All articles - 2020

Top-level ecological handprint in the hands-on society

There is a lot of talk about ecological and carbon footprints these days. Companies measure the emission levels of their businesses, but what if they would measure their ecological handprint? It would show how much a company’s services and products improve earth’s ecosystem, and how much they reduce end consumers’ greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon […] Read More

EPV

EPV Energy is aiming for 100% eco-friendly energy generation

WHEN THE WORLD wants zero-emissions energy generation, EPV Energy will meet the expectations and develop a plan to implement them. EPV Energy is a visionary of energy production and has often acted as a trailblazer in its sector. That is exactly what it is doing today. CEO Rami Vuola presents a diagram that holds the […] Read More

VEO

VEO connects renewables to the grid

30 YEARS AGO, a group of engineers decidedto establish a company offering electrification and automation services. Today, the core of the business is still the same, although VEO nowadays employs hundreds of people. In the last four years, VEO has geared up its growth even more than before. “Projects have for long been at the […] Read More

Wapice

Wapice rewarded with Microsoft’s innovation prize

IN JUNE 2019, Wapice CEO Pasi Tuominen wasin for a big surprise: Microsoft announced that they had decided to reward the company he had founded with an innovation prize. Wapice got the award for its IoT-TICKET® product, a platform used to connect various machines and processes to the internet. “Our connection to Microsoft is explained […] Read More

Crimppi

Agility is Crimppi’s superpower

WHEN THE NEED for optical fibre cables or electromechanical assembly arises in the electrical and electronics industries, Crimppi is eager and ready to rise to the challenge. Crimppi is the largest manufacturer of wire harnesses in Finland. The company adapts its services to its customer’s needs and always finds the best way to sup-port and […] Read More

Citec

In a world that changes faster than ever, Citec is an engineering partner to rely on

ACCORDING TO Citec CEO Johan Westermarck, the world has changed quite a bit during the last ten years in the engineering business. “Earlier, you could predict the future two years ahead. Nowadays, we talk about months.” This increasing volatility is a challenge for many companies – how to allocate resources when everything is unpredictable? Engineering […] Read More

Danfoss

Energy efficiency and electrification are in focus at Danfoss

AT ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY group Danfoss, the climate change is fought on two fronts: through solutions for energy efficiency and through electrification. While the latter is a necessity in reaching zero-emission levels, the former is key in the growing global urbanisation. Solutions for both megatrends can be found at Danfoss’ site in Vaasa. “It’s estimated that […] Read More

Baltic Yachts

Baltic Yachts makes sailing even greener

BALTIC YACHTS has established itself as the world’s leading builder of large, advanced composite sailing yachts. The company is renowned for its high-quality engineering and innovative approach towards the custom-built vessels it creates for a discerning, high wealth client base.In its 46-year history, Baltic Yachts has developed a highly skilled local workforce based in Jakobstad […] Read More

Nautor's Swan

Nautor’s Swan builds fast cruising yachts with comfort in mind

SAILING ENTHUSIASTS often imagine sailing the world on a Swan yacht. Right now, Nautor’s Swan has many customers in Europe who are about to fulfil their dreams.The new Swan 48 series created an instant success story when it was launched in the summer of 2019. This was an accomplishment unseen in Nautor’s history. Some 20 […] Read More

The gateway to a great region

THE OSTROBOTHNIA CHAMBER of Commerce is a leading business organisation in the Ostrobothnian and Central Ostrobothnian regions. We represent over 1 000 members from a variety of fields: industry, trade, services, educational institutes and administration. Our operations enable effortless co-operation and excellent networking opportunities between these different sectors and influencers of the industrial and commercial […] Read More

NLC Ferry

Wasaline will have the most energy efficient passenger ferry in the world

WASALINE can truly be said to have succeeded in its work. It operates between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden where the transport of passengers, freight and passenger vehicles has reached new heights. The waves of Kvarken also see more and more passengers travelling for business and leisure in both directions. This busy sea traffic has […] Read More

Dermoshop

There are lessons to be learned from web shop pioneer Dermoshop

BACK IN 1996, there were not that many web shops in the world, and most people didn’t even own a computer. Cosmetics company Dermoshop was therefore a true pioneer when launching its first web shop that same year. Since then, the company has gathered a lotof valuable experience in how to do business online. What […] Read More

