Finnish Professionals

Finnish Professionals is a commercial supplement published by Editor Helsinki Oy | September 2012 |

FinnishProfessionals

Cheers to Finnish Business

Green Mining >>7 Smart Production >>10 Relax in Sauna >>11 Data Erasure >>15

Finnish Professionals

Contents

2 FinnishProfessionals

Design & real estate 3 Comfort of working environment as motivational factor increases 4 Finnish innovation conquering the world 5 Better profits for real estate investors INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY 6 Finland ranks high for competitiveness 6 Geomachine Oy aims to become a fullservice “geohouse” 7 Geological Survey of Finland – European top expert in mineral resources research 8 Full service automation company JTA-Connection is growing and internationalizing 9 Speed and reliability for electrical engineering solutions 10 The goal: smart production HEALTH & WELL BEING 11 Sauna culture from Finland to the world by Helo Group 12 Icare ONE for home use measures intraocular pressure quickly and gently 13 Physical fitness training is a positive drug for the mind and body Information & communication teChnology 14 Intelligent phone bills cut mobile costs significantly 15 An unknown Finn at the top of its field 15 Blancco, Finnish Pioneer in Data Erasure performs the Ultimate Data Vanishing Act

Dear reader, Finnish Professionals gives you an insight into Finnish companies active in international markets. They will tell customers about their solutions and services. Innovations, competence, products, and processes are all aimed at bringing state of the art solutions and services to the global market.

This issue of Finnish Professionals covers a wide range of companies from technology to health care, from ICT to real estate services.

Working environment is changing rapidly. User-based planning is a good solution for motivating skilled workers, says Petteri Kolinen, Design Director of Martela. Coverglobal adds value to residents, architects and buildings with their balcony and terrace glazing.

Increase in urban structures requires profound soil investigation. Innovative devices like drilling rigs are developed by Geomachine. Geological Survey of Finland is a European top expert in mineral resources research.

Several important Finnish export companies, such as Metso, Wärtsilä and Vaisala, already use the expertise of JTA Connection, which designs and implements challenging electrical, mechanical and automation projects for the machines and equipment of its customer companies.

Trafomic has exported power electronics to international markets for 30 years already. The expertise of Delta Enterprise consists of technological solutions designed for more effective production.

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 Valtteri Rantalainen, Producer Lauri Putkinen, Art Director Pirja Kärki, Editors: Maarit Reingoldt, Mia Heiskanen, Satuanna Tikkanen, Kati Knuuttila, Eila Aalto, Tero Elsilä, Maaret Väkinen. English translation: Käännöstoimisto Pikakääntäjä.fi. Printed by Hansaprint.

Feedback to Editor Helsinki Oy: palaute@editorhelsinki.fi +358 9 421 2222 | www.editorhelsinki.fi | www.editori.fi

Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 will be using Darepro video screens like many event venues before. Management of secure data erasure will become even more critical in the future as the amount of data and different platforms increases, says Blancco, expert in the field.

Wellbeing is important to us as individuals, it plays an important role in businesses and it also affects national economies. Icare measures intraocular pressure easily and accurately at home. The health and fitness equipment of HUR increase wellbeing and body condition in a preventive manner. Not to forget the Helo saunas. Sauna bathing has long-standing traditions in Finland. Actually, there are more than 3 million saunas in Finland, so in theory, all 5 million Finns could take a sauna bath at the same time!

We hope that you will join us in cheering to the Finnish expertise.

Finnish Professionals by Editor Helsinki Oy

FinnishProfessionals

Information workers will be spending less and less time at their work stations.

When working methods change, so will the work environment – even radically, according to some futures studies. Companies need to adapt to this if they intend to stay in the race.

The future is looking rosy to the employee. Work can be done wherever and however they wish to, and even when work is performed at the office, they can choose whether they want to be available in the common spaces or whether they want to retreat to a quiet area. User-based space planning and smart ergonomics tailor optimal surroundings for all kinds of needs.

– The work culture in IT companies has long been going in this direction but the rules will also be changing in other fields, especially when Generation Y enters the job markets. This generation, which has spent its entire life in the digital world, will consider flexible working possibilities as a given, says Petteri Kolinen, Design Director of Martela.

Comfortable surroundings increase effectiveness of work – Another interesting thing about Generation Y is that their values are slightly different. They want work to be socially inspiring and developing, networks need to be working, the work place must be

comfortable, and they must have fun at work. It may even be that working will become so flexible people no longer need to retire.

Therefore companies must respond to the demand. Working conditions must be made comfortable. When the surroundings are in order, people are more motivated and thus more efficient. In addition, all studies have shown that personnel satisfaction is directly linked to customer satisfaction.

