Scope #15 (12/2021)

15th Prohoc Stakeholder Magazine Winter 2021/22 prohoc.fi

MORE POWER TO HR

MAKING EVERY ENCOUNTER MATTER STRONG BUSINESS OUTLOOK

100 new people working for Prohoc in 2021

15th

9 10 14

2

4

Growth with Strategic Partners

14

7

RECOMILL: Extracting Value out of Waste Streams

18

9

Portrait: Jan Hägg

20

10

More Power to HR & Recruitment

22

13

ccWOIMA – Fast-track Route to Capturing CO2

Industry 5.0 – People Back in Focus

Strong Development and Business Outlook for 2022 The Smart Technology Hub – Maximizing Customer Value

Wellbeing: Dip in the Freezing Water

SCOPE is a stakeholder magazine giving insight to the daily business and development of Prohoc

Group and its personnel. PUBLISHER: Prohoc Group EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Ilkka Palola ART DIRECTOR: Jonne-Pekka Stenroos/Staart COVER PHOTO: Mikko Lehtimäki PRINTED BY: Printhaus Pori Oy, Finland.

Papers and inks used are eco-friendly and produced responsibly.

KEYNOTE

ADAPTING to the UNPREDICTABLE A management and a business strategy leader Henry Mintzberg says, that ‘when the world is predictable you need smart people. When the world is unpredictable you need adaptable people.’

This has been proved to be very true. Many of us have been sailing through the stormy waters during the last two years: layoffs, personal and family drawbacks, business challenges, and loads of uncertainty about the future. Our comfortable home couch turned out to be a not-so-comfortable business centre for remote work. However smart and adaptable people have turned their homes into business cockpits using a wardrobe as an office, rearranged bookcases as cubicles and ironing boards as standing tables.

After one year of hard times it all went to the opposite: back to the office, growth, opportunities generating loads of work, busy and long business hours, and the most important: smiles back on people's faces. This has been a year of strong growth and change in how we lead the team of 200+ people. It’s been one of the biggest business rollercoasters of our lives. And as we have seen, both ups and downs generate sunken eyes and need for balance in our business and personal life.

Ilkka Palola

What usually brings stability and results are the routines. This applies

CEO

both to business organisations and to our personal life. When we do the small everyday tasks as good as we can, repeat them daily,

A smalltown boy, born by the sea. A complex

challenge and adjust them if needed, we will see the results – if we

mixture of an engineer and a humanist.

are patient enough.

Passionate about planning for the next steps.

Spends most of his free time on his couch with the family, running with a map in the woods,

Surely, we can and need to seize the moment when heroic efforts are

sweating in Les Mills classes and playing with

needed, but our maturity increases, and capabilities are enhanced

excel spreadsheets. • LINKEDIN: @ilkkapalola

when routines turn into habits, processes, and growth. Even the rollercoaster ride becomes a routine, when repeated.

Another lesson for life was the importance and support of the people and the team. Something that we already have in our company DNA, PHOTO: MIKKO LEHTIMÄKI

and what has been proven to be true again. Being remote from the office and co-workers do not necessary ruin your well-being, but we all have learned the social nature of our brains and the need for connection to co-workers and to our business tribe of customers and partners. It feels so good to be back at the office and meet people in real life – instead of talking to them on laptop screen from wardrobe.

3

STRATEGY

GROWTH with STRATEGIC PARTNERS and LOYAL EMPLOYEES

There are several strategies how to generate growth and build strategic partnership with customers. Prohoc has 25 years of experience in project and manufacturing industry services, and that journey in service business has taught us that growth and good partnerships start with a combination of loyal and satisfied employees and high-quality services.

The service value chain model (Fig. 1) has been the backbone of our mission for several years. The logic of service business is simple: business profit and growth are stimulated by customer loyalty. Loyalty is a deliverable of customer satisfaction and satisfaction is heavily impacted by the value of the service we provide to our customers.

The core of service-profit chain – and the core of our mission – is that service value is created by satisfied, loyal and productive employees. This needs to be supported by high-quality internal services and leadership that enable and empower employees to create value. Easily to be described in couple of paragraphs, but as we know, requires a delicate strategy to be executed.