Snellman

Snellman saves energy by using waste heat

MEAT PROCESSOR Snellman is at the front edge of its industry in many aspects. For a long time already, energy efficiency has been a focus areain the company, which was the first to install an industrial heat pump in Finland. Markus Snellman, Technical Manager at Snellman sees three points to take into consideration, when discussing […] Read More

HalpaHalli

Evolving customer needs guide HalpaHalli’s continuous development

HALPAHALLI IS a 50-year-old family businessin the retail sector. From a small shop foundedin Kokkola, the company has grown into a chain store with 1,500 employees while many other wellknown retail brands have not survived. “The retail trade is going through a historical shift. Customer needs and behaviour are changing, highlighting the multiple channels available. […] Read More

KPO

KPO is a close part of the everyday lives of the region’s consumers

KPO IS a retail co-operative that caters practically for any day-to-day needs throughout Ostrobothnia. The company has 125,000 co-op members and 150 places of business. KPO is part of the national S Group retail co-operative. It is impossible not to run into the Group’s popular consumer brands in Finland, including Prisma, Rosso, the ABC service […] Read More

Nordautomation

Quality-driven Nordautomation has its eyes set on growth

WINDS OF CHANGE are blowing at log handling specialist Nordautomation – luckily, these winds are fresh growth-bringing breezes. In 2018, a majority stake of the company was sold to the Swedish Addtech group, and in 2019, Timo Kuusisto stepped in as the Managing Director to follow business owner and innovator Pauli Ojala. Despite the changes, […] Read More

Heikius Hus-Talo

Heikius Hus-Talo is the preferred supplier of wooden modular turnkey homes

SINCE ITS FOUNDATION more than 50 years ago, Heikius Hus-Talo has successfully developed into a specialised manufacturer of wooden prefabricated modular homes and house kits. From a modern factory in Kaitsor, Vörå, the company delivers private homes, modular solutions for schools and daycare facilities and multi-storey high-rise apartments. “Recently, we have seen a big increase […] Read More

YA

YA provides competence improvement for the business sector

SANELA KRAK, a forty-year-old former Bosnian citizen, moved to Finland in 2008 with her husband and two children. In 2014, she became the only adult and foreigner accepted to a first degree programme in business activities at YA.YA (short for Yrkesakademin i Österbotten) the Vocational College of Ostrobothnia offers a substantial range of education from […] Read More

Osuvakoulutus

Osuvakoulutus provides companies with skilled employees

OSUVAKOULUTUS OY in Kokkola is an independent educational provider founded in 2015, which is owned by the Federation of Education in Central Ostrobothnia (KPEDU). “We exist for the business community, and we sell our services to the companies. Our biggest customers are the local TE Office and the Ostrobothnia ELY Centre*. The companies need labour, […] Read More

Vamia

Vamia focuses on robotics with a human touch

WITH APPROXIMATELY 5,000 students yearly and over 40 study programmes (containing a combined total of almost 70 qualifications), Vamia is the largest vocational school to prepare a wide range of professionals for Ostrobothnian business life. “We educate people in various vocational areas in order to fulfil the needs of the whole region. To successfully manage […] Read More

Novia

Novia UAS helps companies strengthen their competitiveness

THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY Novia University of Applied Sciences gives young people a great opportunity to gain a qualification that will open the door to future employment. Novia is also a close partner in the local business community. “There are strategic focus areas, such as sustainable energy technology, where we are particularly strong, which covers both education […] Read More

VAMK

At the Robot Academy of VAMK, robots are friends, not strangers

ROBOTICS has long since ceased to be science fiction. It is here, now and advancing at breathtaking pace. The VAMK University of Applied Sciences in Vaasa is keeping its finger on the pulse and staying abreast of developments in the field. Its task is to train the top experts of the future, engineers who will […] Read More

Chydenius

Chydenius closely collaborates with society and industry

NEW TECHNOLOGIES and digitalisation rapidly transform the way we work, requiring us to update our skills or even to change our professions. Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius offers university education to working professionals through new models for continuous learning. “We help both individuals and society to develop and renew themselves. Today, havingone degree might not be […] Read More

Biovalley

The Biovalley Finland hub promotes circular economy and business

BORN OUT of a unique network of industry, primary production and academic research, Biovalley Finland forms a knowledge hub of chemistry, bioeconomy and mineral economy in the Central Ostrobothnian region. Led by Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, Biovalley Finland brings together 23 regional partners for collaboration, innovation and research. “All of our partners are represented in […] Read More