Significance of company reputation increases A futures study by Martela also clearly shows that the significance of brands is growing. This also means that company image, i.e. its reputation, will play an ever increasing role in vying for market shares and experts.

– How companies treat their employees is a major part of their brand. Responsibility, values and transparency are also important. And all this must be visible online, where much of the company image is created, as well as in the office solutions.

When the surroundings are in order, people are more motivated and thus more efficient.

Comprehensive service also includes Outlet The Outlet channel (www.martelaoutlet.fi) is part of the responsibility of Martela; the channel is used to sell used office furniture. Furniture received from different projects, and which cannot be repaired, will be disassembled, sorted and delivered to be used either in energy supply or as secondary raw material.

– The comprehensive service plays a major part for us. That’s why we’re not simply talking about furniture; instead, we determine how the customer operates, what they want from their premises and what kinds of changes are needed. We determine who needs peace and quiet to work and who is better off working close to each other, how the efficiency of office work can be improved, or what kind of message the work environment is supposed to send.

User-orientation extremely important – User-orientation is an extremely important factor. We are currently finishing design instructions for acoustically and ergonomically optimal multi-purpose spaces in connection to the TOTI research project. The idea behind it is to divide office spaces into zones: spaces which are open to all, partially open spaces and closed spaces. These can be further divided into communication areas where people can talk, quiet areas where people can work without interruption, and into different variations of these: different kinds of meeting and recreational spaces which can be modified according to use. MRG www.martela.com

Photo: Sami Perttilä

Comfort of working environment as motivational factor increases

3

Petteri Kolinen, Design Director of Martela

4 FinnishProfessionals

Finnish innovation conquering the world COVERGLOBAL is a forerunner of balcony and terrace glazing. The company is proud of the Finnish expertise exported to about 30 countries around the world. Their success is promoted by their understanding of different cultures and their multi-cultural core team.

COVERGLOBAL Ltd. is a family company founded in 1985; its founder, Jarmo Sjöholm, was one of the trailblazers of balcony glazing in Finland. In 1991, he created a frameless, movable glazing system for balconies and terraces, creating the world’s first balcony glazing system suitable for covering corners of different degrees. Since then, the products of COVER have been installed in thousands of balconies and terraces all over the world.

Today, COVER is an export company delivering its products and technology to about 30 different countries on the basis of delivery and license agreements.

Added value to residents, architects and the building The technical solutions and aesthetic frameless look of COVER products create added value to the resident, architect and the building itself.

– Our products are well-suited for diverse façade design, without limiting the creativity of the designer. On the other hand, they give the building a visually harmonious look and protect the outdoor areas of the resident from rain, dust and dirt. This reduces the need for renovations in terraces and balconies, thus prolonging their life; not to mention issues concerning the comfort of living, such as privacy created by the glazing and increase in energy-efficiency, say Juhana Berner, CEO of COVERGLOBAL Ltd.

both in Europe and in the United States; in addition, we are constantly conducting our own tests, thus maintaining product safety and high quality requirements.

The global business concept is expanding The success of COVER is strongly based on longterm global partnership.

– The strength of our operation lies in our motivated and multi-cultural core team which is able to serve customers in six different languages. In addition to Finns, the team has employed people from Asia, Africa and South America. We feel that it is important to truly understand the culture and conditions of the country our products are sold in and where our partner is operating in; we also accept diversity. That is our strength.

Berner says that COVER has developed a customer program to support its partners; the company uses the program to help local actors develop their own businesses. – The program includes training and a versatile selection of tools which help the partner launch their business operation with COVER solutions.

The spirit of COVER lives on

COVER Customer program helps local actors develop their own businesses.

Safety above all According to Berner, the basic technological functions of COVER products have remained virtually unchanged since the founding of the company.

– This guarantees the durability and reliability of our products. Over the years, our products have been installed in various exotic locations with extreme wind conditions, thus testing their durability. Our products have undergone rigorous testing

According to Berner, the customer program is a good example of the COVER spirit developed over the years.

– Our longest customer relationships with SIO Ag (www.cover.ch) in Switzerland and DIASPORA Ltd (www.diaspora.com.lb) in Lebanon go as far back as the mid-90s. We’re genuinely proud of being able to export Finnish expertise to the world. Also, we’re honest and truly original – we’re not copies of anything or anyone. This kind of background creates a sense of security for our partners wishing to enter the world of COVER. They know our story and our background, making it easy for them to lean on it. That’s the core of the COVER spirit we wish to communicate to the world, Berner concludes. MH www.cover.fi

FinnishProfessionals

5

Photo: Sami Perttilä

Real estate development professionals from Procofin Oy: Jarkko Salonvaara, Johanna Lappalainen, Kari Vuorela and Sami Hentilä.

