Makela Alu Customer Magazine 2018

AluNews MÄKELÄ ALU CUSTOMER MAGAZINE 2018

FEATURED ARTICLES

3 6 10

INVESTING IN A CUTTING-EDGE PAINT LINE THE ENVIRONMENT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR STRATEGY THE STORY OF MÄKELÄ ALU

2

AluNews 2018 I

editorial

Contents

3

INVESTING IN A CUTTING-EDGE PAINT LINE

5

are you familiar with our AluServices-concept?

6

coming soon: track orders with your phone

7

durable and stylish - Decoral

8

the environment is an integral part of our strategy

10

Adaptable storage services facilitate daily operations

12

the story of mäkelä alu

14

80 years of superior service

Take a peek inside Mäkelä Alu You are holding the first printed edition of Mäkelä Alu’s customer magazine, AluNews. This magazine consists of selected articles from our online version of AluNews, which we have already been publishing for a while.

During the past few years, we have reached significant milestones. One example is the replacement of one of our old extrusion lines, in addition to several other production-related improvements and investments – not forgetting the productization of our services. Along the way, we have acquired many new employees and experiences.

We have also celebrated a significant anniversary: that is why you’ll find Mäkelä Alu’s story across the decades at the end of the magazine.

We hope you’ll enjoy reading AluNews, and maybe learn something new about us!

best regards, Mäkelä Alu, sales team

AluNews 2018 I news

Mäkelä Alu has invested approximately 10 million euros to modernise its production in Luoma-aho, Alajärvi.

INVESTING

IN A CUTTING-EDGE PAINT LINE Our strategy is to provide our customers with exceptional service and develop our production processes based on the needs of our customers.

Investments are necessary in order to achieve these goals The value of the investment is approximately three million euros. The investment will be implemented in the spring 2019. Over the past year or so, Mäkelä Alu has invested approximately

10 million euros to modernise its production in Luoma-aho, Alajärvi. The new paint line and warehouse will be located in Kuusankoski, Kymenlaakso.

3

4

“Our mission is to improve our customers’ competitiveness in the market” more flexible services to our customers The investment will also go towards increasing the company’s warehousing capacity. Increased warehousing capacity means more flexible services to Mäkelä Alu’s customers, which is an important part of the company’s strategy.

“With this investment, we will be able to maintain and improve our service capability and thus allow our customers to develop their own production processes. We are talking about a socalled flow production process, which includes, among other things, a warehousing service, which is part of our AluServices concept,” says Mäkelä Alu’s Chairman Petri Mäkelä.

The investment will increase Mäkelä Alu’s painting capacity by approximately 50%, and the

new line will feature the latest technology in the industry.

A New Branch in Kuusankoski We will also be opening a major new branch in Finland, as the new paint line and warehouse will be located in the company’s new location in Kuusankoski, Finland.

“This decision will improve the comprehensiveness and speed of our services. We have operated in Luoma-aho for decades, so this is a significant step for us. Our facilities in Luoma-aho employ nearly 300 workers. Over the past year, we have recruited over 70 new employees to Luoma-aho,” says Mäkelä.

The investment was driven by the positive development of the construction industry market and increasing customer needs.

“Our mission is to improve our customers’ competitiveness in the market. Our strategy is to provide our customers with exceptional service and develop our production processes based on the needs of our customers. Investments are necessary in order to achieve these goals,” Mäkelä adds.

Major investments in recent years In 2016 and 2017, we invested 10 million euros in modernizing our production. For example, we replaced our oldest extrusion line, which had served us for nearly 30 years. A modern P4 extrusion line system replaced the old P1 extrusion line. The new line was commissioned in the summer of 2017. In 2018, we have invested in, for instance, increasing our paint shop’s capacity and improving the functioning of the high-bay warehouse, as well as modernizing our packaging section.

We have also recruited a considerable number of new personnel: during the end of 2017 and the first half of 2018, we acquired nearly 70 new employees. These investments reflect our planning and preparation for growth.

5

Our latest video describes the benefits of AluStorage®; click below to watch it on YouTube.

Are you familiar with our AluServices concept?