Centria

Centria serves both its students and local business life

FOR THREE YEARS in a row, Centria University of Applied Sciences has received the best graduate student evaluations among the universities of applied sciences in Finland. Kari Ristimäki, rector and CEO of Centria, claims, however, that being the best is not the main goal for Centria: “By 2020, Centria aims to be the leading university […] Read More

University of Vaasa

University of Vaasa collaborates internationally on sustainability research

FOR MANY YEARS already, the University of Vaasa has taken part in the discussions on sustainable development. The university seeks to createa positive change by providing reliable research data to decision makers, companies and individuals alike: “Research is what ultimately changes things, it gives us data to base our decisions on. We need to look […] Read More

Hanken

At Hanken, attention is on the future

AT HANKEN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, sustainable growth has become a focus area of increasing importance over the past few years. In additionto highlighting corporate responsibility in degree studies, attention is also given to sustainability in Hanken’s research. “In Hanken’s new strategy the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are emphasized. The idea is that our research […] Read More

Optima

Optima is meeting the needs of the region

OPTIMA is a vocational education and training centre for young people and adults in the Jakobstad region. As an education provider, the training centre provides a wide range of qualifications ina multi-programme setting. In addition to exam-based education, Optima’s subsidiary, Optima Plus Ltd., annually provides company-specific paid training to 3,500 employees to help further develop […] Read More

Viexpo

Viexpo boosts Finnish export

OSTROBOTHNIAN COMPANIES have made exceptional achievements in the export market in the last decades. Viexpo, in turn, is celebrating 50 successful years in helping Finnish companies succeed internationally. “We help the companies get in shape for the international markets by providing them with consultation services, market analysis, strategies and goal setting. Our wide contact network […] Read More

Regional Council of Ostrobothnia

The Regional Council sets the stage for smart specialisation

THE WEST COAST OF FINLAND offers a fertile starting point for promoting sustainable development and vitality. This makes for meaningful work for the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, as its task is to support the success and growth of the region’s economy and trade in a sustainable way. The Council acts as a regional development authority […] Read More

VASEK

VASEK working with responsible logistics, smart cities and the circular economy

VAASA REGION DEVELOPMENT COMPANY VASEK is an expert guide along the path to becoming a regional success story. It develops strategies and creates infrastructure and networks that allow companies to be founded, become established and thrive in the region. “We are everybody’s colleague. We help companies become established, change and grow”, CEO Stefan Råback says. […] Read More

ELY

ELY Centre Ostrobothnia serves both industries and the individual

ELY CENTRE OSTROBOTHNIA is one of 15 Finnish Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, which are responsible for the regional implementation and development tasks of the central government. ELY Centre Ostrobothnia geographically covers Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia; regions, which are strongly exportled and characterized by their internationality, multiculturalism, entrepreneurship and specialised know-how in […] Read More

Vaasa Parks

Vaasa Parks and VP Facilities offer progressive premises

VAASA PARKS and VP Facilities are two companies with a shared, ironclad team of professionals. The same team both offers companies modern solutions for premises and designs and manufactures entirely new office and production buildings in the Vaasa region. Both functions were previously carried out under the Vaasa Parks umbrella, but have recently been split […] Read More

Merinova

Merinova prepares 60 projects a year for the energy cluster

TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Merinova celebrated its 30th year in business in 2019. The company, owned by companies in the Vaasa energy cluster, regional cities, municipalities, universities and schools, is one-of-a-kind in Finland. Merinova’s expertise lies in energy technology and its business is formed by two operations: professional services and project development. “We bring companies and universities […] Read More

Port of Kaskinen

Port of Kaskinen will use digitalisation to hone efficiency

WHEN IT COMES to handling pulp and other forest products, Port of Kaskinen in southern Ostrobothnia is probably the most efficient port in Finland. This fact is something that is acknowledged by customers and even other port operators. The main reason why the port is so efficient is that it was initially built as a […] Read More

Port of Jakobstad

New weekly cargo route is both fast and environmentally friendly

FOR THE PAST four years, traffic has annually grown by 10% in the Port of Jakobstad. Deepening the shipping channel to 11 metres has led to larger ships visiting the port, and now, with a new European cargo route and flourishing regional industry, also the future looks equally promising. “In the beginning of 2019, shipping […] Read More

