients. He has carried out rolling stock projects for VR in various ways since the 1980s. He has been on permanent secondment to VR since 2007.
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“He has worked on his own and in a team. In his biggest effort, he was team leader for a team of 30 people. Tapio is quiet by nature and enjoys being out in the countryside. Over the years he has accumulated a vast amount of experience,” states Hannu. Tapio Ranta carried out work for VR for altogether 11 years. In the 1980s he had his first mee ng with Comatec’s president and CEO, and Tapio went to VR with the instruc on: ”This need to be done properly so that we get more work.” The work con nued for five years then. But Tapio has actually done many other things apart from designing trains. He has experience in a wide field. “I have only posi ve things to say about the jobs for VR. There has always been an excellent atmosphere at work. People have always had the a tude of helping each other – whether it’s an errand girl or a top manager, without dis nc on. We always work out a solu on together. Teamwork has been effec ve at VR,” says Tapio. In the early years Tapio worked at VR on freight wagons, and in his last years on passenger coaches and
locomo ves. The last job was the restaurant cars for the Intercity train. “We designed a self-service counter for the car. Today’s mobile phones and computers, which should work in the coaches, set a surprisingly big challenge for mechanical design in passenger coaches. Effec ve housings have to be designed for electronic equipment. My young successor, Jenny Lo a, will be carrying on this work,” states Tapio. Tapio is very ac ve and will have more than enough to keep him busy in his re rement. For the past two years he has belonged to a team of four who are wri ng the history of his home town, Rajamäki. Tapio has for example read the customer magazine of the local dis llery going back for a period of 60 years. Tapio is chairman of the Nurmijärvi society and enjoys his summer co age and cultural events. “I plan to go to the folk music fes val in Kaus nen and there are always lots of li le things to do at the co age. A er all, life really starts to get busy when you re re,” says Tapio. Junior designer Jenny Lo a is following in Tapio’s footsteps at VR. She has just graduated as an
engineer in machine and produc on technology, specializing in product design. Just before her gradua on she applied for a mechanical designer’s post at Comatec. At the same me VR needed a designer, and were looking specifically for a young designer. “Young designers bring a welcome breath of change to an ’old’ company. They may well ques on the old ways of doing things. Knowledge of something as simple as the markings on a drawing, for example, may get out of date because few people follow developments in the standards. Fresh graduates have the latest, correct informa on about these things,” says design manager Kari Hakuli from VR. Jenny has herself no ced that as a recent graduate she possesses much of the latest informa on, as developments have introduced much new technology. “It feels good to introduce this new knowledge at work, but it has been
just as useful to learn some of the old methods from more experienced colleagues. The flow of informa on has been in both direc ons,” says Jenny. Jenny is really carrying on from where Tapsa finished. Tapsa possesses an enormous amount of experience. Jenny’s working life is just beginning and she is gradually gaining experience. Despite the differences in age and experience, they are united in their interest in trains. “When I travel nowadays I look at trains with completely new eyes,” states Jenny. Jenny is also very happy at VR. She is of the same opinion as Tapsa about the work place atmosphere. “I was given a very warm recep on. It feels good being able to work in my own field straight a er gradua ng,” says Jenny. “I don’t feel I’ve received any special
treatment because I’m a young woman,” states Jenny. “Coffee break conversa on is probably a bit cleaner because there’s a woman present,” adds Tapsa. “I haven’t had to do the most difficult jobs right away, which is understandable. But people certainly don’t undervalue my knowhow. I know that there will be tough challenges coming, and I am ready to take them on,” says Jenny. Kari Hakuli comments that a longterm working rela onship is of benefit to both par es, as each learns how the other works. When there is a constant turnover in personnel, it’s as if the ini al training period is going on all the me. “We have had a fine opportunity to witness a designer with a long career behind him and a designer at the start of her career as they both move into a new phase in their lives,” says Kari Hakuli
Tapsa symbolically passing on the baton to Jenny.
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Oucons Oy – Sami Luhtaanmäki Sami Luhtaanmäki, new managing director of Oucons Oy, started working in the Group on 1 August. His strength lies in his broad experience in different business environments and that he tries to see ma ers from several angles. He is interested in both technology and finance, and in making a contribu on to society.