Our goal is to offer a superior customer service experience. Towards this end, we have been developing for many years, together with our customers, our warehousing, design, surface treatment and logistics services. The AluServices concept has been built around our customers’ needs. Flexibility is the key: our services will help you obtain the profiles you need for your own production – exactly when you need them. This means our services can help you improve the efficiency of your production processes and optimize expenses.

Our services include the AluDesign® aluminium profile design service, the AluCoating® surface treatment service and the AluStorage® and

AluCallOff® warehousing services. Our latest video describes the benefits of AluStorage®; click here to watch it on YouTube. Please keep an eye on our new channel SALES MAKELA ALU– more videos will be added in the future!

https://youtu.be/uLGb6VW8ncc

ARE YOU ALREADY FOLLOWING US ON LINKEDIN? You can find us in LinkedIn! We hope you’ll follow us and stay up to date on our news.

6

AluNews 2018 I OUR

Services

Coming soon: track orders with your phone So far, our customers have been able to track orders and production effortlessly with the AluVendor software. Now, we are soon finishing our AluVendor mobile application. The application improves our services and it’s free for our customers. At this stage, the AluVendor app is available in Finnish, Swedish and English. We’re still improving the functionality of the app with deliveries outside Finland.

With the AluVendor app, you can track the status of your order, see possible delays and orders going to production. You can also check the outbound aluminium profile deliveries on the application.

We wanted to develop an application that would facilitate the tracking of orders even more. We are constantly developing our services. We want to offer our customers the best possible services and we want our customers to be able to anticipate delivery times in their production. With AluVendor, you can

With AluVendor, you can conveniently track your profile deliveries, anywhere, anytime. conveniently track your profile deliveries, anywhere, anytime.

The app is already available for download in App Store and the Google Play Store. The app works on iOS and Android devices. You can find the application using the name: AluVendor.

What are warehousing services?

The AluStorage® warehousing service is a part of our AluServices concept. In addition to manufacturing aluminium profiles, we also offer the customer additional services. AluStorage® provides the following benefits, among others: • The aluminium profiles are stored in our warehouse facility in Luoma-aho, so you do not need your own storage facility, which lowers your warehousing costs.

• Storing and maintenance will be carried out au-

tomatically, as agreed.

• You can also add our AluCoating® surface treatment service to your warehousing service and have your stored profiles will be delivered with finished coatings.

Automated operations will save you time and money. With AluStorage®, you will not have to make any investments in your own facilities. If you want to know more about our service, please contact our sales department.

7

Durable and stylish The specialty of our AluCoatingÂŽ surface treatment concept is Decoral, a decorative coating that can imitate stone, wood, or almost any desired pattern. Decoral is an excellent coating option for aluminum profiles when visually appealing but lightweight structures are required. Wooden structures tend to be heavy; aluminum may be a more sensible option for large structures. The use of aluminum can also significantly reduce the fire load.

A Decoral-treated profile has the same characteristic as a powder-coated one. The surface treatment is very durable and protects the aluminum from wear. In outdoor use, Decoral surfaces do not require any maintenance, and dirt can be washed off them easily. Decoral-treated materials can also be recycled. The Decoral coating can be applied up to 6.7-metre-long aluminum profiles. Decoral-treated aluminum profiles have the same properties as powder-coated profiles.

Visit our website to learn more about our coating options: www.makelaalu.fi -> surface treatment -> Decoral

Decoral amazing surface treatment for aluminium profiles

�Decoral is the right choice when you are looking for a durable and stylish coating solution.�

8

AluNews 2018 I WE

TELL

The environment is an integral part of our strategy For a long time now, we have been planning strategic solutions to reduce CO2 emissions and optimize our environmental performance.

The environment is very important to us.

Our production facility in Finland is located in the middle of the countryside, in the village of Luoma-aho. Here we get to enjoy the pure nature, but as an international actor, we understand, that environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility. That is why we work hard to protect the environment in every area of our business, which is reflected in our choices. In Mäkelä Alu, aluminium profiles are manufactured in accordance with green values.

A leader in waste-to-energy production A good example of our strategic solutions is our new press line, where heat can be recovered from the heat pump for recycling.

“All waste heat generated by the cooling process is transferred to water, from which heat can be recovered and utilized for heating the plant,” tells EHSQ Manager Päivi Venesoja. We are in the final stages of implementing the system.