Jakobstad

Jakobstad – the city with a strong entrepreneurial spirit

THE CITY OF JAKOBSTAD (Pietarsaari in Finnish) has continuously succeeded to produce positive developmental results during recent years. New companies have been established in the region, and there is a strong belief in a long-term prosperous future. Today, the commercial life in the area needs even more labour than is currently available. “The unemployment rate […] Read More

Kokkola

A celebrating Kokkola heads into its fifth century with renewal

IN 2020, the city of Kokkola celebrates 400 years of existence. While much has changed over these centuries, Kokkola remains a centre of business, where trade, industry and the port shape the city dynamics. People of Kokkola are characterized as modest business people, who do not make a fuss about their achievements. “The story goes, […] Read More

Port of Kokkola

Port of Kokkola invests in further growth

AS THE PORT OF KOKKOLA heads into its 195th year of existence in 2020, the third largest portin Finland buzzes with investment and plans for the future. A major long-time project, now carried out at the port, is the deepening of its dock and fairway from 13 to 14 metres. Funded by both the port […] Read More

Kvarken Council

Kvarken Council has an impressive track-record of making bold ideas come true

ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, few people believed that a new ferry between Vaasa in Finland and Umeåin Sweden was anything but an unrealistic dream. However, a couple of years later, the construction of the innovative and sustainable new ferry started. One of the initiators of this successful project was Kvarken Council, a cross-border cooperation association. […] Read More

Kvarken Ports

Kvarken Ports is making Vaasa into a stronger and more eco-friendly harbour

KVARKEN PORTS is a joint company for the ports of Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. It is a vital part of the region’s transport routes running from east to west and north to south, all of which converge in the Kvarken region. With export-led Vaasa continuously growing and developing, serious investments are being […] Read More

Devatus

Devatus has helped its customers make substantial savings

DIGITALISATION is all about working smarter and saving resources, and this is exactly what Devatus specialises in. “Everybody wants to digitise, no matter what field of business they are in. As digitalisation potentially can save a lot of money, companies buy our services no matter what the state of the market is”, says Andreas Paschinsky, […] Read More

Buorre

Buorre brilliantly combines product development and marketing

BUORRE SEES product development and marketing as inseparable aspects that draw from each other. This is why Buorre wants to act as a common link between these process gaps, combining these functions that are often considered separate. But why? When the product and its marketing talk the same language, it simply creates more trade. “Marketing […] Read More

Kosila

Kosila offers world-leading technology for information management

AN EXPONENTIAL GROWTH of data has many companies drowning in documents and information. Often files are spread out on different platforms and software, leading to inefficiencies and lost working hours. Professional information management expert Kosila offers, together with its market-leading technology partners, M-Files, Esri and Microsoft, a one-stop shop solution for easy data access. “With […] Read More

Viria

Viria provides its customers with secure digitalisation

VIRIA IS perhaps the only company in the world that combines digital and physical security with data analytics to create services that enhanceits customers’ business activities. In short, Viria Group offers security and information solutions all in one place. Its security services safeguard the customer’s business continuity and its information solutions improve the competitiveness of […] Read More

Creamedia

Creamedia offers digital tools for sales and marketing

STAYING ON TOP of the newest developmentsin digital marketing is a daunting task for any company – for SMEs in particular. Multimedia agency, Creamedia, is the marketing partner B2B companies turn to for finding the right tools, channels and contents in the changing digital world. The Kokkola-based company, with its 15 digital experts, has recently seen […] Read More

Sundström

Sundström has become a major player in track and land construction

FAMILY-OWNED infrastructure company Sundström has grown quite rapidly for several years and is today a major player in land construction along the West coast of Finland. When it comes to track construction, the company is one of few Finnish companies that has its own track construction machinery. Established in 1966, Sundström has now grown to […] Read More

RL-Trans

RL-Trans has reduced its fuel consumption by 7% in less than two years

IN THE BEGINNING of 2017, RL-Trans launched its Smart Bulk project, concentrating on eco-driving, traffic safety and sustainability. Each of the company’s 110 trucks was equipped with an on-board computer that gives real-time feedback to the drivers regarding their driving style. “Earlier, we used to measure only fuel consumption. However, that is a blunt instrument, […] Read More

Scandic Trans

Diversity and personal service are in focus at Scandic Trans

THE TRANSPORT SECTOR has always been dominated by males, but this is something Scandic Trans’ CEO Mikael Löfqvist thinks should change. “We believe in diversity, as it means a healthier working environment, which in turn is reflected in better customer service. We have therefore made an effort to employ women, whenever it is possible.” The diversity […] Read More

