Professionals Finnish Professionals is a commercial supplement published by Editor Helsinki /// October 2014
Sleep safely page 11
Genelec´s high quality audio
Enjoy the
outdoors
page 9
Lifestyle Assessment page 12
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2 Linkosuo expands worldwide with healthy rye products 3 Halti becomes a brand for four seasons 4 Honkarakenne: Breathing with the Times 6 Customer needs are a top priority in Hartela housing 7 Inspiring spaces increase well-being at work 8 Well-implemented business premises improve information flow and productivity 9 High quality audio begins with silence 10 Growth through transformation 11 Sleep safely at the airport 12 Lifestyle Assessment Helps Manage Stress 12 Unique granite from the bedrock of Finland 13 Road Clinic Saves Euros 14 A passion for developing financial management 16 Siluetti focuses on quality and reliability
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Contents
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Editor Helsinki & Finnish Professionals Finnish Professionals is a publication produced by Editor Helsinki Oy. Editor Helsinki is an independent expert in business communications. We work in close co-operation with the leading media houses and reach the business decision makers in Finland. For additional information, please contact Valtteri Rantalainen, +358 9 42412223. Production team: Managing producer: Joonas Kesälahti. Producer: Valtteri Rantalainen, Niklas Koski. Art Director: Pirja Suotamo. Editors: Maija-Liisa Saksa, Eila Aalto, Mia Heiskanen, Ulla Rantakari. Cover photo by ©Halti. English translation: Käännöstoimisto Pikakääntäjä.fi. Printed by Hansaprint. Feedback to Editor Helsinki Oy: tuotanto@editorhelsinki.fi | +358 9 4241 2223 www.editorhelsinki.fi | www.editori.fi
Linkosuo expands worldwide with healthy rye products
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inkosuo, a family-owned company known for its bakery products and cafés, aims to sell healthy and tasty rye products to the world. RuisSipsit rye crisps, which can always be munched with a clear conscience, have already conquered Finnish taste buds, and are now exported to neighbouring countries, the Baltic, Central Europe, and Taiwan. “Wellness, and the chance to snack with a good conscience, are fast sellers, since consumers want to know what they are eating,” says Linkosuo Managing Director Timo Jänne, a third-generation Linkosuo entrepreneur.
Garlic rye crisps taste good in Finland and Estonia Ruissnacksit rye snacks already constitute 60 per cent of all production and exports account for 10 per cent. In addition to garlic, chili flavoured Ruis-
Sipsi rye crisps are becoming more popular. The fillings of both are limited only by your imagination. “Taste is still the number one thing, and wholesomeness is added value,” says Jänne. The fibres and lignan compounds found in rye provide protection against cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. “Ruissnacksit rye snacks are also great for fitness enthusiasts, as they contain good long lasting carbohydrates and much less fat than traditional snacks,” Jänne points out. Linkosuo wants to surprise consumers positively, so new products are planned boldly for new production lines. “In May, we brought out Mini RuisSipsit mini rye crisps, and in autumn we will launch “Consumers want our organic rye crisps and texmex cheese to know what flavour. We are also planning sweet rye snacks.” www.linkosuo.fi EA they are eating.”
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“The Finnish Alpine Ski Team has found skiing in Halti clothing to be a great unifying factor, with a Finnish flag on their foreheads and sometimes also on the winners’ flagpole.” - Kalle Palander, former alpine skier
Halti becomes a brand for four seasons feel comfortable in all weather conditions,” says Halti Managing Director Jukka-Pekka Vuori. Halti also wants to respond better to consumers’ changing expectations in sports and outdoor clothing. Consumers want more value for money, versatility, and good design. Upcoming products for outdoor and multisport collections will combine technical functionality and timeless design with suitability for a variety of sports. The new Active Lifestyle range is a relaxed casual clothing collection that includes timeless and classic products. “Today, sports shops sell increasing amounts of casual fashion while fashion boutiques sell sports fashion,” says Halti Brand Manager Hanna-Liisa Erkheikki. Halti leisure collections also draw influences from skiing and climbing, and their associated lifestyles. New products are coming on the market in the spring of 2016. For the coming ski season, you should keep an eye open for black and white graphic prints and bright colours. The trend will continue into the following winter, the collection for which will be seen in the coming season on the Alpine Ski Team. In addition to black and white squares and energetic lime green, the Halti collection will then include, for the first time, colourful folky stripes inspired by the Sami culture of the Lapland fells. www.halti.fi UR
Halti intends to become a four-season leisure brand.