DRIVING GROWTH IS SIMPLE – YET SO DIFFICULT

During 2021 we were successful in taking the next step in our growth journey. We trialed and errored many growth opportunities and were successful in couple of them. To really create growth, one needs to accept that not all initiatives will make it. We need to increase the speed of this learning cycle and utilize the key findings for the next one. It all starts with people that have courage to go there in times of uncertainty and accept a possible failure, and the right transformative leadership to serve that. When it then comes to execution and scaling, it’s all about clarity of the vision, concentrating on the jobs to be

5

CONTINUES →

FIG. 1

The Links in the Service-Profit Chain OPERATING STRATEGY AND SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM

EMPLOYEE RETENTION INTERNAL SERVICE QUALITY

◊ Workspace design ◊ Job design ◊ Employee selection and development ◊ Employee rewards and recognition ◊ Tools for serving customers

EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION

REVENUE GROWTH EXTERNAL SERVICE VALUE

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

CUSTOMER LOYALTY

EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY

PROFITABILITY

◊ Service concept: results for customers

◊ Service designed and delivered to meet targeted customer’s needs

◊ Retention ◊ Repeat business ◊ Referral

STRATEGY

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

done and finally preserving the energy needed to finish of all that work. On the execution phase, it might be even so that less is more – to do fewer things that are the most important than the other way around.

EMPOWERING EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

6

We have set our most important strategic objective to be the workplace that enables best employee experience of the industry. Heskett et al. study indicates, that working environment impacts the most to employee satisfaction.

In our business employee satisfaction generates from our culture, workplace and job design, exact talent acquisition, good leadership in the form of feedback and recognition, and giving our employees the right tools to INSTEAD OF PUTTING serve our customers.

"Based on our wellbeing survey and interviews, CANDIDATES TO SERVE the clarity of job requirements, getting feedback, THE ACQUISITION and safety in form of visibility to future projects are important", says Kia Lettelin-Kock, Employee PROCESS WE HAVE Experience Specialist at Prohoc.

Our certified (ISO45001) employee health and TURNED IT THE OTHER safety management system contains several obWAY AROUND: TO FIND, jectives and policies to ensure internal quality and good employee experience. It provides a good SERVE AND ADD VALUE system and measures to manage talents. In the end, the employee satisfaction is measured by the TO THE CANDIDATES AND feelings that employees have toward their jobs, MATCH JOBS AND THEIR colleagues, customers, and company.

Same importance of feelings and satisfaction NEEDS ARE IMPORTANT applies to talent acquisition. Shortage and struggle for candidates is no longer the tragedy of ICT PARTS OF OUR INTERNAL industry only, project experts and manufacturing SERVICE QUALITY. competences are getting rare too. Instead of putting candidates to serve the acquisition process we have turned it the other way around: To find, serve and add value to the candidates and match jobs and their needs are important parts of our internal service quality. #Empoweringpeople has been our strategy hashtag for years. We believe that putting focus on things that generate employee satisfaction is a key to successful business.

References: Putting the Service-Profit Chain to Work. James L. Heskett et al., 2008.

Harward Business Review Sisäinen motivaatio (In Finnish). 2014. Frank Martela & Karoliina Jarenko.

Eduskunnan tulevaisuusvaliokunnan julkaisu 3/2014

RECOMILL

EXTRACTING VALUE out of WASTE STREAMS Superb news for all of our customers, Recomill has strengthened the team and made significant strides in developing Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) Technology. In addition to our own HTC technology, we provide our customers with rendering solutions and consulting services related to other bio-based materials. Our value proposition is that we help our customers extract value out of their waste streams.

CONTINUES →

“WE SEE PLENTY OF DEMAND FOR RECOMILL’S SERVICES IN THE GLOBAL MARKET. JAN BRINGS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE WHAT RECOMILL NEEDS ON THE ROUTE TO GROWTH”

Ilkka Palola CEO PROHOC GROUP

7

RECOMILL FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

H

ydrothermal carbonization is a thermochemical conversion process that uses heat to convert wet biomass feedstocks to hydrochar. The aqueous slurry after the (HTC) reactor is centrifuged or filtered to separate the process water and solids (wet cake). The wet cake is then dried to produce a carbon-rich hydrochar, which can be used to as fuel for power plants, soil improvement, and active carbon material for industrial applications.

Waste residuals like sludge from wastewater treatment and biogas plants digestates are an urgent challenge worldwide associated with constantly rising costs due to growing environmental requirements. At the same time, sewage sludge offers enormous potential for generating renewable energy and recovering valuable nutrients for plant fertilization.

