Mäkelä Alus Customer magazine 2022

Dear Reader,

• In the latest issue of our AluNews customer magazine we will tell you about what has happened at Mäkelä Alu Oy over the past year.

• The magazine features customer success stories and articles about our customer projects.

• In recent years, sustainable development, the environment, and responsibility have become very important issues, and we at Mäkelä Alu have been implementing various measures and taking action on these for a long time.

• We hope you enjoy your read!

Mäkelä Alu Oy Sales team

Partnership with Mäkelä Alu enabled Riikku’s rapid growth

Balcony systems manufactured by Riikku Group Oy are installed all over Finland and Sweden every day. Since its establishment in Alavus in 2005, the company has experienced steady growth and developed into a leading player in its field. Riikku’s production facilities were significantly expanded in the autumn, and at the same time, new aluminium machining lines were put into operation. The new facilities and equipment will enable significant growth in the future as well.

Riikku consists of three subsidiaries: Sakkes in Sweden, Glassy in Norway, and Riikku Koti Oy, which is responsible for consumer sales in Finland. The last two companies joined the group a year ago.

Mäkelä Alu played a key role in Riikku’s growth

Cooperation between Riikku and Mäkelä Alu began six years ago, and Mäkelä Alu soon became the main supplier of Riikku’s aluminium profiles. According

RIIKKU GROUP OY:

Kivistö, Vantaa.

to JONI MÄKIRANTA, one of the owners of Riikku, the partnership marked something of a turning point for the company. Since the start of the cooperation, order and material flows have been closely monitored, and common operating methods have been developed in collaboration with Mäkelä Alu. Security of supply and transparency have constantly been improved, and at the same time, Riikku has experienced rapid growth. According to Mäkiranta, Mäkelä Alu’s warehousing services and flexible daily product deliveries have played a key role in this.

“Our production has nearly doubled during our cooperation. Increasing our production to this extent would not have been possible without Mäkelä Alu,” says Mäkiranta.

Outsourced warehousing services reduced the need for storage space

According to Mäkiranta, a steady, predetermined order flow is key when purchasing aluminium profiles. It has allowed the company to reduce its stocks and speed up its processes.

“If we had to store aluminium profiles for many weeks, we would not be able to keep up with our cur rent production volumes. We would be drowning in unfinished work.”

No more organising orders by urgency

Every profile order placed by Riikku is unique in terms of dimensions, colour, and type. The right kind of alu minium profiles must be available at the right time in order for the company’s production to run as planned.

Mäkelä Alu delivers raw materials to Riikku on a daily basis. The companies have agreed on a certain framework with regard to delivery quantities, and the details of daily orders can be confirmed at short notice within that framework.

“As a result, the number of open orders is small and there is no need to constantly rearrange orders according to the degree of urgency. Each order is com pleted in its turn,” says Mäkiranta.

Fast deliveries to end customers

At the same time, the waiting time for orders has

been shortened, which has also enabled faster deliveries.

“This is a huge advantage for the end customer. We are able to serve our customers quickly when we receive the materials we need for their orders within days instead of months,” says Mäkiranta.

“We can count on Mäkelä Alu’s delivery reliability”

Now that Riikku can rely on Mäkelä Alu’s quick de liveries, the company only has to hold a few days’ stock of aluminium profiles in its own warehouse. The rest of the stock is stored at Mäkelä Alu through the AluStorage® warehousing service. Mäkelä Alu’s warehouse houses about a hundred aluminium profiles of different sizes that have been manufactured in accordance with Riikku’s specifications.

The profiles are only surface treated at Mäkelä Alu once an order is placed by Riikku.

“Outsourcing our warehousing activities to Mäkelä Alu means that we have less unfinished work in our production hall and less things lying around in the yard. This arrangement would not work if we could not rely on the quality of the products and se curity of supply. However, this arrangement works well with Mäkelä Alu. We always get what we order,” says Mäkiranta.

This has also allowed Riikku to minimise waste.

“When we talk about waste, we don’t just mean aluminium left over from machining. Waste can also refer to work carried out at the wrong time or products that are just lying around waiting to be delivered.”