Photos: Copyright © Halti
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alti is known for its strong technical expertise, especially in challenging winter sports. Halti is greatly valued in Finland, but there is also demand for Finnish outdoor clothing abroad. Halti is associated with distinctive design, a professional level of quality, and functionality in the most challenging weather conditions. This is clearly seen in the company’s cooperation with the Finnish Alpine Ski Team, which it has equipped since 1999. Professional partners also include, among others, freeriders, crosscountry skiers, world-class mountain guides, and climbers. “The Finnish Alpine Ski Team has found skiing in Halti clothing to be a great unifying factor, with a Finnish flag on their foreheads and sometimes also on the winners’ flagpole. At the same time, our own collection has allowed us to see and sometimes influence how clothing has changed,” says former alpine skier Kalle Palander, who wore Halti clothing through most of his professional career. Skiwear and hiking collections based on technical innovation in materials and design will continue to play an important role in the Halti product mix, but Halti also intends to become a fourseason leisure brand. “Our goal is to manufacture products that help people enjoy the outdoors, look good, and
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Honkarakenne: Breathing with the Honkarakenne is heavily involved in the global living trend that emphasizes healthy living and overall well-being. The breathable wood material and the company’s strong expertise have already reached over 50 countries.
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oday, with its Honka® brand, Honkarakenne Oyj is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of log wooden houses. The Honka product range includes individual detached houses and holiday homes, as well as largescale projects such as hotels, restaurants, holiday villages, hospitals and day-care centers around the world. “We’ve delivered over 80,000 buildings since 1958 in about 50 countries. More than 60% of our production is currently exported; our sales network is worldwide and is the most comprehensive in the industry. For example, we’ve had a presence in the Japanese market for over 20 years, and at the beginning of this year we opened a sales office in Beijing,” says President and CEO Mikko Kilpeläinen.
Overall well-being is at the heart of product development “Honkarakenne is known for its high quality, reliability and its sophisticated and progressive collection. “We are the leading innovator in the log industry because of our expertise, which has been developed over several decades. Active research and development in collaboration with leading research institutions has produced innovations and patents. That’s why I believe Honka is a safe partner for individual builders of detached homes and holiday dwellings, as well investors and building contractors,” says Kilpeläinen. In addition to safe structures, collaboration in research and development has resulted in unique products. “Healthy, safety and overall well-being are always at the heart
More than 60% of our production is currently exported.
of our product development, and we take these into account from planning objectives all the way to production and construction,” says Kilpeläinen. One of the achievements of product development is the Honka Terve Talo collection. This is a collection of turn-key detached houses, which is certified by VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland) and designed in collaboration with the Allergy and Asthma Federation. At its core is the Honka Fusion structure, which is the only non-settling log on the market. The Fusion structure enables an entirely new freedom for architectural expression because it makes it possible to combine logs with stone, glass and steel, as well as the sparse details that are a part of modern architecture.
Wood is a healthy building material However, at the core of everything is the actual material, quality Finnish pine, which is a true natural material. “Wood is a building material that has a natural ability to absorb moisture from air when the moisture content of indoor air rises and release it when the air dries. Wood breathes and therefore it regulates quality of indoor air naturally. A log wall structure can be made from one single material without insulation and a moisture barrier, which makes construction fast
The five-star Celtic Manor Resort with its superb countryside and ideal location is best known for golf and our three championship golf courses. We thought carefully about how to broaden our offering at the Celtic Manor Resort. During this research we became impressed with the health and wellness aspects the Honkarakenne constructions offer. Wooden buildings of this size have the unique ability to absorb moisture and release it back to the room air when it has dried, which means that our Hunter Lodges will never accumulate potentially hazardous moisture. Honkarakenne has a solid track record of building solutions for resorts globally, something we also appreciated highly". – Russell Phillips Vice President Facilities and Development Celtic Manor Resort
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Times “Healthy, safety and overall well-being are always at the heart of our product development.” and reduces the chance of construction defects at various junction points.
Demand for Honka’s expertise There is a worldwide demand for Honka’ know-how, which combines a natural building material with Scandinavian architecture, and has its roots in Finnishness. “The importance of healthy living and wellness of life is growing globally. It is our view that people living in the Central European, Russian and Asian markets genuinely want to invest in the quality of housing. Another rising trend is total overall concepts that are easy for the client, a good example of which are golf and leisure-time centers we have delivered around the world. For instance, we have delivered major area construction projects to Russia that include dozens of high quality holiday dwellings. There is also a growing demand for this kind of expertise elsewhere in the world. It’s great to see that wood and the natural values related to wood are evoking growing appreciation and respect around the world,” concludes Kilpeläinen. www.honka.fi MH
The Fusion structure enables an entirely new freedom for architectural expression because it makes it possible to combine logs with stone, glass and steel, as well as the sparse details that are a part of modern architecture.
The core of everything is the actual material, quality Finnish pine, which is a true natural material.