We are currently putting together RECOMILL’s pilot plant project and after completion, the plant can test various waste streams and verify the output, even on-site at customers’ premises. The pilot plant is a mobile 40” sea container-sized modular unit with a processing capacity of 0,5 m3/h, 6 t/d tn/d. It matches the full-scale technology, demonstrating the plant’s excellent scalability possibilities and providing a proof-of-technology and business case for the customers prior to building a full-scale plant.

Jan Hägg OY EL-HO AB 2020–2021

Sales Manager OY NORCAR AB 2015–2020

Export Manager

8

ADVANCED RENDERING TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

RECOMILL’s rendering technology can turn animal by-products into profit. This is a very natural development in the meat supply chain since recycling processes happen in the nature all the time. RECOMILL plant rendering process will recycle the by-products in a controlled manner. Animal by-products are recycled ecologically into valuable raw materials: meat bone meal and fat.

RECOMILL offers turnkey rendering solutions and related services in cooperation with Honkajoki Oy. The technology is well proven and developed by Honkajoki for decades. Advanced rendering technology and expertise make RECOMILL plant a highly profitable and complete solution while offering a sustainable manner to recycle animal by-products.

In the environmental business area, customers are willing to invest in a technology that solves their challenges. RECOMILL’s explicit goal is to ensure that customers only need to discuss with one company to get a complete solution for their challenge. We provide feasibility, concept and FEED-studies and help our customers develop the project into a bankable stage and later offer the project execution with an EPC/EPCM contract. For larger projects without our proprietary technology, the customer may contract a separate EPC while we can be involved the owners’ team.

As a part of the Prohoc Group, RECOMILL has a unique position to leverage the capabilities of the entire group to offer a comprehensive value proposition to the market. RECOMILL experts look into the future with a positive and brave attitude while staying humble to learn every day.

Sales and Marketing Director RECIPROTOR A/S 2012-2015

Nordic Sales Manager KWH PIPE LTD 2004-2012

Project Engineer Product Manager Business Development Manager

PORTRAIT: Jan

Hägg

Jan is confident that RECOMILL’s strategy will be successful and soon they are able to publish good news regarding RECOMILL’s operations.

“Our key value proposition is to create value from our customers’ waste streams. I see providing customer value combined with flexibility and innovations as our key strengths in this business. Currently, we are searching for the right configuration on how to operate with all stakeholders.”

Fact-based and straightforward is how Jan describes his working style. He strives to collect information to support decision making on the best available knowledge. He emphasizes fostering customer relationships as one of the key issues that must be ensured in all activities. Overcoming any emerging challenges together with customers will help customers to be successful now and in the future.

“Our capability to deliver turnkey projects within the environmental business sector will make us a key player in this segment.”

Jan states.

Look to the future, live in the present

PHOTO: MIKKO LEHTIMÄKI

J

an Hägg steers RECOMILL on the road to growth supporting a mission to offer modular solutions for recycling organic sludges. Jan brings his extensive expertise and business development skills to make RECOMILL a well-known and recognized company in the environmental business solutions space.

RECOMILL is on the growth path, and there is a vast demand for the company’s solutions in the global market. The company’s strength is the agility and modularity of the technology, which offers efficient possibilities to provide organic-waste-to-value solutions.

Jan Hägg’s role is to guide RECOMILL along this path and enable growth and success with customers and other stakeholders.

“Excellent work ethics combined with smooth collaboration skills” Jan answers on how to achieve the goals set together. Jan hopes that he could be the unifying force that brings people and different stakeholders together.

FROM PIETARSAARI TO HOKKAIDO

During Jan’s journey from his hometown Pie­ tarsaari to RECOMILL, he has seen wastewater treatment companies grow towards success. Jan intends to leverage his experience and his philosophy of life at RECOMILL. Jan draws his life philosophy from a quote from Petra Nemcova; learn from the past, look to the future, but live in the present. Jan says it is essential to him to take care of his well-being by spending time with family, doing sports, and enjoying the peace of the family’s summer cottage.

“I like practical things like chopping wood, building, and repairing things and of course fishing with rod and nets. My passion is freeskiing both in the Alps and in Lapland.

I have a dream of going on a skiing trip to Alaska and Hokkaido in Japan.”