Kaiser Eur-Mark

Kaiser Eur-Mark delivers sewer cleaning and industrial disposal vehicles with outstanding technology

SEWER CLEANING and the efficient treatment of industrial waste requires vehicles with state-ofthe-art technology. Add to that the requirement of reliable functionality also in cold conditions, incomparable economic efficiency and eco-friendliness, and Kaiser Eur-Mark provides the perfect solution. The company designs and manufactures articulated vehicles mainly intended for sewer cleaning, with water recirculation equipment as […] Read More

Närko

Närko’s lightweight trailer solutions maximise transport economy

NÄRKO GROUP has been on the road to success for 60 years. The company consists of three independent companies. Everything started from Botnia Grönsaker, a company that is still active in the tomato and cucumber growing industry. Oy Närko Ab, the central business unit, manufactures trailers and superstructures, cargo boxes, platforms, chassis, timber trailers and […] Read More

Alucar

Alucar is leading the truck industry into modern times

ALUCAR IS the world’s leading manufacturer of superstructures for logging trucks. It has been reshaping the industry ever since the day it was founded more than 35 years ago. It all began from the revolutionary idea of manufacturing light and strong superstructures from aluminium, which is what the company is renowned for to this day. […] Read More

Ekeri

Ekeri’s motto ‘easy loading’ materialises as side-opening trailers

EKERI’S PRIDE in its staff and experts shines through everything the company does. Managing Director Matti Laurila explains that one of the reasons Ekeri wants to invest in Ostrobothnia is its loyal and competent employees. “Even though it’s a cliché, it’s true: there would be no Ekeri without our staff. Ekeri belongs to all of […] Read More

NTM

The world’s most advanced refuse collection vehicles are made by NTM

WHAT IS THE BEST way to get people to increase recycling? The answer is of course to make recycling as easy as possible. This was exactly the idea when NTM started developing the pioneering Quatro recycling vehicle 15 years ago. “The vehicle was developed in close cooperation with our customers, i.e refuse collection and waste […] Read More

AT Special Transport

AT Special Transport now also offers installations and more

IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR, customers often struggle with working out time schedules with many different services providers – an installation, for instance, depends on the timely delivery of the needed equipment. AT Special Transport has solved this problem by widening its service range; the company now also offers installations, in addition to special transports and […] Read More

Ahola Transport

Ahola Transport is an award-winning master of economical driving

AHOLA TRANSPORT is a leading Nordic logistics group that offers international road haulage. It has achieved its leading position through dynamic logistics, which was developed by the family business’ founding member and current CEO, Hans Ahola, in the 1990s. At the core of dynamic logistics is the customer’s stream of goods and the unbroken responsibility […] Read More

UPM

UPM offers green alternatives to fossil-fuel based products

THE DOW JONES Sustainability Index nominated UPM as the number one global forest and paper products industry in 2018. UPM’s pulp factory in Jakobstad is among the leaders in their business sector when it comes to low CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel burning. In addition, they are able to produce tremendously clean wood pulp. At UPM, […] Read More

Österberg

LNG tanks and biodiesel equipment new areas for Österberg Group

ÖSTERBERG GROUP has expanded rapidly in recent years, mainly through acquisitions. The latest addition to the group of ten subsidiaries is West Welding, a manufacturer of highly specialised pressure vessels. West Welding is one of few companies in Europe able to build LNG tanks. “We do everything in-house, from engineering and design to welding and […] Read More

Fineweld

Fineweld is reshaping industrial construction with modular construction

MANUFACTURING companies often carry out investment projects in a very traditional way, but why not give the job to an expert partner who incorporates new thinking in their everyday work? Fineweld knows industrial construction like the back of its hand and has made the work faster and easier through its innovative concept. To top it […] Read More

Vilpe

VILPE’s goal is to make buildings more intelligent

IN RECENT YEARS, there has been a lot of public debate about moisture damages in buildings. What if there was a way to detect the risk for moisture damage even before the damage has emerged? According to Tuomas Saikkonen, CEO of roofing accessories company VILPE, this might soon be reality: “Picture a ventilation outlet equipped […] Read More