Continuous development based on customer needs

Although the profile orders are handled electronical ly, Mäkelä Alu and Riikku interact very closely. Both companies are constantly striving to develop their operations and improve their productivity. When bottlenecks are identified, appropriate solutions are immediately sought.

“Our goal is to further shorten our delivery times,” says Mäkiranta.

Mäkiranta praises Mäkelä Alu’s development-ori ented attitude.

“The fact that Mäkelä Alu is easy to work with is also important to us. We feel they are happy to serve us and see us as a valuable partner, despite our occasional rivalry on the baseball field.”

A steady order flow benefits both parties

Sales Specialist JANNE KOHONEN from Mäkelä Alu is also happy with the cooperation.

“Riikku has truly grasped the idea of our service and understood the benefits of our strategy for the customer,” says Kohonen.

He emphasises the importance of continuous monitoring and communication in this type of operating model. According to Kohonen, Riikku is easy to work with as a partner, which is important because, in the end, partnership is all about cooperation.

Customers can outsource their warehousing activities to Mäkelä Alu

This operating model is also beneficial to Mäkelä Alu as steady daily deliveries spread out the work. When a certain capacity can be reserved in advance for the customer’s orders, the customer has the opportunity to change the content of the order right up until the last moment.

According to Kohonen, the main advantage of Mäkelä Alu’s warehousing service is that the custom er does not have to tie up any capital in a warehouse.

“Our customers in the window and terrace industry are already familiar with this concept, but some customers from other industries may still be surprised by the fact that warehousing can be outsourced to us and that they do not have to order the raw materials to their own warehouse,” says

Circulating baskets facilitate transport and storage

Riikku also uses Mäkelä Alu’s AluBasket

This means that the customer’s aluminium profiles are delivered in protective aluminium baskets that travel back and forth between the customer’s facilities and Mäkelä Alu. The baskets can be easily

moved and stacked with a forklift.

The baskets protect the aluminium profiles from dents and also serve as convenient, short-term intermediate storage for the profiles.

Riikku in a nutshell:

• Implements projects from planning to installation

• Specialises in custom-made balcony glazing and railings

• Main customers: construction companies (new buildings and renovation projects)

• Head office and factory in Alavus, regional offices in Jyväskylä, Tampere, Oulu, Helsinki, and Raisio

• Subsidiaries in Sweden and Norway

• Consumer sales under the name Riikku Koti Oy

• Turnover of 34 million euros, employs more than 200 balcony industry professionals

Kivistö, Vantaa.

Our

network allows us to provide a

range of further processing services

The aluminium profiles produced at Mäkelä Alu often go through various stages of processing to finished products. Our main goal is to make things as easy and efficient as possible for the customer. Our customers do not have to look for further processors for their products, as all the machining and surface treatments they need can be handled by Mäkelä Alu as a one-stop service.

“We can offer cost-effective aluminium profiles

that are processed to the point that best suits the customer’s needs,”

We always design a unique service package for our customers. It may include, for example, the storage of aluminium profiles, automated inventory management and replenishment, and the necessary machining.

“Our AluLink® warehousing and logistics service provides new opportunities for warehousing by

extensive

wide

says Mäkelä Alu’s Network Manager Jouni Peltomäki

“We can offer cost-effective aluminium profiles that are processed to the point that best suits the customer’s needs,” says Mäkelä Alu’s Network Manager Jouni Peltomäki

enabling the storage of semi-finished or finished products in the AluLink® warehouse. The service will be further developed and expanded during the summer,” says Peltomäki.

Turnkey deliveries under a single contract

Our further processing services are based on our network of contract partners, which consists of companies specialising in various fields. Most of our key partners operate in the vicinity of Mäkelä Alu. This enables short transport distances, and easy and efficient communication within the network.

“In principle, we focus on the production and surface treatment of aluminium profiles, and our network is responsible for other further processing. In this way, we are able to offer our customers a much wider range of services and special expertise than an individual company could,” says Peltomäki.

With further processing services and other additional services, we are able to offer our customers a competitive advantage, and cost-effective and efficient solutions. That is what our entire network is aiming for. Without our network, the customer would have to look for at least two, maybe even four other partners to achieve the same result that we can offer with a single contract.