9

At the end of the year, Mäkelä Alu will introduce electrically driven heat pumps at their anodizing plant. The electrically driven heat pumps do not use LPG as energy. The solution reduces carbon dioxide emissions from the entire plant.

“We aim to reduce our carbon footprint, for example, by monitoring our CO2 emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions are monitored more closely once every quarter of the year. We monitor all emissions to the air, water and land, and report them to the environmental authorities once a year,” tells Venesoja. Of course, emissions are monitored internally as well, some weekly and some monthly.

“The monitoring is continuous and extends through the entire organization, from management to production,” she adds.

Green energy Mäkelä Alu’s goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by one third between 2015 and 2020. The energy used by Mäkelä Alu is produced using hydropo-

The energy used by Mäkelä Alu is produced using hydropower wer. Mäkelä Alu has a green energy certificate, which is granted every three years. Switching to green energy has significantly reduced the company’s CO2 emissions.

“Investments are essential for achieving our goal. Energy consumption, heat recovery and sustainability are always considered when making new investments. Our compact facilities and the proximity of subcontractors reduce our carbon footprint as well,” Venesoja states.

In Mäkelä Alu, environmental friendliness is also taken into account in transport solutions.

“Deliveries are well planned so that trucks are fully loaded in both directions,” tells Venesoja.

In addition, all scrap metal produced in the pressing of aluminium profiles is recycled as raw material in Mäkelä Alu’s foundry.

10

AluNews 2018 I

OUR Customer TELLS

The competitive advantage of unipro® lighting track systems is high quality.

Adaptable storage services facilitate daily operations unipro oy continuously strives for high quality. In addition to automation, close cooperation with Mäkelä Alu is essential Mäkelä Alu has worked with unipro® lighting track systems already for nearly ten years. It all started when Unipro Oy concentrated its track production in Alajärvi. Unipro Oy selected Mäkelä Alu as its partner for aluminium production.

“Our lighting track systems were introduced

to the market in 2009–2010, when our cooperation began. We strongly believed that together with Mäkelä Alu, we could improve quality, product reliability and cost efficiency. We worked hard and persistently to execute these ideas, and still do,” they say from Unipro.

11 A reliable partner is essential at a time of rapid change Lighting tracks are volume products that are manufactured in large quantities, even with varying demand. Tracks are used, for example, in store display counters, where spotlights are attached to the lighting tracks.

“The field of electricity products is a hectic one, suppliers must be able to react and carry out deliveries rapidly. This could not be achieved without efficient aluminium profile deliveries,” the customer says.

For years, Mäkelä Alu manufactured and stored aluminium profiles in advance for Unipro’s needs, from which the customer was able to order supplies when needed. The system worked well for a long time.

“At some point we wanted to increase automation and improve cost-efficiency even further. At this point, we incorporated the AluCallOff® service into the operation so that automation ensured that our warehouse always had the necessary amount of profiles,” says the customer.

The specified parameters in AluCallOff® take care of orders automatically.

“This reduces the amount of work and requires less monitoring as each batch does not need

”automation ensures that our warehouse always has the necessary amount of profiles” to be ordered separately. We report consumptions in AluCallOff® on a daily basis and Mäkelä Alu is able to react proactively, if necessary, and plan its own production. It’s a win win situation.”

Quality is perfected together According the customer, the competitive advantage of unipro® lighting track systems is high quality. The track design is refined, and quality is visible right at installation.

“We continuously strive for high quality. In addition to automation, close cooperation with Mäkelä Alu has been important to us. We carry out development cooperation, communicate efficiently and tackle areas of improvement. That is how we have managed so far, and surely will in the future.”

an aluminium profile delivery service Hassle-free storage with AluCallOff® AluCallOff® is a warehouse service maintained by us on the customer’s premises. The service significantly reduces the customer’s labour and capital that are bound to warehousing.

AluCallOff® guarantees the continuous availa-

bility of profiles without any separate ordering or delivery periods. Our AluVendor® system takes care of stock levels and restocking to make the management of warehouse capital and turnover easy. You can monitor warehouse and delivery status in real-timethrough the system.