Walki

Renewable, recyclable and compostable are Walki’s sustainable ambitions

THERE IS an increasing understanding of the fact that the world needs to go from a linear economy to a circular one. In practice, this means that artefacts and materials earlier considered as waste become new raw materials. At Walki, a company producing technical laminates and packaging materials, this way of thinking permeates all operations. […] Read More

Best-Hall

From sports to agriculture – Best-Hall has it all covered

WHAT TO DO when global warming makes it more difficult to engage in winter sport activities because of warmer temperatures? The sportclub Atlanten Kuntsis As in Kristiansund, Norway decided to build a covered arena for ice hockey and skating. After consulting several different suppliers, the choice fell on Finnish Best-Hall. “This was a technically challenging […] Read More

Beamex

Beamex helps companies get the most out of their data

IN RECENT YEARS, there has been a lot of discussion on how data is the new gold – a valuable raw material offering unprecedented opportunities. However, in order for data to be valuable, it needs to be accurate. “Our mission is to make sure that our customers’ data is accurate as well as unmanipulated”, states […] Read More

LKI

LKI promotes mutually beneficial relationships

AN INCREASING NUMBER of companies are questioning the traditional belief that a company’s primary purpose is to make profit for its shareholders. During its 40-year history, sheet metal handling company LKI has never believed this to be true and lately, this way of thinking has been crystallised within the company. “Of course, a company cannot […] Read More

Kongsberg Maritime

Kongsberg Maritime delivers fuel-efficient waterjets

KONGSBERG MARITIME acquired Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine’s activities in April 2019. This meant that the renowned Kamewa waterjets manufactured in Kokkola found a new natural home in Kongsberg’s portfolio. “Kongsberg is a strong, global player in the marine field of electrical and automation systems. The waterjets were complementary to the other marine-related products. Thanks to a […] Read More

Koncentra Pistons

Attractive employer Koncentra Pistons invests in new machinery

A STRONG BELIEF in the future permeates the halls of piston manufacturer Koncentra Pistons in Jakobstad. Koncentra Pistons designs, produces and markets large bore pistons for leading medium-speed gas and diesel engine manufacturers. The engines are used in both marine and power applications and complement renewable energy solutions and battery technology in these fields. “Although […] Read More

Boliden

Zinc smelter Boliden Kokkola looks for people of various backgrounds

IN JANUARY 2019, Antti Kontiainen joined Boliden Kokkola as the company’s new General Manager. When asked what impressed him the most about Europe’s second largest zinc smelter, his answer is clear: “Our company values responsibility and sustainability, in a wide sense. We take responsibilityfor the environment, our quality, the business, as well as our employees […] Read More

Fluid-Bag

Fluid-Bag: less packaging material, same world-class quality

FLUID-BAG has manufactured flexible containers in Jakobstad, Ostrobothnia since 1984. Many wellknown international customers are already longterm users of the company’s star products: FluidBag FLEXI and Fluid-Bag MULTI. Fluid-Bags fulfil the strictest quality and hygiene requirements set by different industries, ranging from food and cosmetics to the chemical and mining sectors. Most liquids can be […] Read More

Solving

Solving offers world-class load handling

WHY ARE big global companies such as Airbus willing to travel so far north to visit a small company outside Jakobstad? They do this to order the advanced moving equipment which will be used to transport engines, wings and complete aircraft bodies through their manufacturing processes. Companies like Airbus rely on Solving’s unique and sophisticated […] Read More

OSTP

OSTP celebrates 70 years of world-class stainless steel tubular products

OSTP IN JAKOBSTAD is a joint venture, owned by Tubinoxia and Outokumpu Group, that manufactures a broad range of welded stainless steel tubular products such as pipes and butt weld fittings in countless variations and dimensions; all made according to strict standards. The pipe diameter ranges from 16 mm tubes to pipes of 2 metres […] Read More

Herrmans

A sustainable work light can last for 50,000 hours

THE GREEN MOVEMENT that has swept across the world in recent years has presented a great opportunity for companies who can offer truly sustainable solutions. Two such companies are Herrmans and Nordic Lights, who belong to the same group, and produce LED lights for heavyduty vehicles and bicycles.Both companies are pioneers in LED lights, which […] Read More

Merius

Merius’ imaging methods bring savings of up to 10%

IT LOOKS LIKE a computer game, but the advantages wipe the floor with the old methods. This is a visualisation method for industrial investments developed by the design consultancy agency Merius. The method saves considerable amounts of time and money and streamlines the practical work in an unprecedented way. Merius designs and visualises, for example, […] Read More