“If necessary, our further processing partner will participate in the discussion to agree on the technical details. However, Mäkelä Alu is always responsible for the whole, and serves as the customer’s liaison throughout the process. Our sales team will provide a clear price for the entire service package. After that, Mäkelä Alu will order the further processing services from its partners and schedule the order,” says Peltomäki.

Our network is able to process items of all sizes, from matchbox-sized items to long profiles of up to 15 metres. In terms of quantity, we can manage any order from a single item to large batches.

“The plans and drawings for the products to be processed are usually provided by the customer, but we can also help with the design, if necessary,” says Peltomäki.

Our further processing network offers equipment that is state of the art on a European scale Mäkelä Alu’s partner network is also a significant entity on a Finnish scale. The network shares a long history and a common goal of providing customers with a superior service experience.

“The network has extensive know-how and a very modern stock of machinery at the European level, in which the companies invest every year. For example, there are many computer-controlled CNC machines. The partners also have equipment that is not available elsewhere, and their modern and multiaxis machining tools significantly reduce set-up times,” says Peltomäki.

The expertise of our partners is also reflected in the fact that their services are also used by other extrusion plants.

The need for further processing services is increasing, as customers want their products as finished as possible. There are several dozen aluminium further processing positions in the companies operating in the vicinity of Mäkelä Alu alone. Aluminium processors in the area invest in continuous joint development through the unique LA Alucenter expertise network.

A wide range of further processing options for orders of all sizes

Our aluminium further processing services cover all possible work steps: surface treatment, i.e. powder coating and anodizing, welding, sawing, punching, CNC machining and other machining, and assembly.

Products are processed in accordance with customer needs and to the extent required by the customer

What kind of machining services and end products do customers request?

“Our customer orders vary greatly. Customer

profiles can be processed in many ways, depending on their shape. The purpose of the product is also important information, especially the more challenging the product and the more complex the machining process. However, we may not always know what the product is intended for,” says Peltomäki.

Peltomäki mentions EV charging station poles as one of the “hot products of the day”. The poles are processed in parts in Mäkelä Alu’s network. All the customer needs to take care of is assembly and electrical work. The processing of cooling profiles has also increased.

“Together with our network, we have also been involved in larger projects. For example, we were involved in building the world’s largest cruise ship, which was built a few years ago in France. In this project, we delivered large balcony units to the shipyard through our customer.”

You can discuss your machining and other further processing needs with our sales team. Our Network Manager Jouni Peltomäki is often involved in the planning of larger service entities.

“The goal is always to find a solution that will achieve the best and most cost-effective result,” says Peltomäki.

AluLink® – our warehousing service for semi-finished and finished products

Our customers are already familiar with our traditional AluStorage® warehousing service. In the service, we store the customer’s aluminium profiles in our highbay warehouse as agreed with the customer, so that there is always an agreed number of profiles in stock that are delivered to the customer exactly when they need them.

Following the same principle, our AluLink® service allows us to provide storage for further processed products. The storage capacity of the service has been somewhat limited, but both our Euro pallet storage and long-profile storage will be expanded during the summer. With the expansion, the service will be suitable for products of all sizes, and we will be able to offer the service to a wider range of customers.

“Thus, in addition to profiles, we can also store semi-finished or even finished pieces on behalf of our customer, and deliver them either to the customer, or directly to the end-customer, quickly and flexibly exactly when needed and in the quantities required. This frees up the customer’s storage space and helps them optimise their material flows,” says Peltomäki.

“The goal is always to find a solution that will achieve the best and most cost-effective result,” says Peltomäki.

Certificates as proof of responsible operations

Responsibility is an integral part of our everyday operations. As proof of this, our operations are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and GSB certified. These certificates indicate that we have a systematic approach to our responsibilities regarding the environment, the safety of our employees, and the quality and safety of our production.

All of our products are CE-marked. We can also provide customers with the most common quality certificates, if necessary. Quality is a key priority for us. We want to ensure that the product ordered by the customer is flawless, which is why we invest in continuous quality development and monitoring. You can find all our certificates in our material bank.

Concrete action

We want to act in an environmentally friendly way, and our customers are also very interested in the environmental impact of our operations. We constantly strive for more sustainable production. As part of these efforts, we have introduced AluPure, an environmentally friendly billet made from our foundry’s own recycled aluminium.