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Customer needs are a top priority in Hartela housing Although Finnish construction and housing are subject to a jungle of rules and regulations, customer needs are the most important factor in Hartela’s housing operations. Both functionality and location are important in housing. We want to play our part in developing Finnish housing while actively listening to the needs of consumers, because we believe that housing means more than the construction of homes. For this reason, it is important to listen to customer requirements and to develop production so that housing solutions, functionality, and technology serve the real needs of occupants. Location always plays a very important role. That’s why we want to produce interesting properties with easy access to transport connections and services,” says Hartela’s Deputy Managing Director Arto Jokinen. Customer needs are actively monitored at Hartela using various customer studies and project-specific surveys.
Emphasising the importance of functionality According to Jokinen, functional elements such as storage space are increasingly emphasized in housing. “People have a lot of hobbies, so the supporting spaces must also be well designed and functional. Naturally, functionality can mean different things for different target groups, such as room and space layouts, saunas, walk-in closets, functional space solutions, and interior design options. Energy issues and ease of living are emphasised at present, and the technology for these has evolved considerably. These matters can be taken into account at the design stage, if you really know what your customers want and will appreciate,” says Jokinen.
Open-minded housing production Although construction and housing development are slowed in Finland by the numbing effects of rules and regulations, Hartela takes a very broad-minded approach to housing. “Our current range includes everything from valuable renovated properties to entire villages. We want to implement a flexible range of solutions: from small houses to extensive developments. Our core mission is to continuously enhance housing and to produce functional homes for our customers within the limits of laws, rules and regulations. MH
Move into a valuable property on Helsinki’s Vuorikatu or on the sea shore at Lauttasaari Asunto Oy Vuorikatu 4 Helsinki A valuable old property has been renovated to provide apartments, and a new block of flats has been built at Vuorikatu 4, in the beating heart of Helsinki. A fine five-storey property originally built for the trader C.R. Jankes in 1891 has been renovated as an apartment building, with due respect for its age, and will be equipped with upscale modern comforts. Some of the apartments in the building have large rooms with high ceilings and decorative windows, creating a stately atmosphere. The house has 23 apartments, of which three are attic flats. Located in the same courtyard is a modern apartment building of 6-7 stories, with a facade that adapts to the surrounding milieu. The building has 33 apartments, all with balconies. There are also five penthouses on the upper floors (6 and 7). There are still apartments available in the Vuorikatu property. www.hartela.fi/
Asunto Oy Larun Portti Helsinki There will soon be a new landmark at the end of the Lauttasaari bridge when Hartela builds Asunto Oy Larun Portti Helsinki on the old Teosto site. Asunto Oy Larun Portti Helsinki will be built on a scenic site overlooking the Lauttasaari bridge, just a few minutes away from the city lights. On Lauttasaari, you will live near the sea and nature, but also near services. Thanks to the building’s insightful architecture, nearly all the apartments will have views over the bays of Lauttasaarenselkä or Seurasaarenselkä.
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1. KVA Architects Ltd won the Finnish round of the Nordic Built Challenge for planning the conversion of a traditional public office building into a modern intelligent building. This combines flexible and inspiring premises with a variety of contemporary work needs and a community meeting place for citizens. 2. KVA’s work environment development team creates new business premises for the varying needs of its customers. The world is changing, and the best concepts are changing with it. Pictured from the left Julianna Nevari, Cecilia von Weymarn, Ritva Kokkola-Lemarchand, Evita Riikonen, Elina Rajamäki and Suvi Hirvonen.
Inspiring spaces increase well-being at work With innovative design, even outdated premises can be converted into inspiring environments that increase wellbeing at work, just like a fairy-tale ugly duckling evolving into a sparkling swan.
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n the hands of a skilled architect’s office the transformation of space is not a fairy tale but a reality. The result is a tailormade and visually pleasing solution for today’s knowledge workers, in which user needs are taken into account. A good example of this is the winning solution in the Finnish event of last year’s Nordic Innovation Nordic Built Challenge, by KVA Architects Ltd. “In this inspiring and visionary project, we generated ideas that would convert Hippostalo in Tampere, a typical concrete office building of the 1970s, into a flexible and eco-efficient working environment, as well as a versatile meeting place for citizens,”
says Development Manager and architect Ritva Kokkola. “With the help of a holistic approach and a multi-disciplinary team we planned a city block concept completely new to Finland, where sustainable development and energy efficiency are key. The project focused in particular on the demands placed on the work environment by future working practices, and on increasing the sense of community among the residents of the area,” Kokkola continues. “Our plan turned the office into a multifunctional meeting area, where visitors can access public services from a single location. Adding a senior housing building to the site will convert the whole block into a living ser-
Photo: Sami Perttilä
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vice centre, containing e.g. public services, a cafe, a child care facility and shops. People working at Hippostalo can make use of differently themed floors where they can work as needed, sharing ideas with teams in open spaces or using separate spaces for individual concentration,” explains Cecilia von Weymarn, workplace design and development.