Better profits for real estate investors

P

rocofin Oy offers an agile alternative for real estate development and construction projects and for environmental projects.

– Large construction companies often control the entire process: companies buy the building lot and produce finished locations for real estate investors, says Kari Vuorela, CEO of Procofin Oy. – We want to bring flexibility to the process; this benefits both investors and the end users of the building.

Procofin Oy’s customers include both domestic and foreign real estate investors. Project development, various due diligence reports (technical due diligence TDD and environmental due diligence EDD), builder services and planning create a flexible whole, which aims at producing the best possible benefits to all parties to the project.

Tailored projects The solution of Procofin Oy is a consultant-led real estate development service including architectural planning and project management which offers comprehensive expertise for the different stages of a project.

– We have a flexible organization with expertise from many different areas. The development costs remain low, which allows us to focus on serving our customers to find individual solu-

Cost-efficiency plays a major part in the operation of Procofin. tions, Vuorela says.

– We’re not limited to a certain type of building; we develop new apartments, offices and existing real estate.

Trust must be earned Procofin Oy, founded in 2006, has been growing rapidly in the field dominated by large actors.

– We currently employ 20 experts, mostly from technical fields, and our turnover will be doubled from last year, Vuorela estimates.

Trust is essential – they do not rush into major projects with just anyone, they have to know their partners. A good example of this is their long cooperation with the City of Helsinki.

Cost-efficiency plays a major part in the operation of Procofin Oy. – We use 3D modeling during the planning stage. This way we can make a reliable assessment of project costs in advance. We can model several different kinds of alternatives, and the customer can then choose the one best-suited for

their purposes and the cost frame of the project, Vuorela describes.

– A reliable cost estimate also helps in making realistic profit estimates for different alternatives.

Flexibility benefits customers Auratum Kiinteistöt Oy and Procofin Oy have been cooperating in the construction of a shopping center in Lähderanta, Espoo.

– We found the Procofin model effortless: the location of the building, the tenant and the real estate type were all done and ready, and they fulfilled our investment criteria, says partner Kalle Hallanoro.

– Procofin is a good partner for real estate investors who wish to invest in development locations and affect the end result without having their own real estate development organization.

The flexible process also benefits the end users of the building.

– In individual projects, the end users are heard already during the planning stage and throughout the project, says Kari Vuorela.

– Investments in quality and energy-efficiency pay themselves back in use. In the future, we offer our customer an even vaster selection of expertise in real estate and environmental projects. ST www.procofin.fi

6 FinnishProfessionals

ranks high for competitiveness The World Economic Forum has ranked Finland second among EU member states when it comes to building a smart, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economy.

The 2012 edition of the Europe 2020 Competitiveness Report covers 27 EU Member States and six accession and candidate economies.

It is the first of a series of reports that will be produced every two years until the end of the decade.

Finland’s enterprise environment fosters business creation, supported by readily available finance for business investment, the report says.It also occupies the top position in the higher education and training category, the result of a strong focus on education over recent decades. This has provided the workforce with the skills needed to adapt rapidly to a changing environment and has laid the groundwork for high levels of technological adoption and innovation.

The report praised Finland as one of

the innovation powerhouses in Europe and highlighted a well-functioning labour market and strong social inclusion based on low inequality and the provision of social services.

The index measures European countries’ competitiveness according to seven criteria: enterprise environment, digital agenda, innovative Europe, education and training, labour market and employment, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

Finland’s strong showing on the sustainability component demonstrates that its economic prowess is not at the expense of environmentally sustainable practices and outcomes, the report says.

The Europe 2020 Competitiveness Report is led by Sweden, Finland and Denmark and ends with Greece, Bulgaria and Romania.

Source: www.goodnewsfinland.com

The report praised Finland as one of the innovation powerhouses in Europe.

Geomachine Oy aims to become a full-service “geohouse”

Photo: Sami Perttilä

T

he increase in urban structures and turning old industrial areas into residential areas requires investigation of the ground and groundwater.

Geomachine Oy, founded in 1984, is a company specialized in designing, manufacturing, selling and maintaining soil investigation, mining exploration and geothermal drilling rigs. Thanks to research and development work conducted over the past thirty years, Geomachine has become the leading company in its field in the Nordic countries.

– The techniques and technology of Geomachine are based on our own patented solutions. We manufacture modern drilling rigs for our customers, and we’re also responsible for the maintenance of these machines, as well as for selling and developing meas< The techniques and technology of Geomachine are based on our own patented solutions, says Jukka Ylänen, CEO of Geomachine.

uring equipment and drilling equipment, says Jukka Ylänen, CEO of Geomachine.

Drilling rigs are purchased by both the public sector and private companies operating in ground planning, construction and mining exploration. Equipment manufactured by Geomachine are Finnish from start to finish.