Sami Luhtaanmäki has been managing director of Oucons Oy since 1 August 2012. He is responsible for all of Oucons’ opera ons. “In my work the biggest challenges are in developing the business and keeping it on a growth track; responding to customer challenges, the wellbeing of personnel during changes, finding new premises and success in recruitment,” says Sami. “My work includes thousands of li le things as well as crea ng major principles and keeping everything on course. “I applied to work at Oucons Oy because I saw an opportunity to develop my professional skills in a direc on that I have been wan ng to move for a long me. I believe that I can bring fresh winds to Oucons,” states Sami. “I see that my strength lies in my broad based experience of different business environments and that I try to see ma ers from the other side’s point of view as well. “I have always been interested in technology and finance, and I can now develop these and achieve results in the future. Sami previously worked for altogether nine years as project manager, and for the past six of these years he worked with wind power at Pekkaniska and Winwind. Before that he worked as project manager in
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Sami Luhtaanmäki Managing director Oucons Oy
product development projects in the electronics industry. He began his career at Nokia Networks, where he worked in procurement for base sta on projects a er finishing his master’s thesis. “I have been given a fantas c recep on both at Oucons and in the Comatec Group! It is great to work with such fantas c people,” states Sami. “The expert personnel and the con nuous development of personnel wellbeing have made a big impression on me at Comatec. Oucons has an amazing amount of experience in the design of conveyor systems and makers of the future, all in one and the same package. Oucons has the skills. Sami lives in rural surroundings in Kiiminki near Oulu with his wife and 9 and 6 year-old daughters. He is a member of the town council in Kiiminki and will also be standing for elec on to Oulu council in the local elec ons in the autumn. Sami keeps himself fit by running and going to the gym. “Motor cycling is a hobby for all our family in the summer,” says Sami.
Comatec news Comatec and Oucons at Kaivos 12 mining trade fair in Oulu We took part in the Kaivos 12 trade fair in Oulu at the end of May. The Kunnossapito 12 , Sopimusvalmistus 12 and Norrkama 2012 trade fairs were held in the Oulu Hall at the same me. The event, presen ng mining, industrial maintenance, sub-contrac ng services and automa on, brought to Oulu those working in these sectors, decision makers and industry representa ves. Altogether almost 4,400 people visited the fairs. The sold out trade fair area had 317 exhibitors. Discussions on the compe ve standing of mining and industry, held in connec on with the fairs, with panelists headed up by Pekka Perä from the Talvivaara mine and Minister of the Environment Hannele Pokka, a racted the na onal media. The main focus on the Comatec stand was on the knowhow of our latest Group company, Oucons Oy. The company has almost 30 years’ experience in machine and process design. Oucons provides mechanical design services for industry, specialising in material handling equipment; conveyors, feeders, silos and decoilers as well as various steel structures and mechanical design rela ng to industrial maintenance. Oucons Oy brings addi onal knowhow to Comatec Group and increases resources in the design and project management of bulk good systems throughout the customer base and especially for customer businesses opera ng in Northern Finland. As part of Comatec Group, Oucons Oy is able to offer its clients the knowhow and expert services of the whole group. The trade fairs in the Oulu Hall were bustling with ac vity and we had many interes ng conversa ons with exis ng and poten al clients about the state of the mining industry, the future, and Comatec Group’s knowhow in the mineral business.
Ma
Tuomela, B.Sc. (Tech.)
started as office manager on 1 August 2012 at the Hämeenlinna office. He is an engineer and responsible for managing ac vi es at the office, for planning and developing opera ons, and for customer rela ons.
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Comatec Group TAMPERE Insinööritoimisto Comatec Oy Kalevan e 7 C, FI-33100 TAMPERE Tel. +358 29 000 2000 Rantotek Oy Kalevan e 7 C, FI-33100 TAMPERE Tel. +358 29 000 2090 VANTAA Myyrmäen e 2B, FI-01600 VANTAA Tel. +358 29 000 2020 JÄRVENPÄÄ Sibeliuksenkatu 18, FI-04400 JÄRVENPÄÄ Tel. +358 400 675 778 HYVINKÄÄ APK-Ohjelmoin Oy Kehäkuja 6, P.O. Box 26, FI-05831 HYVINKÄÄ Tel. +358 40 5563 299 LAHTI Askonkatu 10, FI-15100 LAHTI Tel. +358 29 000 2030 TURKU Hiidenkatu 7, FI-20360 TURKU Tel. +358 29 000 2040 HÄMEENLINNA Teknologiakeskus Innopark, Terminaali e 10, FI-13430 HÄMEENLINNA Tel. +358 29 000 2050
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JOENSUU Hiiskosken e 9, FI-80100 JOENSUU Tel. +358 29 000 2060 KUOPIO Microkatu 1, FI-70210 KUOPIO Tel. +358 44 7414 440 IMATRA Insinööritoimisto Metso Oy Vuoksenniskan e 97, FI-55800 IMATRA Tel. +358 29 000 2070 LAPPEENRANTA Insinööritoimisto Metso Oy Kauppakatu 61, FI-53100 LAPPEENRANTA Tel. +358 29 000 2070 VARKAUS Rantotek Oy Wredenkatu 2, FI-78250 VARKAUS Tel. +358 29 000 2090 OULU Oucons Oy Kaarna e 14, FI-90530 OULU Tel. +358 400 542 547 TALLINNA Comatec Estonia OÜ Laki 16, 10621 TALLINN, ESTONIA Tel. +372 5685 0845
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