A wide range of expertise Most employees will still work in traditional office spaces, although technology and the way we work will continue to change. A wide range of expertise is needed to convert existing spaces into eco-efficient and comfortable working environments that promote wellbeing at work. For this purpose, KVA has a dedicated team that includes architects and interior designers, as well as experts in acoustic design, service design, and the development of learning environments. “Our projects often involve extensive networking, in which we combine the diverse know-how of our company’s 35 employees with the expertise of our collaboration partners. This allows us, for example, to carry out extensive and demanding sports construction projects both in Finland and abroad,” emphasizes Managing Director Jean Andersson. He says that the goal of the company, as it completes its 50th year, is to further increase the share of foreign projects, not only in the field of architecture but also in workplace design and development, which is a topical issue everywhere due to the ever increasing rate of organizational change. “In the area of workplace design and development we are pioneers in Finland and the Nordic region. In terms of export, we have 40 years of experience especially in the Russian Federation. We have also conducted projects throughout the Baltic region and Central Europe,” says Andersson. MLS
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Well-implemented business premises improve information flow and productivity Tapio Rantanen, Senior Vice President for construction company Hartela, believes that modern and well executed business premises contribute to a company’s internal information flow and improve productivity. I think the premises are a real asset to the company, since welldesigned, modern facilities can substantially enhance the company’s internal communications and information flow. The construction of new premises is not only about providing the building with modern cooling and energy efficiency. Attention must be also paid to the ability of people to interact with each other,” says Rantanen.
Out of the office cubicle! It is known that information does not flow naturally in old-fashioned cubicle offices, while in newer premises, planned in cooperation with the company’s employees, physical barriers to the flow of information can be removed. Most importantly, natural meeting places can be created that encourage people to stop and exchange news during the working day. “I strongly believe that occasional encounters between employees provide unique added value to the company. Therefore, it is important that people have the opportunity to meet and discuss work matters without a formal protocol. This im-
proves team spirit and small things are less likely to grow into major problems within the company. A meeting point also contributes to the informal and tacit transmission of information, when communication does not always require e-mail and meetings.”
Premises improve productivity Studies have shown that a quality working environment that supports the individual can improve operational productivity by as much as 5 to 10 per cent. “That is why companies should consider how their current premises support the company’s way of working, and invest in the kind of working environment that best supports the company’s actions and employees,” says Rantanen. “Knowledge work is more mobile and varied than ever, but office buildings are still full of closed cubicles. I cannot believe that traditional closed offices and fixed workstations
“Today’s modern office solutions are healthy work environments that promote the wellbeing of employees,” says Tapio Rantanen.
support the new innovations that the Finnish economy needs!” According to Rantanen, modern workspaces can also be great places for companies to introduce new kinds of electronic tools that promote more efficient ways of working and, for example, reduce travel expenses. “A functional working environment may also help staff to cope at work. At their best, today’s modern office solutions are healthy work environments that promote the wellbeing of employees,” he adds.
The best results are achieved together Hartela believes strongly that the best solutions for business premises are achieved by working together. “We do not force a readymade package on the customer; the design is always based on the customer’s needs and challenges. We are a flexible partner with an operating philosophy that expects premises to be built for people. That means that planning puts the user first. The customer and the industry’s best partners together create the best solutions and services for business premises,” Rantanen concludes. MH
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“We have a strong position, for instance, in Europe, the USA, and Japan. We are one of the few companies in the electronics industry that has been selling and marketing products to China for nearly 30 years,” says managing director Siamäk Naghian.
High quality audio begins with silence Genelec has been the world leader in active loudspeaker development since 1978. The core of its operating philosophy is to develop monitoring loudspeakers that reproduce sound perfectly. To the amazement of many, these top-quality products are made in Iisalmi, in the silence of a small town.
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enelec Oy, founded in 1978, is a Finnish family-owned company that develops and manufactures active loudspeaker for professional, installation and home use around the world. “The starting point for our work has been to produce monitoring loudspeakers: quality assurance tools for audio professionals. Our products use active technology, which means, among other things, that all the necessary electronics are in the loudspeaker enclosure, so no separate amplifier is needed,” explains the company’s Managing Director Siamäk Naghian.