As the number of urban structures increases and old industrial areas are turned into residential areas, the need for soil and groundwater investigations becomes ever more important. In order to conduct these investigations, quality technology is needed; this is where Geomachine and its soil investigation equipment come in.

– To some extent the demand for our equipment is increased by the utilization of mineral resources in the northern hemisphere, which requires investment into infrastructure and mining operation. We meet these challenges and offer functional solutions, Jukka Ylänen says. KKN | www.geomachine.fi

7

Photo: Sami Perttilä

Finnishprofessionals

Pekka Nurmi, Research Director and Professor, Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)

Geological Survey of Finland – European top expert in mineral resources research The Green Mining concept focuses on the environmental impacts, energy-efficiency and occupational safety of mines.

For 125 years, the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) has focused on the assessment of mineral resources and diverse survey of the Earth’s crust. The research center currently operates under the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, and it implements applied studies on needs-basis.

– The Geological Survey of Finland has three impact areas, which are mineral resources and raw material supply, energy supply and environment, and land use and construction, says Research Director and Professor Pekka Nurmi.

According to Nurmi, the Finnish bedrock has good potential for finding new ores and for developing mines into producing raw materials necessary for the industry. In terms of energy supply, he considers one of the most important tasks of the research center to be the use of its geological expertise to ensure the safe disposal of nuclear waste in the Finnish bedrock.

– In terms of energy supply, geo-energy will also become more popular in the future

when ground heat is used more extensively as the heating form of shopping centers, logistics centers and residential areas. GTK models the geo-energy solutions of such large locations.

Using ground heat is worth it, as it saves up to 60-70 % in energy costs, says Nurmi.

New business operations as part of the mining industry The Geological Survey of Finland offers expert services for research on mineral resources and their sustainable use both in Finland and on a global level. According to Pekka Nurmi, the Green Mining concept developed by GTK together with other parties is an important mode of operation in future mining; its goal is to optimize material and energy efficiency throughout the production chain, as well as minimize the environmental impacts. GTK also actively promotes sustainable mineral economics in developing countries. Export projects are directed in Africa, Central Asia, South America and the Far East.

Mines have been operating in Finland for decades. However, a few mining projects which have lately generated plenty of discussion have shown that, in the future, the mining industry must take the social effects of their operation into consideration better than before and minimize the environmental impacts of mining, Nurmi states. At the same time, the mining industry aims at higher quality occupational safety and better landscaping of mining areas after the end of mining.

Finnish bedrock has good potential for finding new ores.

– The Green Mining program was first begun in 2011, led by Tekes. The goal of the program is to turn Finland into the global forerunner of the mineral industry by 2020. This will be done by developing the special expertise in mining, mining technology and the industry service sector, as well as by improving related business operations, Pekka Nurmi states. KKN | www.gtk.fi

Photo: Ari Ijäs

8 FinnishProfessionals

CEO

honen Timo A ection. n Co n of JTA

Full service automation company

JTA-Connection is growing and internationalizing JTA-Connection Oy from Tampere is shooting for the world with a firm touch. The company already has an office in Germany, and it has performed challenging assignments in over 85 countries on five different continents. The need for staff speaks volumes of the speed of growth; by the end of this year, the company will have recruited at least 50 more experts.

JTA-Connection designs and implements challenging electrical, mechanical and automation projects for the machines and equipment of its customer companies. The vast selection of services includes electrical and automation design, center manufacturing, mechanical assembly, export installation, introduction, installation supervision, testing and maintenance services of machines and equipment.

Service on one-stop-shop basis – We offer a comprehensive service, where the parts can be detached and offered individually according to customer wishes. From us, customers will get exactly the kind of service package they want to, summarizes Timo Ahonen, CEO of JTA Connection.

Customers of the company include some of the most important export companies in Finland, all the way from Metso and Vaisala to Wärtsilä and Cargotec – among many others.

– The goal of internationalization is to invest in export and gain major foreign technology export companies as customers alongside the Finnish ones, Timo Ahonen says.

He has noticed that large companies wish to operate with other large companies.

– We want to be a company with resources to fulfill all kinds of needs, whether the customer is Konecranes, Outotec or some new international

master of its field. We want to grow with our customers.

However, they are not going to conquer the world unprepared.

– We have received funding from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, and we’re working on a new business plan. The quality system must also be in order when dealing with larger international corporations, he says.

According to the HR coordinator of the company, Marjo Rautanen, personnel development is an important part of growth and internationalization. Especially when the order book is filling up quickly thanks to new contracts.

– We invest in the continuous training of our staff, while looking for the best talents to join our company. We’re looking for skill potential, in particular, not just substance competence; people with the right attitude and customer-orientation.