In our production, we are developing a heat recovery system so that we can use the waste heat generated in our processes to heat our production facilities, for example. We have also started testing our own energy production by installing our first solar panels in the factory area.

The entire production process is carefully monitored

Our customers are accustomed to flawless products and stable quality. The quality chain starts with the first contact and continues all the way to the point when the finished product is delivered to the customer. Statistical quality tools can be used to guide the process and make quality management more proactive. In our quality management we use the ISO 9001 system.

Quality control is carried out at the stage where we have the most power over the quality of the process. Profile cross sections and surface quality are inspected during the extrusion phase, coating and anodizing results are inspected immediately after surface treatment. We are always working to improve our processes, and a quality system can never be fully complete.

Our quality laboratory monitors, for example, the quality of the surface treatment and the materials, as well as dimensional accuracy. Comprehensive quality management includes monitoring the quality of our further processing partners’ work.

AluPurE® – Environmentally friendly and low-emission aluminium billets

More and more of our customers are monitoring the emissions and environmental impact of their production. Due to a new, environmentally conscious way of thinking, interest in recycled aluminium has also increased. At Mäkelä Alu, we have invested in monitoring and reducing emissions for years. As one of our responsible solutions, we offer our customers AluPure® aluminium billets produced in our own foundry, which consist of 100% recycled aluminium.

Billets made in our own foundry Mäkelä Alu has been producing recycled aluminium for a long time, as many of our customers look for the lowest possible primary percentage, or want to use our recycled aluminium, AluPure® in their aluminium profiles.

Selecting aluminium profiles made from recycled

aluminium billets allows you to reduce the carbon handprint of the final product. For example, our customer Solar Finland has long used responsibly manufactured aluminium profiles in its production.

Low emissions, high impact

The emissions of AluPure® are very low, only 2.01 tn CO2e/t. The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) describes the climate impact of human-produced greenhouse gases. The measurement unit used (tn CO2e/t) illustrates how many carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes are produced when a thousand kilogrammes of product are manufactured. By comparison, the average emissions of primary aluminium produced in Europe are 6.7 tn CO2e/t. The raw material emission calculation is based on standard EN ISO 14044:2006, and sections A1–A3

have been taken into account in the calculation.

“The figures show that the choice of aluminium profile manufacturer can have a great impact on the climate and the environment. By choosing AluPure®, you are making a choice for the environment and the climate,” says Päivi Venesoja, Mäkelä Alu’s EHSQ Manager.

Where does Mäkelä Alu’s recycled aluminium come from?

Process and quality scrap generated in our production is melted for reuse in our own foundry. In addition to our own production scrap, we also collect scrap aluminium from our downstream companies and customers.

“In our foundry, scrap aluminium is melted into billets that can be used as a raw material in profile production. In the melting process, we ensure that the specification of the mixture to be melted is met by using a proper combination of alloying elements,” says Päivi Venesoja.

EDP and the Nordic Swan Ecolabel

We have just completed an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for profiles made from both recycled AluPure® and primary aluminium.

“An Environmental Product Declaration is a standardised and reliable way to present a lifecycle analysis of a product or service. An EPD is an independently verified and certified document that provides clear and comparable information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its life-cycle,” says Päivi Venesoja.

AluPure® also bears the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Ympäristömerkintä Suomi Oy has approved the use of window profiles made from Mäkelä Alu’s recycled aluminium in Nordic Swan Ecolabelled buildings in accordance with the building requirement O25 (“Windows and outer doors of non-renewable materials”).

The label is an official ecolabel used in the Nordic countries, which means that the product or service meets the environmental criteria set for the label.

Mäkelä Alu’s aluminium profile is an environmentally friendly choice

The carbon handprint will become an important factor in purchasing decisions in the coming years. Emissions comparisons show that by choosing Mäkelä Alu, you can significantly improve the environmental friendliness of your company’s operations.

Mäkelä Alu has noticed a clear change in what drives customers’ choices. Customers are no longer interested only in the price of the product, but also in the emissions generated by its production. This trend started a few years ago and only seems to be gaining further momentum.