True to its core philosophy Genelec’s Managing Director points out that from the beginning the company has been true to its core philosophy, which says that sound should be reproduced exactly as it is, with nothing added or removed. “The monitoring loudspeaker handles its own task. That is why it can be trusted as a quality assurance tool, though in some cases it can be even brutally honest. All our research and development work is bound up with this core idea. Its benefits were seen very quickly in professional circles in the 80s, and awareness gradually spread among consumers.”
Quality arises from sustainable development Today, Genelec’s high quality and the Genelec brand are recognized by both professionals and consumers. “Although we focus on continuously improving productivity, our competitive advantage is not price but overall quality, sustainable development, and continuous product development. Another important element is industrial design, which must support the acoustic properties of the product. We have collaborated successfully with designer Harri Koskinen and we want Genelec products to continue to be Finnish design icons.”
Genelec’s roots are strongly in Finland, where all the production and product development is done.
Homebase in Iisalmi From the beginning, Genelec aimed at an international market, and today the company has distributors in over 70 countries. “We have a strong position, for instance, in Europe, the USA, and Japan. We are one of the few companies in the electronics industry that has been selling and marketing products to China for nearly 30 years.” However, Genelec’s roots are strongly in Finland, where all the production and product development is done. “Our Iisalmi factory and its surroundings provide us with a spiritual home and added value. I believe that if the production environment inspires and nurtures creativity, it is bound to impact on the final quality of the product.” Many international guests are surprised to find that the Genelec factory is located on the shore of a beautiful lake in the middle of the countryside. “They are interested in the silence of a Finnish small town and the fact that high-quality sound is generated in the midst of tranquil natural surroundings. It is also important that most of our staff are music enthusiasts. They have a passion for good sound production, and they are proud of their own work,” concludes Naghian. MH
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Growth through transformation Sanako provides electronic language learning tools, which are only not based on traditional teaching methods, but rather stimulate all the senses.
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anako is a Finnish language teaching technology company with extensive experience in the field. “We have provided language teaching and learning solutions to high schools and universities for more than 50 years. Our solutions have enhanced language learning for millions of users in over one hundred countries,” says Managing Director Tobias Elgh. Sanako is today the world’s leading supplier of language learning technology for the education market. As Sanako looks to expand and develop it now looks to
the corporate and consumer segment for growth.
Using all your senses! The world is changing and Sanako with it. Elgh notes that staff competence development is evolving, and companies are now looking for more diversified and customized training opportunities for their employees. “This means that training methods have to change and adapt to the needs of modern working life. Rapid technological development is also one reason for change in the field of education. Today, with tablets and
“We want to provide electronic language learning tools that an employee can use either during or outside working hours.”
cellular phones, using technology to learn is not the same as it was 10 years ago.” According to Elgh, companies are still being offered many language programs with traditional teaching under the guidance of a teacher. “We want to provide electronic language learning tools that an employee can use either during or outside working hours. The core idea of our solution is that the language learning process should use all the senses, reading, writing, speaking and listening. We believe that learning is more effective when you are fully immersed in your target language. It is possible to achieve a certain level by reading and writing alone, but speech, listening skills and pronunciation are also vital to take this to the next level.”
A tool customized for the company The content of the program is always tailored to the needs of the company. “The company’s own working vocabulary is digitized, so that the language teaching uses their own vocabulary and language, for example, technical English, legal Spanish, etc. Customization can also be done in such a way that studies are partly independent, using electronic tools and content, but also involving a teacher in some teaching situations, either physically or remotely over the network.”
Study is not dependent on location Elgh believes that lack of time at individual and company level is a major challenge to studying. “Software-based teaching is very effective, since a person can study anywhere, at any time. People want to invest in their future and their own opportunities in the global labour market. Our tools allow for self-directed strengthening of language skills as well as tutor-led education.” The tools also provide companies with indepth reports. “It is possible to receive a report on the results of an individual participant, which can be directed, for instance, to the HR department. In traditional face-to-face teaching, that is usually not possible.” MH Additional information: www.sanako.com “Rapid technological development is one reason for change in the field of education,” says Managing Director Tobias Elgh.
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GoSleep Pod users can work or sleep safely in their own private stillness, regardless of the hustle and bustle of passengers flowing through an international airport.
Sleep safely at the airport GoSleep Pod powered by UNI is a new and unique way to rest and take a nap at the airport. In the middle of the busy hustle and bustle, you can safely close your eyes and wake up refreshed for your flight.
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oSleep Pod is a Finnish innovation that has already spread to airports around the world, providing users with privacy and silence 24/7 in the midst of passenger traffic. It is a specially designed, stylish and sleek chair for tired passengers in need of rest, which can also convert into a bed. Hand luggage can be placed under the seat during use, and a moveable, breathing curtain hides the passenger from the noise and light of the airport and from the gaze of other passengers. GoSleep Pod provides a perfect place to rest among the bustle of the airport - and at a cost of just three cups of coffee an hour! The chairs have USB and mains chargers, so computers and cell phones can also gather power for the onward journey.
