Automation keeps manufacturing alive! - Fastems

tomer, and to have a functional subcontracting network.
“New value-adding services and products, new business models,
and the development of industrial processes, structures and education
have been recognized as pan-European means of improving
the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and supporting
changes in industrial structure,” Mattucci remarked.
The significance of environmental factors in industrial production
is constantly increasing. The increased awareness of the environment
presents new challenges, but on the other hand it also creates
new opportunities.
challenges for europe
“The global business environment represents a difficult challenge for
the manufacturing industry,” stated Professor Reijo Tuokko, program
coordinator of the SISU 2010 technology program from Technology
Center Hermia Ltd. Professor Tuokko went on to list several
key factors that the manufacturing industry will need to focus on
in the future: “competitiveness, increased productivity, and added
value. Likewise, inventiveness, high-quality education, and top-class
expert knowledge will also be essential. Europeans must also take
care of their own environment and its conservation. Reduction of
energy consumption and emissions affects the competitive situation
and therefore wide international cooperation is necessary.”
“The future of the manufacturing industry has been a concern
in several European countries in the past few years. The European
Union has founded a workgroup to prepare suggestions on how the
manufacturing industry will be able to prevail in Europe. Industry
remains a significant factor in promoting social welfare and for that
reason it is important to develop and take into use innovative new
approaches and methods for retaining the competitiveness of the
manufacturing industry,” said Risto Kuivanen, Vice President of
R&D at the Technical Research Center of Finland. He is also an active
participant in both the FoF and I*Proms networks.
examples of success
At the Tampere Manufacturing Summit, good examples were shown
as ways for Finnish and European companies to succeed on the glo-
Francesco Jovane.
Mikko Leino, Nokia Corporation.
bal market. Presentations on top-class European research projects
were a part of the program. These projects had sought improvements,
for example, through the use of ICT, robotics, and flexible
automation. One of the themes of the event was also the significance
of India from the European point of view, both as a market and as a
competitor.
Fastems Oy Ab was one of the organizers of the event and took
care of most of the practical arrangements, as well as the program
of the second day. At the end of the second day Fastems introduced
some practical automation solutions/products that improve productivity.
Heikki Hallila presented a new investment tool he had developed.
Janne Konttila described Fastems’ new FPM concept, which
will be officially introduced at the EMO 2007 exhibition in Hannover
in September. Jani Granholm reviewed Fastems’ latest system
control technology and Heikki Huovinen introduced Fastems’ newest
robotics applications.
After the presentations, the event participants had the chance to
take company tours at Nomet and Sisu Diesel. The company visits
received a lot of praise from the participants and served to make
Fastems’ automation solutions more tangible to the visitors.
meeting and networKing
The event participants also had the opportunity to mingle with each
other during the evening banquets. These events gave the participants
the chance to create new contacts and share experiences. At
the end of the second day Fastems held a get together for both our
Finnish and our regular European customers. This was the first time
a Fastems Quality Time Club event was extended to our customers
outside Finland. In the future we are planning to activate our regular
customer club throughout Europe.
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