“Enjoy the winter season and go out for some cross-country skiing in the forest after a day at work.“

9

BUILDING THE PROHOC COMMUNITY

MORE POWER to HR and RECRUITMENT The organization of Prohoc has strengthened in many areas during 2021. Kia Lettelin-Kock and Johanna Finström-Sara are one of the latest examples to increase power in the backoffice function.

CONTINUES →

10

Johanna Finström-Sara TITLE

Talent Acquisition Specialist WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU NOTICE ABOUT SOMEONE WHEN YOU FIRST MEET THEM

I pay attention to how the other party greets me and after that I check their shoes.

WHAT MAKES YOU SMILE THE MOST

I smile a lot, but you might also hear laughter when it comes to really bad jokes.

BEST IN PROHOC

Motivated colleagues and laughter every day

11

Kia Lettelin-Kock TITLE

Employee Experience Specialist WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU NOTICE ABOUT SOMEONE WHEN YOU FIRST MEET THEM

How the person bears him- or herself.

WHAT MAKES YOU SMILE THE MOST

My crazy family!

BEST IN PROHOC

PHOTOS: MIKKO LEHTIMÄKI

Colleagues and spring forward attitude

MORE POWER TO HR

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

K

12

ia was born in Vaasa, but raised in several locations in Finland, Sweden and United States. She chose to return to Vaasa when it was time to apply to university. Johanna is from Pietarsaari and moved to Vaasa 2012 when she started her studies at Åbo Akademi University. Vaasa was suitable sized city for her so she decided to stay.

Both ladies spend most of their spare time at home with family and friends. Johanna has a dog named Börje and walking the dog has become a daily routine. Johanna also enjoys working out at the gym.

Kia had tried many things until early adulthood when she fell for pole dancing.

“It is a challenging, creative and rewarding sport.” Kia says. Now she even works part time as a pole dance instructor and enjoys seeing the students advance and overcome their fears of doing tricks upside down.

During Kia’s studies she worked as a pizzabaker, waitress and hostess. Making sure the customers left the restaurant satisfied was always the goal. For the past ten years she has worked with communications and marketing for various companies in the Vaasa region.

Johanna started her career in a clothing store and continued within a whole different working environment later at UPM Pulp Mill at Pietarsaari. After her studies she landed a job at a personnel and recruitment agency where she stayed for three years. Today Johanna is making sure that Prohoc’s recruitment process is outperforming the competition.

EVERY APPLICANT AND EMPLOYEE MATTER

Kia started working for Prohoc in the beginning of September 2021. She wanted a job where she could contribute more to employees’ wellbeing at work. ”I’m so grateful for the chance to learn new things at Prohoc and contribute to happier employees in many touchable ways,” Kia says. ”One of the company values is Make Every Encounter Matter. During the recruitment process we could see clearly how naturally Kia talks to new people and suits in our culture,” Johanna says.

Johanna has a background as a figure skater. She sees many analogies when thinking of the recruitment process as a figure skating program where every element has its place and time.

“For us all the applicants are equally important whether they get chosen or not in the end of the skating program. The big picture, for example how you are treated, is what matters for the applicants,” Johanna smiles.

When the new employee is hired Kia’s main task is seeing the employees as individuals and supporting team leaders/managers with building the best possible teams. ”We have applicants and employees working in customer projects all around the globe.

Building the Prohoc community better is a challenge. Everyone is important but how can we communicate this to all employees when we don’t get to meet them face to face?”

Kia asks. ”When people are looking for new challenges nowadays they tend to look for a company which values they can agree on.

The trend during the past years has been to emphasize the company values and culture in marketing.

THE BEST COMPANION FOR APPLICANTS AND EMPLOYEES

"EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT BUT HOW CAN WE COMMUNICATE THIS TO ALL EMPLOYEES WHEN WE DON’T GET TO MEET THEM FACE TO FACE?"

"Companies want to show for example how they contribute to charity, support renewable energy sources by having solar panels on the roof, or have an office with comfortable couches and billiard tables. However, underneath all the frosting people really care about what the every day work is like. If they know someone who works at the company where they are thinking about applying, they will ask the person how things are. Or when attending the job interview they will look for clues if the company is a good fit for them.” Kia and Johanna explain. ”The recruitment process has to be systematic and sometimes thinking out of the box is required.