The people we’re looking for are flexible, they have good language skills and motivation, and they’re willing to travel, she states.

Experience creates reliability The company has performed challenging installation, installation supervision, introduction, and electrical and automation design projects on machines and equipment in over 85 countries. This work includes, for example, introduction of die-

The goal of internationalization is to invest in export and gain major foreign technology export companies as customers alongside the Finnish ones. sel and gas power plants and factory automations, erection of automobile factory production lines and windmills, and the introduction projects of cranes in automated container harbors, etc.

The staff, which has gained experience in the different cities and jungles of the world, will not stand idle even in difficult situations.

– Experience on different kinds of customers and various operating environments all over the world have contributed to our extensive skills and vision, Timo Ahonen notes.

– Flexibility, continuous training of personnel, and listening to our customers and taking their needs into consideration have made us a strong and reliable cooperation partner.

This policy will be maintained throughout our internationalization and growth, he promises. EA www.jtaconnection.fi

FinnishProfessionals

9

Speed and reliability for electrical engineering solutions

T

Photo: Mikael Soininen

rafomic, a company specializing in power electronics, such as the design and manufacture of power supplies and inductive components. The company, located in the Turku region in southwestern Finland, has operated on an international level throughout its thirty years of existence. Almost 50 % of production is exported abroad and when indirect export is included, almost 90 % of their products end up outside Finland.

Designing and manufacturing components for frequency converters for motor drives, escalators and lifts, welding equipment, medical appliances and military technology requires investment into diverse product development and production skills. Long-term customer relationships with the top companies of various fields guarantee continuity and development.

– Challenging customers keep us up-to-date in terms of international development. We specialize in products designed and tailored according to customer needs. Our strengths are agility, reliability and quality, says CEO Eero Mäkinen.

Power electronics has created new possibilities The 21st century has been a time of growth for the company, and the effects of the economic downturn on turnover remained short-term. The demand for small components in consumer electronics has decreased in Europe but the demand for, for example, larger power transformers is on the rise.

– The number of power electronic devices in the electrical power network has increased. This has created new markets and needs. The disturbances of these devices contaminating the electrical power network have been limited with directives, and we have developed filters which save energy and clean the power network for our customers. In terms of development work, we conduct research in cooperation with universities, says Mäkinen.

The company has designed and manufactured over 30 000 different kinds of products over the years it has been in operation. This can be called low volume- high mix production. Growth is not forced but, if the markets thus require, demand will be satisfied.

– The assembly lines we have designed can be robotized for the manufacturing of high volume series. However, we prefer to offer our customers flexibility. The line can be used to manufacture several products over the course of one day, Mäkinen describes.

Quality and speed of deliveries Due to the large quantity of products, the production management of Trafomic is well developed and the labor highly skilled. The certified quality system and the product approvals of several classification societies provide documentation and supervision.

Project deliveries are usually implemented with-

The company has designed and manufactured over 30 000 different kinds of products over the years it has been in operation. This can be called low volume- high mix production, says Eero Mäkinen Trafomic CEO.

in three days of the order. Unpredictable need of spare parts can usually be satisfied within 24 hours.

– Many of our customers have noticed that price is not the same thing as cost when speed and punctuality is expected of the entire delivery chain. We are not trying to compete with the high volumes of companies from the Far East. Flexibility and punctuality keep the total costs low. It’s speed that matters in the entire chain, and products are delivered when the customer wants them to be delivered, Mäkinen promises.

The logistic location of Trafomic on the southwestern coast of Finland, close to the Turku harbor and an international airport, means that freight services are easily accessible. The factory is 15 minutes from the harbor and the airport.

Since the beginning of its operation, Trafomic has been exporting goods to Sweden, making it the natural object of cooperation simply based on traffic connections. Currently, the biggest exporting countries are Italy and China.

Tools for outsourcing Not all production is moving to China or to the countries in the Far East. Production abroad is a good solution if the volumes are sufficiently large.

However, this is rarely the case with customerspecific industrial products.

– A vast product range presents its own challenges, so instead of own foreign factories, we rely on selected manufacturer partners in the customer’s country of preference, Mäkinen says.

Instead of volume production, cooperation with the customer may begin with brainstorming, and progress to market research, product development and production management. This “takecover” process allows the minimization of costs and maximization of delivery accuracy in all stages of manufacturing. TE

www.trafomic.fi

10 FinnishProfessionals

The goal: smart production Oy Delta-Enterprise Ltd improves the production of their customer companies.

O

y Delta-Enterprise Ltd deliv- can be solved with smart production ers comprehensive solutions systems.