Alfen Elkamo

New business models are enabled by Alfen Elkamo’s products

JAKOBSTAD-BASED Elkamo had decades of experience within electricity distribution when it in 2018 was bought by the Dutch company Alfen. In addition to gaining bigger muscles to flex, the renamed Alfen Elkamo now also offers new products and solutions for the ongoing energy transition. To its Dutch parent, the company provides a strong foothold on […] Read More

Wasa Innovation Center

Wasa Innovation Center aims brings together experts

PHASE ONE: Building a carbon neutral centre of expertise in Vaasa and getting experts of various fields excited about the effective development of innovations. Phase two: Expanding the network of experts to cover 300 professionals and representatives of companies and public organisations starting in 2020. Phase three: Over the next few years, building a new, […] Read More

Mirka

Mirka, inventor of dust-free sanding, promotes a healthier working environment

WHEN MAS Furniture of Mysore, India decidedto switch from traditional sanding methods to Mirka’s dust-free sanding solution, the working conditions at their factory improved tremendously: earlier, the furniture factory had produced 35 kg of airborne dust every week when sanding wooden furniture – now the amount of dust was down to zero. “Just think about […] Read More

KWH Logistics

KWH Logistics has become the biggest port operator in Finland

SINCE THE TURN of the millennium, KWH Logistics has grown from a small local forwarding company to a big diversified logistics group. The group consists of several subsidiaries, some of which are more known than the parent company. In fact, the marketing name KWH Logistics was taken into use as late as in 2019. The […] Read More

KWH

For 90 years, KWH has been in constant change

ESTABLISHED IN 1929, KWH Group is one ofthe oldest and biggest family-owned industrial companies in Finland. Throughout its history, KWH has shown a phenomenal ability to change, and is therefore still thriving 90 years after the start. “Change is in our DNA”, states Group President Kjell Antus. “The secret to our success lies in our […] Read More

EnergyVaasa

EnergyVaasa brings together all the region’s energy technology companies

WHEN A REGION accumulates more and more know-how in a specific sector, and more and more companies in that sector pop up, the forum they create offers fabulous opportunities. Together they are more. Together, they can carry ideas and projects even further. ENERGYVAASA is the leading energy technology hub in the Nordic countries. It supports […] Read More

TK Engineering

Nothing relating to CAN technology is impossible for TK Engineering

TK ENGINEERING has an extremely precise niche where you can look far and wide and still fail to find better and more experienced experts. This niche is CAN technology (Controller Area Network). The company creates control solutions for machines and devices that operate on land, at sea,in the air and even underground. CAN is a […] Read More

Arcteq

CERN relies on Arcteq’s state-of-the-art technology

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is a place where groundbreaking research is done. It therefore comes as no surprise that CERN recently chose Arcteq’s protection relays, when renewing their electricity supply. Despite its relatively small size and young age, Arcteq is able to manufacture the most accurate protection relays in the world, as […] Read More

Prohoc

For Prohoc, wellbeing is a key KPI

A COMMON MANTRA in the business world is that the employees are an important company resource. However, few companies have taken this as far as project partner company Prohoc. “Our most important KPI is the wellbeing of our staff. We do personnel surveys four times a year to be able to constantly improve our performance […] Read More

JTK Power

JTK Power delivers outstanding silencers globally

IN AUGUST 2019, Robert Ollus was appointed as the new CEO for JTK Power. He is convinced that the company, which manufactures silencers, steel structures, doors for air raid shelters, catalyst structures and critical components for engines in Finland, Estonia and China, will have a prosperous future. “We have the ingredients for success: excellent products […] Read More

Tekniq

Tekniq is a reliable project partner

FINDING A SKILLED and committed professional is often challenging. It doesn’t make the recruitment process any easier if that professional is expected to be prepared to work on the other side of the world for several months. Luckily, Tekniq has more than 40 such experts, worth their weight in gold. They are all regular employees […] Read More

Westenergy

Westenergy’s strategic goals align with local and global climate targets

THE WESTENERGY waste-to-energy facility might wrongly be seen as the final destination of the waste produced by half a million people, whose non-recyclable garbage is daily trucked off to the plant for treatment. In reality, however, the plant is much more: As a modern waste refinery, Westenergy does its fair share for the clean environment […] Read More