GoSleep Pod is is a Finnish innovation powered by UNI. “When travelling, we have often had to sleep between flights on plastic benches or on the floor at various airports. This gave rise to the idea of developing a more comfortable alternative for passengers. There are always thousands upon thousands of people at the world’s airports with no chance of getting the restful sleep that they need. GoSleep Pod allows you to work or sleep in your own private and quiet space,” say Koikkalainen and Piispanen, describing their invention.
Like sleeping in a cradle
Make unproductive chairs productive
“As is usual with innovations, GoSleep Pod was born from a need - in this case the need for sleep,” says Jussi Piispanen, the Managing Director and Esko Koikkalainen, the Chairman of the Board of Short Rest Solutions Oy.
GoSleep Pods also represent an opportunity for airport operators, since unproductive chairs can now be exchanged for streamlined, elegant GoSleep Pods that constantly generate revenue. unisolutions.fi MLS
How do I use it? GoSleep pods can already be found at airports around the world, for instance in the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Holland, Germany, Brazil and, of course, Finland. GoSleep is located in the airport’s service area, where the chair’s usage time and an alarm call can be agreed with the staff. “You can reserve the chair in advance at Abu Dhabi,” but on-site reservation is most popular,” Says Piispanen. After each use, the easily maintained and allergenfree chairs are hygienically cleaned; when a chair is released, the nearest cleaner gets a message to come and prepare the chair for the next customer.
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Lifestyle Assessment Helps Manage Stress
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ufficient recovery is a key for good coping and work performance. The body and mind need rest in order to stay in peak running condition. The Finnish company Firstbeat helps professional athletes and businesses alike find a balance between resting and doing. Their heartbeat analytics is utilized in occupational well-being, professional sports and leading consumer fitness products around the world. Based on accurate heart rate variability analysis, the Firstbeat Lifestyle Assessment provides personal information about wellbeing, such as causes of stress, sufficiency of recovery, quality of sleep and the effect of exercise. For the individual, it provides tangible feedback for developing their own wellness. For a business, the assessment helps identify the factors that affect wellbeing at organizational level.
Rest and exercise as remedies for stress
”The Lifestyle Assessment genuinely reveals individual areas that need improvement to enhance personal wellbeing and performance.”
”We measure heart rate variability over a three-day period and analyze the body’s reactions during work and leisure time as well as during sleep. The analysis creates a complete picture of the person’s everyday life, of things that cause stress and how the body recovers,” says Firstbeat’s Business Manager Juho Tuppurainen. The analysis is particularly beneficial for people who travel a lot or work in mentally or physically demanding positions. According to Tuppurainen, the analysis genuinely reveals individual areas that need improvement to enhance personal well-being and performance.”The measurement motivates people to make small but significant changes in daily life. For some it means more exercise, for others finding ways to recover in the middle of a busy day,” says Tuppurainen. “For example, reading emails late at night often delays night-time recovery.” Over 100,000 completed Lifestyle Assessments confirm that physical training has positive effects on coping at work. Good physical condition enhances stress management and recovery. ”Workers with stressful jobs as well as top athletes need to make sure that they have recovered sufficiently before the next performance. An overburdened body cannot perform at top level,” says Tuppurainen. www.firstbeat.fi EA
The analysis is particularly beneficial for people who travel a lot or work in mentally or physically demanding positions.
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1. Unto Ahtola and Petra Alho at Karelia Red granite quarry in Virolahti 2. Block’s journey to the customer begins from the quarry.
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Unique granite from the bedrock of Finland
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ombining the long history of TG and the knowledge of international business makes the rock excavation roll in South-Eastern Finland. TG Granit Oy runs two granite quarries in Virolahti and Luumäki municipalities. The color assortment consists of Karelia Red and Baltic Brown, both unique and well described as Everlasting Beauty. The brand of TG is well-known especially in China, being the main market for the Finnish granite exporters for the past 15 years. ”During the current year, we have expanded our trade to cover also other big economies. Making it even more global makes it even more interesting,” states Petra Alho, the Customer Service Manager of TG Granit Oy. TG’s granite has unique flower pattern that only occurs in the Finnish bedrock. Karelia Red is very popular in Asian countries, especially in China. Baltic Brown rocks worldwide – the classy brown is suitable for elegant interiors, used mainly in floors and kitchen worktops.