“In the past, customers may have wanted to ensure that the aluminium we use is primary aluminium and that it doesn’t contain any recycled material. Now many look for the lowest possible primary content or want their aluminium profiles to be made from recycled aluminium produced in our

foundry,” says Mäkelä Alu’s EHSQ Manager Päivi Venesoja

Mäkelä Alu has invested in monitoring and reducing emissions for years, long before environmental issues and carbon dioxide emissions became hot topics. A few years ago, Mäkelä Alu prepared a detailed report of its emissions, and an article was recently published on the report.

Over the last ten years, the company’s production emissions have been reduced by more than half, while production volumes have increased.

“So, investing in environmental friendliness is not new to us, but we are only now starting to talk about it. We are proud to offer our customers aluminium profiles that are among the purest in the world and that have been produced responsibly by any measure,” says Petri Mäkelä, Chairman of the Board.

The carbon handprint reveals the environmental impact of your choices What is new even to Mäkelä Alu, however, is a concept that companies are just learning to use, and that is the carbon handprint.

The concept provides a new way of approaching product and operational emissions and the environmental impact of our choices. It is directly linked to the carbon footprint.

• The carbon footprint tells you the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product or activity.

• The carbon handprint tells you how much a company’s solution reduces the carbon footprint of another company, i.e., the customer. In other words, it tells you the positive climate impact of a product compared to other products.

“The carbon handprint is calculated for the customer. The smaller the company’s carbon footprint, the larger the carbon handprint it can offer its customers,” says Venesoja.

Companies can start to examine the environmental friendliness of their operations by asking for their raw material supplier’s emissions

information and comparing them with other suppliers’ figures. In this way, companies can directly calculate how their choice of supplier affects the environmental impact and carbon footprint of their operations.

The carbon handprint provided by Mäkelä Alu

When comparing the emissions from Mäkelä Alu’s aluminium production with global and European averages, we are talking about large figures and significant differences in environmental impact.

The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) describes the climate impact of human-produced greenhouse gases. The measurement unit used (tn CO2e/t) illustrates how many carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes are produced when a thousand kilogrammes of product are manufactured.

Emissions from Mäkelä Alu’s raw material production / emissions (tn CO2e /t)

• Mäkelä Alu’s own recycled aluminium 2.01 / average emissions of aluminium used worldwide (incl. recycled and primary) average 11.3 > carbon handprint 9.29

• Mäkelä Alu’s own recycled aluminium 2.01 / average emissions of primary aluminium used in Europe 8.7 > carbon handprint 6.69

• Primary aluminium purchased by Mäkelä Alu 5.67 / average emissions of primary aluminium produced worldwide 18 > carbon handprint 12.33

• Primary aluminium used by Mäkelä Alu 5.67 / average emissions of primary aluminium used in Europe 8.7 > carbon handprint 3.03

In addition to raw material, the carbon handprint can also be calculated for transport and profile production, among other things. Mäkelä Alu has calculated the emissions resulting from all these processes. For example, a comparison with the European average of aluminium profile production emissions shows that

• the figure in Europe (0.68) is more than seven

times higher compared to Mäkelä Alu’s aluminium profile production (0.094). The carbon handprint of our extrusion process is as much as 0.586 tn CO2e per tonne of aluminium produced.

Your choice of partner can have a big impact on climate change

The figures show that the choice of aluminium profile manufacturer can have a great impact on the climate and the environment. By choosing Mäkelä Alu’s aluminium profiles, the customer makes a choice that is better for the environment.

It is good to be aware of these things and think about whether a company that uses aluminium produced in Asia, for example, can claim to be operating in an environmentally friendly way.

“The differences are so great that it’s hard to grasp. Even though this works in our favour, this is not a good situation, it’s alarming,” says Petri Mäkelä.

“Operators around the world still tend to build their primary aluminium production plants directly over the energy source. Production facilities are literally built on top of a coal or natural gas deposit. This provides the energy needed for the production and processing of aluminium,” says Mäkelä.

The carbon handprint will become a key factor in purchasing decisions

So, what exactly has awoken businesses in recent years?

“Obviously, facts that cannot be ignored,” says Venesoja.

“One change is probably that the generation that has grown up with the realities of climate change is now starting to be in charge of purchases in companies. The criteria for selecting raw material

suppliers will change along with them. A cheap price will no longer be prioritised over responsibility issues in procurement,” says Mäkelä.