Prohoc aims to be the best partner for our applicants and employees. We treat everyone equally no matter if they are first time applicants, working on a three month project or have a permanent contract within administration.” Johanna and Kia add.

The project business is everchanging and sometimes unpredictable in many ways.

When someone is thinking about taking the chance and to start working in the project world, Prohoc wants to be the most desired option to do this.

Energy us e

in I nd us try 2

4

Agriculture, Forestry & Land Use

the biggest challenges facing mankind today. EU has set an aggressive target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 in

WA S

the European Green Deal. By 2050,

3,2

Europe aims to become the world’s

%

18,4 % TE

Energy

INDUSTRY

first climate-neutral continent.

Y ENERG

% ,2

Climate change mitigation is one of

5,2 %

73,2 %

RE IC U LT U IN A G R G 1, 7% & F IS H IN

OM FR NS TION O I S UC ,8 % MIS ROD 5 P EE ITIV ERGY G FU EN

UN

S

everal simultaneous measures are required to reach those targets. Addressing greenhouse gas generation through reducing emissions from transport, boosting energy efficiency and renewable energy production, as well as promoting innovative low-carbon technologies is one important action path.

Another is targeting the current CO2-producing industrial processes with carbon capture technologies.

The ccWOIMA offers a fast-track route to capturing CO2 from different process gases.

This modular small-scale solution is based on patented energy-efficient capture technology.

It is a stand-alone system that can be installed in virtually any carbon dioxide generating process. The pre-engineered and prefabricat-

A

EL FU ION % D T E S ,8 AT B U 7 C M O LL CO

En erg

y use

Tra nspo rt 16,2 %

EN ROUTE TOWARDS A CARBON-NEUTRAL FUTURE

SOURCE: OURWORLDINDATA.ORG

WOIMA CARBON CAPTURE: ccWOIMA

,5 %

in buildings 17

ed solution offers significant CAPEX savings compared to one-off systems built on site.

And the carbon capture process uses standard low-cost industrial chemicals available anywhere in the world. Hence, the ccWOIMA offers unparalleled quality and short delivery time combined with reduced capital and operating costs. Naturally, the ccWOIMA solution combines seamlessly with our wasteWOIMA® power plant offering up to 95% capture rate.

Carbon capture alone does not solve the carbon dilemma. Downstream solutions for the storage (CCS) and utilization (CCU) of the captured carbon dioxide are required to permanently remove the CO2 from circulation.

CCS typically consists of transportation of liquefied CO2 to a geological storage in the

sub-surface rock formations, depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline formations. The preferred CCU uses CO2 in e.g. hydrocarbon conversion processes, plastics manufacturing and as reactant for various chemical synthesis.

Decarbonizing power industry is the key to success. Today, the energy sector is responsible for over 50% of the total global CO2 equivalent emissions of 52 billion tons p.a. Thus, it is an obvious choice for both CO2 reduction measures and WOIMA target market. EU alone is investing hundreds of millions of euros in the development of the carbon capture sector worth over 10 billion euros annually. And WOIMA is in a unique position to corner the market with its pioneering solution.

13

PEOPLE BACK IN FOCUS

INDUSTRY 5.0

W

hile industry 4.0 is still living its momentum, we need get ready for the next paradigm beyond the clouds, IoTs and robots. Industry 5.0 will bring people back into the business. Many studies claim that we will see increased human-machine collaboration, resiliency and sustainability becoming the major focus areas especially in manufacturing industry.

Human-machine collaboration in a way, that we use machines to leverage the human capabilities instead of humans serving machines, resiliency in a form that allows to build composable businesses that adapt and navigate fluently in uncertainty and sustainability in all its forms, meaning circular use of resources and high business ethics widely in everything we do.

People in post-Covid19 era will search for meaningfulness in their lives. To support and cope with this, companies are required to change from short-term leadership into more infinite game type of leadership, where the Just Cause, purpose and mission are attractive to appeal the very best talents.

"We have already seen this in talent acquisition. Our mission, just cause, employee well-being and sustainable development targets are now everyday topics in the interviews. These are also on the agenda in business discussions too", says Ilkka Palola, Prohoc Group CEO. The green transition will make big mo­ ney to follow carbon-neutral and sustainable businesses. Being among the companies that have robustness and agility in their operations, and who bring up people instead of see them as a resource will play a major role.