12

AluNews 2018 I COMPANY history

Where it all began:

THE STORY OF MÄKELÄ ALU Fredrik Mäkelä’s sheet metal shop

to make his first set of brick coverings for stoves in the garden of

Tin plate dishes production 1938–1961

Born in Luoma-aho, Alajärvi, Fin-

his home in the summer of 1937.

Reeti’s business grew, and he be-

land, Fredrik “Reeti” Mäkelä

Sheet metal coverings for brick

gan working together with the

was interested in engineering

stoves were his first products,

village’s shopkeeper, Antti Luo-

since childhood. As a young man,

and at his busiest he was able to

ma-aho, who was pleased to add

he became an apprentice in a

make coverings for four stoves in

the popular tin plate dishes to his

sheet metal shop in Vähäkyrö.

one day. Peltisepänliike Fredrik

product range. The joint venture,

After returning to his home vil-

Mäkelä also made milk jugs and

“Luoma-aho ja Mäkelä, läkkiasti-

lage, Reeti realized his dream of

bowls of various sizes, buckets,

atehdas”, operated during 1938–

owning a business and founded a

pails, scoops, measuring jugs,

1939, after which both companies

sheet metal shop at the age of 20.

mugs and other tinplate prod-

continued on their own, and the

Reeti had acquired the neces-

ucts. In addition to Reeti him-

owners remained friends. From

sary tools, such as a joggling ma-

self, the metal shop also provided

1940 onwards, Reeti’s business

chine and various types of sheet

work for his cousins, Nikolai and

was known as “Fredrik Mäkelä,

metal cutters, which were used

Paavo Mäkelä.

läkkiastiatehdas”.

Covering for brick stove, sheet metal bowls and milk jugs alongside with aluminium extrusion tools at the Mäkelä Alu Museum.

13 Reeti started a family, and his son Esko was born in 1941. In the same year, the construction of their home and the attached workshop was completed. This was the first workshop of his own for Reeti, and it was later expanded. He continued making stove coverings and tin plate dishes.

During the war, when materials were hard to acquire, the shop also made wooden dishes.

The shop was also influenced by the war in other ways, as more and more employees were drafted into the army. During the war, and in the following years demand fluctuated rapidly, which forced the company to continue developing its production and operations. Over the years, they manufactured e.g. shots, pins, stove dampers, strainers, ash

At the beginning of the 1980s profiled roofing products such as the Yliveto and Ikipaanu were developed.

box doors, water and oil lamps,

ed washing bowls, buckets, milk

also made. Reeti was also among

play dishes for children, sugar

jugs and various cake molds and

the first to try constructing sheet

cutters, berry pickers and deco-

mugs. From 1963, the company

metal roofs, which later affected

rative copper pots. By the end of

made 20 000 molds a day for the

his next business step.

the 1940’s, scoops and other sheet

ready meal industry, and the pro-

The production of dishes and

metal dishes could be galvanized

cess was fully automated. Thus,

various construction materials

at Luoma-aho.

the first contact with aluminium

continued throughout the 1960s.

At the beginning of the 1950s,

took place quite a long time ago.

Reeti predicted that the demand for tin plate dishes was going to

However, to support future developments, the company decided, at the beginning of the 1960s,

decrease, but quality require-

Mäkelän Peltituote Ky 1962–1976

ments would go up. Therefore,

By the end of the 1950s, Reeti was

ny type. Reeti’s son, Esko, had

he began to design aluminium

assessing the opportunities of-

grown up working in the busi-

dishes to sell along with the tin

fered by the construction indus-

ness and followed in his father’s

plate dishes. The company began

try. The first construction-relat-

footsteps. Esko became the of-

manufacturing aluminium dish-

ed products made by his business

fice manager for the family busi-

es using a spinning technique at

were sauna stoves. Around the

ness after the limited partnership

the beginning of the 1950s. In-

same time, ventilation ducts

company began its operation in

deed, by the end of the decade,

were also added to the product

1962. The company began to con-

their aluminium dish produc-

range. Rainwater gutters, down-

sider switching completely to

tion had increased exponentially.