– Visual quality control of the profor improving the production of their customers. In prac- duction process may sometimes be tice, Delta-Enterprise designs and im- too slow and inaccurate in the complements automation solutions, smart panies. A solution to this challenge measuring systems and comprehen- can be implementing the Machine sive manufacturing execution sys- Vision System which brings the retems tailored according to customer quired speed and efficiently increasneeds. es the accuracy.

– We deliver various solutions for When the experts of Delta-Enterdifferent kinds of industrial com- prise begin to design an information panies. The goal of these solutions system for their customer company, is to improve production and thus they cooperate with the customer to strengthen the competitiveness of the determine the goals to be achieved customer in the markets, says Ant- during the project.

– We’ll write a roadmap together ti Varis, Sales and Marketing Vice with the customer; this roadmap rePresident of Delta-Enterprise.

Currently the solutions provided by cords the goals, objectives and phases Delta-Enterprise aim at fostering the of the future project. This kind of defull potential of companies in interna- termination helps us implement the actual design work tional markets. once both parties – We want to We want to do our are clear on the do our part in propart in promoting goals and checkmoting the busithe business ness operations of points of the proWestern compaoperations of Western ject.

Varis says that nies; here export companies; here contact with the is one of the key export is one of the customer is frefactors. In order to key factors. improve competiquent as the protiveness, we must ject progresses, and be able to utilize the best skills in in- new solutions are introduced to the dustrial operation as extensively as customer as soon as possible.

– We deliver the new system to possible, Varis says.

According to Varis, these goals can the customer in parts so that the sysbe achieved by focusing on the right tem can be gradually tested in practhings and reducing unproductive tice. This allows fast reaction to new work. needs, and new ideas can be easily in– Companies spend a lot of time cluded in the project. The customer registering and transferring informa- will receive a functional system withtion manually, and mistakes are easily in the agreed schedule, and the busimade. When data collection, transfer ness benefits can already be seen afand reporting is automated, working ter the introduction of the first part, hours can be used for more produc- thus shortening the repayment time tive tasks which are more important of investments. KKN | www.d-e.fi for business operations, Varis says.

Antti Varis Vice President, Sales & Marketing Delta-Enterprise

According to Antti Varis, the production of industrial companies currently involves several challenges which

Delta-Enterprise is a company specialized in technological solutions for making production more effective. We design and implement manufacturing execution systems, smart measuring systems and automation solutions according to customer needs.

Photo: Sami Perttilä

In cooperation with the customer

FinnishProfessionals

11

In September Helo Group introduced an electric sauna stove with an integrated steam generator. and lighting of the sauna, as well as to the way the benches are designed, Björkbom describes.

Helo responds to the wishes of consumers, and saunas are tailored to suit each individual space, starting with selection of the sauna stove and ending with lighting design. The company conducts continuous development work; in September it introduced an electric sauna stove with an integrated steam generator. In addition to traditional stones, the stove will include a water tank equipped with separate resistors, which help in controlling the humidity and temperature of the sauna in a completely new manner.

– Finnish saunas have traditionally been hot and dry, but not all people like the 90-degree temperature. Indeed, this new innovation has received a warm welcome, Jan Björkbom says.

Sauna culture from Finland to the world by Helo Group

Expert help in buying stoves

Today, people enjoy soft and humid heat in the comfortable atmosphere of the sauna.

T

he Finns are known to be crazy about the sauna. Sauna has long traditions in Finland, and the Finnish Helo Group Oy has been an actor in the sauna stove markets for almost 100 years. The company is a pioneer of electric sauna stove production as it began manufacturing stoves already in the 1950s. Originally Helo Group made stoves for domestic markets but it expanded its operation to export in the 1960s. In addition to Finland, the company currently has offices in Germany, France and England, and one of its most important exporting countries is Russia.

– In addition to electric sauna stoves, our selection includes wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, steam generators, sauna rooms and benches with

furnishings, as well as equipment for infra rooms.

Infra room refers to a space heated with a radiation mechanism, keeping the temperature comfortably low, says CEO Jan Björkbom.

Sauna as part of interior decoration The meaning of sauna has transformed over the past years. It is no longer simply seen as a place to bathe; instead, people are starting to pay more attention to decoration in the sauna.

– The Finns’ interest in home renovations and decoration can also be seen in the sauna market.

People want the sauna to be a place where they can relax in a comfortable atmosphere; therefore they’re starting to pay attention to the appearance

Depending on use and the selected stove, the aver­ age life of an electric sauna stove manufactured

by Helo Group is 2 to 15 years. According to Björkbom stove maintenance plays an important part in the durability of electric sauna stoves in particular. Wood-burning stoves endure use longer, as long as the size of the stove corresponds to the size of the sauna.