Another Industry 5.0 shift in business is that the boundaries between white-collar and blue-collar workers will be diminishing as the former blue-collar work will focus on tasks requiring creativity, RPA, communication, and co-creation skills. Wide global adoption of robotic automation will decrease the capex CONTINUES →

15

INDUSTRY 5.0

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

required to replace hard manual work with automation in the shop floors. This brings a wave of new competency requirements, and we need to start preparing for that in most businesses already today.

In terms of technology, Industry 5.0 wants to come and grip with the promises of advanced digitalisation, big data, and artificial intelligence, while emphasizing the role these technologies can play to address new, emergent requirements in the industrial, societal, and environmental landscape.

This means using data and AI to increase production flexibility in times of disruption and rendering value chains more robust. It also means deploying technology that adapts to the worker, rather than the other way around; and it means using new technologies such as gamification to create higher employee value and drive for circularity and sustainability.

"We believe that we are on the right track here with our approach to manufacturing and project services. Enabling people to move between traditional assembly work to commissioning, maintenance and even site supervisor roles are spot on what Industry 5.0 is all about", says Ilkka.

European Commission report on Industry 5.0 states that a transformed industry will have a transformative impact on society as well. This is foremost true for industry workers, who may see their role changed or even threatened. Changing roles and increased reliance on complex technologies will require new skills.

"People understanding the business and utilizing their skills in different lifecycle phase of product and plant bring totally new feedback and knowledge to the process and teams. It also expands viewpoint and helps to clarify the purpose and the impact of their work."

THE GREEN TRANSITION WILL MAKE BIG MONEY TO FOLLOW

16

CARBON-NEUTRAL AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES.

17

What is Industry 5.0?

HUMAN-CENTRIC SUSTAINABLE RESILIENT

Industry 5.0 provides a vision of industry that aims

It places the wellbeing of the worker at the centre of

beyond efficiency and productivity as the sole goals

the production process and uses new technologies

and reinforces the role and the contribution of

to provide prosperity beyond jobs and growth while

industry to society, building composable business-

respecting the finite limits of our planet.

es focused on real customer and employee value creation.

▸ ec.europa.eu/info/publications/industry-50_en

BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES

STRONG DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS OUTLOOK for

2022

18

WE HAVE AMBITIOUS BUSINESS TARGETS FOR THIS YEAR. We

wanted to be optimistic about the world getting back to It is exactly one year ago, when I started as Chief Business

growth path, but at the same time realistic. This meant busi-

Officer at Prohoc. The business environment was uncertain

ness volume growth towards end of the year. We proposed

and it was difficult to predict the future. We reviewed and

our services to new areas of industry and to new selected

evaluated options on how to improve our Customer service.

customers. This is also an important test pressure for us to

Could we deliver something that we are not delivering yet

ensure our services are attractive, meeting market require-

or maybe develop something together with our Customers.

ments and to be competitive as well. At the same time, we

On other words, how we could support our Customers to

put additional effort to secure that all our current customers

recover the pandemic the best possible way.

will receive continuously top-class service and that we are able to proactively propose options aiming to improve our

Based on evaluations and discussions with our existing

Customers competitiveness.

customers and future accounts we agreed to proceed with selected developments. We agreed to co-develop with one

Together with active communication with our customers, we

of our Key Customers a new service “Requirement Manage-

reviewed our way of working to serve our customers better.

ment”. Today after the implementation phase we are piloting

Due to remarkable business volume growth, we recognized

the service in a real project, and have found many new ap-

a need to strengthen our key functions and sharpen our

plications where the similar service could be utilized. These

work processes. This year we have employed and contrac­

include purchasing, quality control among many others.

ted 100 new Prohocians!

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY GREAT HIGHLIGHTS TO MENTION DURING THE YEAR. Among others, we have successfully pro-

vided project management office (PMO) and owner’s team (OT) services to new Customer’s. These projects have been Due the growth we have changed some roles and made

challenging and business critical, and the best feedback for

organizational changes, which has provided new opportu-

our performance has been an opportunity to continue as a

nities for our employees to grow and have new responsi-

project partner in new projects!

bilities. I am proud to see how committed and patient our whole team has been to improve our performance aiming to

We are going to accomplish significant growth of 35% in

provide best possible service to our customers and employ-

2021 (compared to 2019). In 2022 we have planned to seek

ees. We want to be the best project partner and employer in

a growth of 20% on top of 2021 numbers. The main drivers

the market!

have been Project Services and Production Services.