Added value for the customers Quarried from the bedrock to dimensional blocks and mainly exported in sea containers, the Finnish granite has a steady global market. Behind this fact is the good availability and the high quality of the products. Unto Ahtola, The Managing Director of TG Granit Oy has it clear: ”The rock excavation methods, developed in Finland over the years, allow the Finns to produce granite in constant flow, all year round. It’s essential to customers with big projects. It has been important for me to position the company to the global markets to be a forerunner, in every way. Being a long-term partner and a flexible operator to meet the market’s changing needs at the same time.” TG Granit Oy is also ISO14001 and 9001 certified company. ”High quality production-suppy chain makes real added value to our customers. Key Account Management is also one of the main drivers in TG. Trust is something you earn,” finalizes Mr Ahtola. www.tggranit.fi EA
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Road Clinic Saves Euros Well performing road and rail network is part of the foundation of our well-being. Yet the maintenance budgets are not getting any bigger, so we must achieve more with the same or even smaller resources. New technology helps us with this.
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hen road pavements get cracked or the surface is otherwise damaged, the usual method of repair is to resurface the road without further considering the reasons for the damage. “Doctors do not prescribe medicine before finding out what is wrong with the patient. The same principle applies to maintenance measures of roads and railways. The reasons for the damage must be determined and the issue dealt with in time, in order to get full benefit from the repair work and the money spent on the repairs. We spend our tax money on roads in order to ensure smooth and safe travel,” Roadscanners Ltd Managing Director Timo Saarenketo reminds us. He thinks that the road repair debts could be reduced by being focused and doing more with less as the productivity is increased by changing traditional methods, and by doing the right things in the right place at the right time. Lean thinking also applies on the maintenance of traffic infrastructure.
point cloud model of the road surface, and the surrounding environment and detailed information about the subsurface structure. Thorough rehabilitation plan, which eliminates the reasons for the future damage, is easy then to prepare as the causes for the damage are clearly demonstrated. “The road clinic is extremely cost-effective and competitive, and vans are already in use in Europe and in USA,” Saarenketo reports. Roadscanners Ltd. has developed solutions using similar technology for airports, railways and bridges. “In these structures, the potential structural damage can have extremely dramatic consequences. The technology developed by the company has been used for this purpose as far away as Japan and the United States. In addition, proactive maintenance based on regular monitoring of the structures can have a noticeable financial impact and the road safety will also increase significantly,” Saarenketo explains. MLS
Research to identify the root of the problem Roadscanners invests vast amounts of money on product development; as much as 10-20 percent of the yearly turnover. The company has also taken an active part on various research projects in this field in the EU and USA. The latest product development result, Road Doctor Survey Van, was recently released and it is used to monitor the condition of the road, including problem diagnostics. The Road Doctor Survey Van is a normal van which drives amongst the other traffic and measures everything required for analysing the road by using laser scanners, ground penetrating radar, thermal cameras, 3D accelerometers, digital videos and thermal cameras etc. The survey result will be a unique digital
“The road clinic is extremely cost-effective and competitive, and vans are already in use in Europe and in USA.”
1. Railway structure research and monitoring is a rapidly expanding field. Roadscanners has participated in railways diagnostics in Europe and especially in the East Coast of USA. 2. The Road Clinic allows the road maintenance needs to be predicted, in a similar way to buildings. When weak areas are fixed before the damage gets more extensive, the costs go down by several dozen percent. The Roadscanner digital point cloud model of the road surface is accurate and demonstrative. It clearly indicates those areas where maintenance is needed.
Roadscanners Ltd. • Company specialising in traffic infrastructure diagnostics and management, especially road, railway, bridge and airport condition surveys, research, consulting and product development. • The compant’s main office is located in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, affiliates are located in Sweden, Norway, Czech Republic and USA. • Customers in over 50 countries in all continents, even in the Antarctic. www.roadscanners.com
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Photo: Sami Perttilä
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A passion for developing On average, financial management costs are one percent of a company’s turnover. “At least half of this could be saved by introducing advanced systems or outsourcing functions,” estimates the Managing Director of OpusCapita Heikki Länsisyrjä.
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Managing Director Heikki Länsisyrjä emphasizes how OpusCapita strives to serve businesses as an external accounting and money management professional, offering both technology solutions and comprehensive outsourcing services.
Photos: OpusCapita
pusCapita has made more than 150 benchmark studies of corporate financial processes across Europe and found startling differences between companies. “Costs for the same processes can be as much as four times greater for some companies. I would dare to argue that the potential savings to be achieved from developing operations are not just a few dozen but even several hundred percent,” says Länsisyrjä. Länsisyrjä sees scarcity of resources as the most significant current cause of inefficiency in financial management. Very few large companies have the ability to raise financial management productivity to a whole new level by investing in advanced technologies, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and big data. “This means that companies must either accept
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financial management current working methods at prevailing costs or choose a partner who is able to provide modern technological options. As a provider of comprehensive financial management services, we can invest millions of euros in technology and share the benefits with our thousands of customers.” OpusCapita has a very strong background in technology, and more than twenty years of process knowledge in different areas of financial management. Different technology groups are constantly developing new ways of handling financial management operations based on artificial intelligence and robot technology. “Our goal is that whatever can be done today can soon be done at half the cost without sacrificing quality,” says Länsisyrjä, emphatically.