– It’s good to remember that the stones of electric stoves should be changed once a year, as they crumble and set over time, thus obstructing air flow in the stove. This may result in over-heating and breakage of the electrical resistor.

For those who are planning on buying a new sauna stove, Jan Björkbom recommends carefully studying the selection in the market.

– You should definitely be curious and ask experts for advice. This way you can find just the right stove solution among different alternatives.

KKN | www.helo.fi

Need to get your business message across to a carefully selected target audience?

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.

Get in touch and let us do the rest.

Editor Helsinki – The floor is yours www.editorhelsinki.fi | +358 9 421 2222

12 FinnishProfessionals

Icare ONE for home use

measures intraocular pressure quickly and gently

With glaucoma, the optic nerve is slowly damaged and this is often undetected for many years. Vision loss from glaucoma cannot be recovered but progression of this illness can be slowed down or halted by early diagnosis, treatment and monitoring.

The new tonometer of Icare Finland enables the easy measurement of intraocular pressure at home.

The tonometers of Finnish Icare Finland Oy, specializing in the development and manufacturing of tonometers, are based on a rebound technique developed by Doctor Antti Kontiola. The technique allows the measurement of intraocular pressure quickly, gently and accurately without having to anesthetize the eye.

– The contact of the very light probe with the cornea is so fast you can’t even feel it, says Doctor Thierry Zeyen, a Belgian professor specialized in the treatment of glaucoma and a visiting professor in Tays Central Hospital´s eye ward in Tampere.

Doctor Zeyen has used and studied the tonometers of Icare since 2008 and written articles on the subject for several esteemed medical journals.

– According to our research, the measurements of the Icare tonometer are very close to the approved standard, meaning that they are highly reproducible and accurate. The method is also very suitable for children, who usually hate putting anesthetic eye drops, as well as for people who cannot use traditional methods reliably, such as patients with cornea transplants. The device is light, transportable and user friendly, he says.

Controlling intraocular pressure with home measuring The device, originally designed for general practitioners, soon made its way to opticians’, ophthalmologists’ and even veterinarians’ offices due to its ease of use and patient-friendliness. The newest device is the Icare ONE designed for use at home to measure intraocular pressure quickly, painlessly and accurately on a daily basis.

– We’re interested in a home tonometer because the intraocular pressure varies within a day and from one day to the other. Measurements taken at the office of the ophthalmologists are only snapshots. Glaucoma is commonly treated with daily eye-drops to lower the intraocular pressure, but adherence to treatment is often unsatisfactory.

According to surveys, as much as 70 % of patients don’t use their eye-drops as regularly as they should except for the weeks preceding the visit to the ophthalmologist. Therefore the intraocular pressure measurements during office visits

Photos: Emil Bobyrev

Glaucoma is the most important cause of irreversible blindness in the world and elevated intraocular pressure is the most important risk factor to develop the disease.

Glaucoma can be treated better when the intraocular pressure can be measured easily and accurately at home.

Thierry Zeyen, professor em. of ophthalmology, visiting professor of TAYS eye ward.

are often normal even if the vision of the patient has deteriorated in between. Home tonometers allow patients to monitor their intraocular pressure daily or several times per day. This provides useful information to the ophthalmologist and will also contribute to a better adherence to treatment.

When patients with glaucoma take their medication according to instructions, progression of the disease can be slowed down or stopped, Doctor Zeyen summarizes.

Glaucoma – the subtle thief of vision Elevated intraocular pressure is the most important risk factor to develop glaucoma and the only one we can modify by treatment. Other risk factors to develop glaucoma include heredity, age, myopia, African ethnicity, a thin cornea and vascular diseases. However, glaucoma is not the same as elevated intraocular pressure; it is a chronic illness of the optic nerve, causing a slow deterioration of optic nerve cells with gradual defects in the visual field. One of 40 adults older than 40 years has glaucoma, although loss of visual function is often asymmetrical.

Glaucoma is subtle because the elevated intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve slowly, mostly without causing any pain or symptoms to

the patient until late in the disease when visual impairment arises.

– It may take years to diagnose glaucoma because, as vision deteriorates, the brain adapts and fills in the gaps in the visual field. Even in developed countries, half of glaucoma cases are undiagnosed, Doctor Zeyen notes.

Glaucoma may develop even with intraocular pressures within the normal range (normal tension glaucoma). On the other hand, patients with intraocular pressures above the normal range (ocular hypertension) have an increased risk for developing glaucoma, but many of them will not develop the disease. Therefore, measuring the intraocular pressure alone is insufficient to detect glaucoma.

– In order to detect glaucoma in time, we also need to examine the optic nerve and the visual field. If glaucoma is detected early, treatment is often more efficient and visual impairment can be prevented in most cases. EA | Dr. Zeyen has no financial interest in any of the items discussed.

www.icaretonometer.com

FinnishProfessionals

13

It’s important for future healthcare to have the right information recorded and transferred to different parties easily and objectively.