ACCORDINGLY WE ARE EXTENDING OUR SERVICE PORTFOLIO.

We opened the new Helsinki office in Kalasatama. This pro-

Global Mobility (GM) service has been one of our focus

vides us who worked in Helsinki area a common workplace,

areas. Prohoc has mobilized successfully project personnel

which has been very refreshing after a long working from

globally for decades. However the requirements and rules

home period. This provides us also an opportunity to meet

are country specific and changing all the time, it requires

our Customers and employees face-to-face! We will see a

continuous follow-up and chances in the procedures. We

very positive year 2022 in front of us. Please let us know,

have also registered and opened branch offices in Italy and

when you are nearby, it would be great to meet up and have

Sweden, some countries (for example in South America)

a chat!

are in process. We are more than happy to evaluate together with you if we could support you in mobilization whenever your company is planning or delivering the project or services abroad.

Samuli Kyttälä CBO +358 50 5686974 samuli.kyttala@prohoc.fi

19

THE SMART TECHNOLOGY HUB

TRUE FLAGSHIP of TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT and MANUFACTURING W 20

ärtsilä, a global provider of smart technology and com“It’s an honor to be involved in the Smart Technology plete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy marHub project. Wärtsilä is building a true flagship of techno­ kets, has established a new modern technology and manufaclogy development and manufacturing that will be a global turing centre in Vaasa. The Smart Technology Hub will make reference with its open ecosystem approach. For Prohoc this Wärtsilä a true vanguard of technology development, smart is undoubtedly a great indication of our ability to partner for challenging projects of this size.”, says Matti Manner, Prohoc manufacturing and a role model in ecosystem collaboration.

Chairman of the Board.

Prohoc is Wärtsilä’s partner in the project when relocating The project has challenged Prohoc as it’s the first project old operations from Vaasa city center to the new site. of this size where project services and smart factory services The Smart Technology Hub is based on a vision of smart marine and smart energy sectors. It links are combined to bring a comprehensive various marine and energy business lines project execution service. Safety has "FOR PROHOC THIS IS maximizing customer value proposition. been the number one objectzive for the In the Smart Technology Hub, research joint Wärtsilä-Prohoc team. Relocating UNDOUBTEDLY A GREAT operations while keeping the producand development and production are in one place, enabling advanced and flexible tion running needs an uncompromised INDICATION OF OUR manufacturing. The unique project is sigapproach to the safety of all operations, nificant on a global scale while creating ABILITY TO BE A PARTNER so having experienced people leading the project has been chosen approach new activities and opportunities for the region as well. The technology centre from the beginning.

FOR CHALLENGING additionally provides a platform for new “Doing the project together with innovations, to train future experts, and Prohoc’s project services team and ProPROJECTS OF THIS SIZE” to develop technologies and services to actor’s industrial services team combined with the capabilities Tähtipiste enable a net-zero carbon-free future. brought to our group, this has been a great project to create Prohoc is acting as Wärtsilä’s main partner for the relocation project from the old Delivery Centre Vaasa plant to combined value to a customer. It’s nice to see that by comVaskiluoto in Vaasa, where the new technology centre has bining the growth we have seen over the last year with new been built. Operations are already starting in the new site and capabilities from Tähtipiste acquisition, we can create new rest of the processes will be commissioned in phases during customer value, Matti adds.

2022. Prohoc provides a PMC (project and construction management) service to Wärtsilä and also a major part of the asset relocation. The project is one of the notable milestones in ProIn the next episode of SCOPE Magazine you can hoc’s history and truly a reference of a combined value from find out more about the Smart Technology Hub and project management and industrial maintenance services.

Prohoc’s operations. STAY TUNED!

Prohocians in the STH Move project Tuukka Rainio SITE SUPERVISOR

Prohoc experts have operated in several different phases of the Smart Technology Hub Move -project. The team have been involved in roles such as Site Supervisor and Project Managers. Meet Tuukka Rainio and Seppo Vallberg and hear their thoughts about the STH Move project.

Your main tasks in the STH Move project?

TUUKKA Site supervision & control in modifiable workshops/units, considering schedules and other priorities.

SEPPO For my part, I am responsible for the success of project schedules, costs, and output.

What are your main goals in the project?

SEPPO My main goal is to complete the project safely without accidents and injuries.