Leinolat

Leinolat Group’s way of working adds value

COMPOSED of family-owned companies, the Leinolat Group’s subsidiaries are the leading stars in their own fields. Uwira, Kilkanen, Leimec and Adiabatix focus on subcontracting for the energy sector, and T-Drill is the world’s leading supplierof tube and pipe fabrication solutions. The Group also has minority holdings in the mailbox company Bobi.com and the engineering and […] Read More

The Switch

The Switch benefits from the breakthrough of offshore wind power

WHEN THE SWITCH was founded back in 2006, CFO Dag Sandås and his founder peers already knew they were on the verge of a major megatrend, specifically the breakthrough of wind power and other renewable energy sources. However, as with many big societal shifts, this breakthrough has taken longer than anticipated. “The road has been […] Read More

Vaasan Sähkö

Vaasan Sähkö welcomes datacenters and battery factories

A TEST PLATFORM for new energy technologies – that is how energy utility Vaasan Sähkö wants to brand itself. For quite some time already, the company has worked determinately to reduce its CO2 emissions, and the list of actions is impressive; big investments in wind power, a pioneeringnew energy storage solution, as well as several […] Read More

Herrfors

Herrfors focuses on renewables and new business models

THE SHARE of wind power in Finnish electricity generation has grown rapidly during the 2010s. One of the forerunners in this field is Herrfors; in 2018 a fourth of the electricity sold by the group was generated by wind power, which is many times the national average. “We aim at keeping our front position, as […] Read More

Co-Engineering

Co-Engineering helps it customers do better business

GROWTH HAS BEEN swift for engineering office Co-Engineering – over the past two years the seven-year-old company has nearly doubled its number of employees. Sami Kivioja, CEO and founder of Co-Engineering accredits the success to good co-operation, the core of the company. “We help the big players in the market be their best by offering […] Read More

VAMP

VAMP is a global leader in arc flash protection

WHENEVER there is a need for protection technology for substations, real estate or industry, VAMP’s solutions are among the best in the world. The company develops and manufactures protection relays and arc flash protection. VAMP is a subsidiary of the Schneider Electric Group, which focuses on the energy industry and distributes products innovated by VAMP […] Read More

ABB Power Grids

ABB Power Grids creates a sustainable energy future with ground-breaking technologies

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION of electricity in a gigantic floating wind farm, tens of kilometres from the coast, is an advanced high-tech process. The wind plants spin under extreme wind conditions in deep waters, but the power produced must still be stably transferred to the grid at the right voltage. Many of the largest offshore wind farms, […] Read More

The hands-on society, or why Finns are such good engineers

In Finnish schools, all students study craft and design for two hours a week. This might be the reason why engineering know-how in Finland is on such a high level – not only do people learn things in theory, they also learn them in practice.

Nature as a state of mind

Finns feel at home in pristine nature. It can act as a kitchen where you can fill up your plate with pure gourmet food or it can offer a safe bedroom under the stars. In the beautiful Kvarken archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can breathe in the silence and rest in nature’s arms as if it was your home.

Trust is good business

When it comes to trusting other people, Finland is in the global lead. Besides making life a little nicer, high trust also has clear benefits for the economy.

Moomin mugs inspired by Ostrobothnia

Illustrator Tove Slotte sketches Finnish design history on the world-famous Moomin mugs by Arabia. She draws her inspiration from the beloved Moomin stories, their strong emotions and wise spirit. The cliffs and sunsets of her family’s summer house on the Ostrobothnian coast are also depicted on the dishes.

Wärtsilä

Towards a 100% renewable future

By building the Smart Technology Hub in Vaasa, Wärtsilä makes its biggest investment ever. Not only does the company get fancy new facilities; it also creates a totally new way of working to- gether with partners. The overall goal is to fight climate change.

A ferry far beyond the ordinary

Aurora Botnia will be the most environmentally friendly passenger ferry in the world. Dozens of big players and world-leading companies in the Nordic energy cluster have been involved in the development of the vessel’s innovative technology combo. All aboard!

“We know how to think big when needed”

Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships in the European Commission, is proud of her home region. Read More

This is the region of the coastline

OSTROBOTHNIA – the coastline from Kristinestad in the south to Kokkola in the north – covers an area of about 10,000 km2. About 200,000 people live in the area, of which 51% are Finnish-speakers and 48% Swedish-speakers. The area has a strong tradition of entrepreneurship and the largest number of companies per capita on the […] Read More