Mäkelä believes that in just a few years, the carbon handprint will be an important factor when making purchasing decisions.

As customers pay more and more attention to emissions, the market will become less favourable for cheap aluminium produced in Asia, for example.

Where does Mäkelä Alu’s large carbon handprint come from?

One big factor, of course, is our raw material, which comes from our responsible, long-term partners. The primary aluminium we purchase is mainly produced with hydropower.

Our own foundry also plays an important role. The recycled aluminium produced at the foundry is approved for the manufacture of products bearing the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

Mäkelä Alu’s production plants have used green energy for years. In addition, the company is constantly developing new solutions to improve energy efficiency and the use of waste energy. Mäkelä Alu is also working to eliminate the use of LPG in the near future.

“We have planned various measures for different sectors to further reduce our emissions in the coming years,” says Venesoja.

Mäkelä Alu has set a target to make its production carbon-neutral by 2025.

All necessary measures must be taken to reduce the burden on the planet. For this reason, Mäkelä Alu constantly strives to further improve its carbon handprint.

A durable and visually appealing coating solution Decoral

Elegant and sustainable

Mäkelä Alu’s latest novelty of AluCoating® surface treatment concept is Decoral – a decorative coating which imitates stone, wood, or almost any desired pattern. Decoral is an excellent coating option for aluminium profiles when visually appealing but lightweight structures are required. Wooden structures are naturally heavy; aluminium may be a more sensible option for large structures. Fire load can also be reduced significantly by using aluminium. Decoral-coated aluminium profiles have the same properties as powder-coated profiles. The coating is durable and protects the aluminium from abrasion. The Decoral coating does not require any maintenance even in outdoor use. Dirt and stains can be removed from the surfaces by washing. Decoralcoated products can also be recycled. The Decoral coating can be applied up to 6.7-metre-long aluminium profiles. Chech out our coating options on our website

”Decoral is a durable and stylish coating solution that can withstand even the harshest conditions.”

Citius, altius, fortius –

Grow your business with the AluServices® concepT

How does your company ensure that customer orders are quickly delivered to production? The traditional solution is to buy large quantities of raw materials for stock as cheaply as possible. However, this ties up capital, takes up space, and hinders the growth and development of the business.

These are things that Mäkelä Alu’s customers do not have to worry about when purchasing alumini um profiles.

“This type of operating model does not meet cur rent needs, and it does not allow us to respond to in dividual orders, especially those that contain profiles in customised colours,” says Mäkelä Alu’s Export Manager Janne Lager

Cost-effectiveness over cheapness

Mäkelä Alu’s AluServices® concept is a customer-ori ented solution that has been developed based on cus tomer needs. We aim to ensure that our customers get the aluminium profiles they need as easily as pos sible and exactly when they need them.

“Our goal is not always to sell the product at the lowest price, but to offer the most cost-effective solu tion for the customer. After all, the final price is not solely determined by the price of raw materials, but by the efficiency of the entire production process. That is where our customised service packages bring added value. The overall benefits should be assessed by looking at the process as a whole, not just focusing

on the time of purchase,” says Lager.

However, Lager emphasises that buying a single service, such as the warehouse outsourcing service, is not enough in itself. The company must have a clear overall picture of their operations. In addition, they must be able to identify production bottlenecks and be prepared to change the process as needed.

The optimisation of deliveries requires an understanding of the big picture

The optimisation of order and delivery processes requires consideration of the customer’s operating methods, material needs, and customer orders. It also requires the customer to look at the big picture and plan ahead, as well as to form and maintain a good relationship with the aluminium profile supplier that is based on mutual trust.

“An increasing number of our customers are embracing the ‘Mäkelä model’, which is based on partnership, collaboration, and communication. This model has helped us grow both our customers’ and our own business,” says Lager.

No tied-up capital and a committed partnership

Mäkelä Alu started developing its additional services two decades ago based on its customers’ wishes and everyday challenges. Even back then, our goal was to offer solutions that facilitate our customers’ everyday life, ensure reliable and flexible deliveries, provide ways to manage a wide range of profiles, and help our customers grow their business.

In our model, the customer does not have to tie up large amounts of capital in warehousing activities, but commitment to the partnership is key. It enables completely new ways of working.