Customer satisfaction and the excellent end result are also important goals to me.

TUUKKA Carrying out the project safely without accidents is the most crucial goal. The completion of demolition and installation work, both qualitatively and on schedule, are also important. These are areas where I strive to make a positive impact. In the end, customer and personnel satisfaction determines the success of the project.

How do you see Prohoc as a team succeeding in the project?

TUUKKA Teamwork on the project has gone well. The group dynamics are good, and we have the right proportion of experience and young energy. Tähtipiste has brought an excellent addition to the team.

SEPPO The project progresses according to the conditions and schedules presented by the customer, which we follow, and we also make our own proposals to take things forward. In my opinion, Prohoc has been very successful in implementing the project plan.

Have you encountered situations that you have not experienced in your earlier career?

TUUKKA My previous career experience is mainly in the production industry. In a project of this size, you get to work with different objects, so new situations come up constantly.

Of course, the equipment and the rules follow the same principles.

SEPPO When I see that a subordinate or colleague succeeds and I have been able, through my own actions, to create the conditions in which a person can thrive.

The STH Move project is significant in terms of size and region. How do you feel about being a part of this project?

SEPPO It has been an exciting project as new things emerge every day. The STH project is different in its own way from some other production projects. Here, the customer generates new business premises and the related processes, so the customer and the supplier are the same. This gives the project a contrasting perspective than if the customer and the supplier would be a different company and enables a flexible approach to solving challenges.

TUUKKA I feel enthusiastic and humble. It’s great to see that big companies are investing in the region’s future, it’s even better to be involved in the implementation!

PHOTOS: MIKKO LEHTIMÄKI

Seppo Wallberg PROJECT MANAGER

21

WELLBEING

A DIP in the FREEZING WATER

ILLUSTRATION: JONNE-PEKKA STENROOS

22

You may think swimming in cold water is one of the last things you'd dream of doing, but there must be something charming about it – at least for the 100 000 people who regularly ice swim in Finland. There are also significant health benefits attached to it.

How it’s good for your health

How to start

IT GIVES YOU A NATURAL HIGH

All you need is a swimming suit, a warm hat, and something to protect your feet from frozen ground – a pair of flip flops will do fine (unless you want to buy proper swimming shoes).

At first, it is best to just dip yourself in the ice hole or stay in the water only for a few seconds. Avoid wetting your head as it might lower your body temperature too much.

In the beginning, you might notice the cold takes your breath away. This is completely normal and harmless. Breathing exercices helps: before going in the water, take a deep breath and then blow it out as you enter.

If you like sauna, give your body a minute to cool down before ice swimming. A quick change in the temperature can be tough on your heart. Afterwards, make sure to dress up warm to avoid catching a cold.

Never swim alone! Always go with someone else, who stays on land.

Listen to your body. There is no right or wrong way in ice swimming. Find the way that works for you and enjoy the wonderfully chilly experience!

The euforic feeling you get is no wonder – the cold water gets your endorphins running immediately.

IT REDUCES STRESS

Several studies have shown there is a link between cold water and stress reduction.

Cold water swimmers become calmer and more relaxed.

IT BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Cold water helps to boost the white blood cell count because the body is forced to react to changing conditions. Over time, your body becomes better at activating its defences.

IT CAN HELP LOSE WEIGHT

The heart has to pump faster in cold water and the body must work harder to keep everything warm while swimming. Overall, far more calories are burned during cold water swimming than swimming in warmer conditions. The cold also activates brown fat, which speeds up your metabolism.

IT IS DEFINITELY REFRESHING!

Many people say it helps them sleep better.

Find your spot for "avantouinti" in Finland: liikuntapaikat.lipas.fi

Winter swimmers essentials

FUNNY BEANIE

23

WATER SHOES

HYDRATION

SAUNA ACCESS

WE BECOME WHAT WE VALUE We are on a journey to enable our people to shine in the world of industrial services.​ In our vision we are the best community for our people and the most valued partner for our chosen customers.

JOIN THE RACE — PROHOC.FI

PROHOC GROUP Virtaviiva 8 F

Aleksanterinkatu 22 C,

Lautatarhankatu 10

FI-65320

FI-33100

FI-00580

Vaasa, Finland

Tampere, Finland

Helsinki, Finland

tel. +358 6 315 7700

FOLLOW US:

prohoc.fi

@ProhocOy