Always a customized solution Every business is different, as are its financial systems, so their development needs are also unique. OpusCapita understands this, and no solution is ever decided in advance. “We start from the problems of the financial director and ask openly how we can help. We find the best way to develop operations, whether in managing accounts payable or accounts receivable, or in the entire financial management system. We calculate the business value of the service we offer. It is not always a question of money; for example, the aim might be to improve business focus, level of technology, trans-
parency, accuracy, or quality,” Länsisyrjä explains. OpusCapita has a strong vision and solid expertise in streamlining financial management processes, either outsourced or as a service. “Our service centres allow us to provide comprehensive services so that the financial director, instead of running daily operations, can focus on core work, acting as a close working partner with the Managing Director. This includes challenging the organization to do things in a new way,” says Länsisyrjä, clarifying the changing role of financial directors in companies. MLS
OpusCapita • A Finnish company setting a new standard for financial processes • The largest e-invoice operator in the Nordic region. • Turnover of 263 million euros • 2,300 employees in nine European countries, the largest service centre in Poland. • Technology used in 52 countries around the world. www.opuscapita.com
“As a provider of comprehensive financial management services, we can invest millions of euros in technology and share the benefits with our thousands of customers.”
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Siluetti focuses on quality and reliability For decades, Siluetti has been known in Finland as a pioneer, developer, and trainer in plastic surgery. Siluetti provides a variety of custom-tailored services in all questions related to plastic surgery and aesthetic improvements whether it be a medical examination, wellbeing support, spa treatment, or plastic surgery. We are a Finnish family-owned company that has been providing plastic surgery services since 1977. Siluetti has been a pioneer in Finland since its establishment, performing all types of plastic surgery including breast and skin cancer surgery, injury repair, and repairs to congenital defects; we have also pioneered the gender reassignment surgery and facial bone surgery in private practice in Finland. The health mapping and life management guidance developed by Siluetti Spa can prevent the onset of lifestyle diseases,” says Managing Director and plastic surgeon Timo Pakkanen. Today, Siluetti offers a comprehensive service ranging from aesthetic and corrective surgical procedures to disease prevention and spa treatments.
A functional entity At Siluetti, comprehensive service means that the top expertise and service are combined to best serve the customer. “Our professional team includes specialists and experts from Siluetti Hospital and Medical Spa at two locations in the centre of Helsinki.” Siluetti Hospital is a private hospital specialising in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery and offering high-quality specialist services using the latest technology in the field. Siluetti Health services and orthodontics complement the range of services. For
its part, Siluetti Spa provides comprehensive beauty and wellness services. “Our plastic surgeons are also available at the harmonious Siluetti Spa premises on Helsinki’s Pohjoisesplanadi,” says Pakkanen.
Continuous staff training benefits patients Pakkanen points out that high quality is maintained by continuous staff training. “The production of safe, professional care requires continuous training of the surgical team. We regularly study new trends by attending scientific conferences. We also educate Finnish plastic surgeons and our own staff. They can follow the top international innovative surgeons operate in the annual Finnish Aesthetic Teaching Symposiums (FATS) at Siluetti Hospital. The use of standardised imaging techniques, such as three-dimensional imaging, matching follow-up images by superimposing a translucent live preview over the baseline, allows us reliably to evaluate the long-term results of these surgical techniques with our patients.”
The work is guided by individual service, quality, and safety Pakkanen emphasizes that the core idea at Siluetti is to produce high-quality, comprehensive, and enjoyable customer experiences
Siluetti Hospital is a private hospital specialising in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery and offering high-quality specialist services using the latest technology in the field. – Timo Pakkanen Managing Director, plastic surgeon
that are designed with the benefit and individual needs of the patient in mind. “This is intrinsically linked to concentration on quality work. Quality is about patient safety and our ability to anticipate potential problems.” Pakkanen says that Siluetti is the only Nordic clinic to have a quality rating from the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. “This requires that we record and report all unanticipated sequelae, and we monitor both our documentation and the safety of our premises. It also involves regular external audits, as well as an annual internal audit. Finnish legislation in this field is still inadequate. The standard controls all activities and increases patient safety. All our actions are based on the individual needs of our patients, who are treated on the basis of their individual interest,” says Pakkanen. www.siluetti.fi MH