Order and delivery processes can be standardised and optimised on a customer-specific basis and the delivery times of the profiles can be coordinated according to the customer’s production schedule. In this way, Mäkelä Alu is able to reserve the necessary production and storage capacity for the customer’s products, which ensures security of supply.

“Standardising deliveries ensures that the right profiles are always available when needed. This provides our customers with a significant competitive advantage, as the estimated delivery time for individual orders on the market is currently up to 15–19 weeks,” says Lager.

Customised service packages

Aluminium profile orders can be complemented by our additional services, such as surface treatment, warehousing, and automated inventory management services. You can also order the profiles in protective baskets that facilitate the handling, storage, and transport of the profiles. The warehousing and surface treatment solutions provided in connection with profile deliveries make it possible to maintain a buffer that meets your production’s varying material needs throughout the processing chain.

Our e-services make ordering easy and efficient, and allow you to check the status of your orders in real time. If necessary, the ordering process can be fully automated by integrating Mäkelä Alu’s ordering system into your company’s systems.

Let us know what your needs are, and we will offer you a whole range of options as a turnkey delivery.

Benefits of our services:

• One delivery, one invoice – quickly, efficiently, and reliably

• Quick deliveries also for profiles treated with spe cial colours

• Recurring purchases enable money to circulate faster and ensure an even cashflow

• Low warehousing and inventory costs and oppor tunity to invest your capital in other business areas

• Waste is minimised

• Possibility to use your storage space for other pur poses

• Flexible service

• Continuous monitoring and communication and the possibility to agree on stock level and order changes as necessary

• Simple claims process

More competitiveness for your company with our services

The additional logistics services we have developed with our customers provide profile handling, transportation, and warehousing solutions. We aim to ensure that our customers get the aluminium profiles they need as easily as possible and exactly when they need them.

AluBasket® is a weatherproof and environmentally friendly aluminium basket solution for transporting, handling and storing long aluminium profiles. Against a payment, you will receive baskets for transporting and storing the aluminium profiles. The baskets are stackable and easy to handle with a forklift. They make handling the profiles easier and protect them from damage. Because the baskets are reusable, the amount of packaging waste is also reduced.

The AluStorage® service involves warehousing your aluminium profiles at our warehouse in Luomaaho or Voikkaa in Kuusankoski. The stock is maintained and refilled automatically by our system, in accordance with the agreed service level. We will make sure that there are always enough goods for your company’s needs. Automation makes it easy to maintain the agreed stock levels, so all you need to do is make an order and wait for the delivery.

AluCallOff® is a warehousing service that takes place in the customer’s facilities but is managed by us. This service saves the customer a lot of work and capital required for warehousing. AluCallOff® means that your business can rely on continuous profile availability without separate orders or delivery times.

AluVendor® is an application that enables automated order tracking and stock management. As a registered customer, you can use the application to check your stock levels and track the progress of your orders in real time.

The application shows the progress of orders in production, possible delays, orders going into production and already delivered aluminium profile deliveries.

We have created the AluCoating® concept that helps us meet the constantly growing surface treatment demand. It includes the most typical surface treatment options. The surface treatment method is always selected together with the customer in accordance with the intended purpose of the aluminium profile. The profiles can be powder coated with special colours, and we also offer two-colour painting.

Note that you can combine the AluCoating® service with the AluStorage® service, which means that the surface treated profiles will be delivered quickly and flexible exactly when you need them.

The purpose of the AluDesign® service is to design, together with the customer, an aluminium profile that is as cost-effective as possible. Our profile designers use modern equipment and the newest CAD software. If necessary, we can create a visual representation of the profile using 3D modelling, giving an accurate idea about what the final product will look like.

In the AluDesign® service, our professional profile designer helps the customer determine the best aluminium alloy and coating for the profiles to ensure they are tailored exactly to the customer’s needs.

We recycle our production scrap into low-emission aluminium billets. We call this green aluminium billet AluPure®. AluPure® is a low-emission aluminium raw material that significantly reduces the carbon footprint of your products.

Using AluPure® as a raw material in the production of your aluminium profiles is an environmentally friendly choice that allows you to save natural resources and the environment. Recycling one tonne of aluminium saves six tonnes of bauxite and nine tonnes of CO2 emissions!