pipes and many types of fittings

sheet metal roof manufacturing,

The bestselling products includ-

needed for construction were

and Esko was strongly in favour

to change its name and compa-

14 of this development. At the end

trial hall construction purposes

metal products were exported,

of 1965, the company bought its

and the development of Mäkelä’s

for example, to the Soviet Union

first roof seaming machine. The

own sheet metal roofing prod-

for the 6,000 kilometre gas pipe

aluminium mold pressing ma-

ucts also continued. Based on cus-

project in Kostomuksha. Overall,

chine was sold in 1974, and the

tomer needs, new profiled roof-

more than 600,000 square meters

money was used to buy a roof pro-

ing products such as the Yliveto

of profiled steel sheet were sup-

file machine. This was the larg-

and Ikipaanu were developed. At

plied. In 1984–85, up to 50% of the

est change that had been made n

that time, Esko’s 16-year-old son,

company’s production was ex-

in the history of Mäkelän Peltit-

Petri, began working at Mäkelä

ported.

uote, and it launched the compa-

In the 1980s, the company’s pro-

ny into a growth spurt. They be-

file and profiled roofing produc-

gan making sheet metal roofs and

tion developed positively, but in

From Mäkelä Metals to Mäkelä Alu

installing them for their custom-

Mäkelä Ltd, any signs of changing

At the beginning of the 1980s, the

ers. Continuous development of

times were monitored keenly. The

company’s management realized

the roof profiles during everyday

competition in roof manufactur-

that no more growth was to be

work was, even then, a part of the

ing was tough, and sales were un-

expected in the sheet metal pro-

company’s operations.

likely to increase. Therefore, the

file business. At the beginning of

In 1977, Mäkelän Peltituote be-

company decided to begin man-

the 1970s, Esko had visited Nor-

came a limited company. A gen-

ufacturing facade cassettes. In

way and seen an aluminium ex-

erational change took place at

1985, they purchased a fully au-

truder. In the early 80s, on a visit

the same time, and Esko Mäkelä

tomated production line that was

to Norway, Esko saw an alumini-

became the new CEO. In the 70s,

the first of its kind in Finland. In

um extruder After the visit, the

light rafters were made for indus-

the beginning of the 1980s, sheet

possibility of aluminium pro-

80 years of superior service The year 2017 we were celebrating our 80th year of operations. Over the years we have grown from a small sheet metal workshop to a large company which manufactures aluminium profiles and employs almost 300 people.

”I believe that the key to our 80 years of operations is our will to find solutions for our customers that help them to succeed,” says Petri Mäkelä, a third-generation entrepreneur in the company, and Chairman of the Board.

For years, international trade has played a significant role in the steady growth of the company’s operations. ”Export markets have been an important source of growth for us. We have excellent partners across Europe, and a subsidiary in Sweden. We aim to expand exports further,” adds Mäkelä.

Our operations are cons-

15 file production remained at the back of his mind. The construction of a new production line in a brand-new hall began in 1989.

The line installed was purchased from Germany, and it became the most advanced extrusion line in the Nordic countries. At the time, the company was already known as Mäkelä Metals, and the first aluminium profiles were extruded at the factory on 16.12.1990. In the early 1990s, the company’s entire steel sheet production was sold to Rautaruukki. This became the most extensive production change in the company’s history.

From then on, the company has been known as Mäkelä Alu Oy. Esko’s son, Petri Mäkelä, was appointed as the deputy managing director in 1999. Currently, Petri is the chairman of the board.

tantly developing. In recent years particularly, the world has changed rapidly, so it’s important to be flexible and able to anticipate changes. ”The best service always comes from the customer’s needs. Good service is all about taking those needs into account. Of course, some things need to be anticipated in advance, such as the possibilities provided by digitality and automation. What new things can we provide for our customers? What solutions can make daily life easier for the customer? What would provide flexibility and speed?

These are all things that we

Exhibition of the company history at the 80 years of Mäkelä Alu celebration at Helsinki.

Celebrating the Mäkelä Alu 80th anniversary at Luoma-aho. develop and monitor,” says Mäkelä.

The way we work is also an important success factor for the entire company and local commerce. ”One of our missions is to create local wellbeing. This

means that we never make short-term decisions; instead we look to the future so that within our company, within our local community and within the region itself it is a pleasure to work, live and run a business,” sums up Mäkelä.

MÄKELÄ ALU OY | Mäkeläntie 2, 62830 LUOMA-AHO, FINLAND +358 6 557 7600 | sales@makelaalu.fi | www.makelaalu.fi