Physical fitness training is a positive drug for the mind and body

HUR wants to inspire people of all ages, and particularly people of working age, to look after their muscle fitness so that everyone would have the possibility to live an active, independent and as long a life as possible.

The mission of HUR Oy is to get people who are not familiar with exercise to go to the gym or to exercise.

– We want working people and the elderly to learn how important it is to look after your own wellbeing and body condition in a preventive manner. Physical training is a positive natural drug for the mind and body, helping us to lead an active and independent life for as long as possible, Lena Karjaluoto, CEO of HUR Oy, summarizes the operating philosophy of the company.

Today, the Finnish HUR Oy is a forerunner of rehabilitation and wellbeing; its concepts and equipment are designed to meet the needs of health exercise and rehabilitation of the adult population. Our devices are safe and studied strength training devices for people of all ages, and their training resistance is produced with pneumatic technology, Karjaluoto says. Finnish HUR gym and rehabilitation equipment have been manufactured in Kokkola since 1989. Today, their equipment is exported to over 40 countries, and 90 % of their production ends up outside Finland.

– The software in the equipment records the training programs and the desired training resistance automatically into the device. This ensures effective training in accordance with the correct training program. In addition, all performed exercises are saved in the database, automatically creating a training diary. This makes it easy for, for example, physiotherapists to monitor the progress made by their patients. It’s important for future healthcare to have the right information recorded and transferred to different parties easily and objectively.

Smart strength training with Smart Card equipment

Injuries resulting from falling down are costly

HUR has developed innovative HUR SmartCard devices controlled with the SmartCard.

Smart training environment at the Oulu airport Karjaluoto says that HUR has recently delivered a smart exercise environment to the Oulu airport in cooperation with the University of Oulu. - The test environment is based on the Health Flying concept developed as part of the DIEM research project. The concept is developed on the basis of feedback collected from people testing the environment. The goal is to create a model which can be duplicated in other airports, as well.

HUR actively works among the elderly. A fine example of preventive work by HUR is the concept Kaatumisten Ehkäisy (“Prevention of Falling

Down”) developed in cooperation with experts.

The purpose of the concept is to prevent falling down with systematic measurement of performance and with muscle strength and balance exercises.

– The concept is based on research data and practical experience, Lena Karjaluoto which have been used CEO of HUR Oy to write instructions for testing and rehabilitation of functional abilities and muscle strength. Karjaluoto reminds us that falling down results in approximately 7 000 hip fractures in Finland each year.

– This is one of the reasons people should start improving their muscle condition and strength in good time. It’s expensive to treat injuries caused by falling down; the costs of the first year of treatment of one hip fracture is about 20 000 Euro.

These numbers should make even policymakers take these things seriously, Karjaluoto emphasizes. MH www.hur.fi

Photo: Sami Perttilä

14 FinnishProfessionals

Jani Puroranta CEO, Alekstra

Intelligent phone bills cut mobile costs significantly Telecom analytics developed by Alekstra makes the analysis of phone bills easy.

Alekstra, founded in 2006, offers its customers a new kind of method for affecting their mobile costs. Customers can use the telecom analytics developed by Alekstra to receive itemized information on the invoices of company-owned phones and how the total spend can be impacted. This is a unique service in Finland, and its users have, on average, gained 37 % savings in their phone expenses.

When the operator sends a phone bill to the company, the company should be able to check whether the invoice is even in accordance with the agreement. This is, however, practically impossible since the people checking the invoices may not know what is included in the contract with the operator. Usually this invoice checking is only done for the sake of appearances, and the only way companies can affect their phone bills is putting the operators out to tender.

The solution is a service developed by Alekstra.

The service is divided into three sections: invoice checking, subscription optimization and invoice transparency.

– Our work begins with checking the invoice, i.e. making sure the invoice is consistent with the contract. Every week, we find errors made by operators in the invoices; the biggest we’ve found was worth 700 000 Euro, says Jani Puroranta,

Every week, we find errors made by operators in the invoices; the biggest we’ve found was worth 700 000 Euro.

CEO of Alekstra.

According to Puroranta, the next stage is optimizing the rate plans of individual users. This stage is used to determine how individual users use their subscriptions, and to find the right services and products among the selection of the chosen operator.

– When this work is performed continuously, the customer will receive an average of 20 % savings. It’s important to continuously optimize the contents of services offered by operators and the services needed by users, says Puroranta.

Transparency of the invoice sent by the operator is an integral part of the process. When the invoice is analyzed in detail, we can see how individual users use their subscriptions. This way we can, for example, reveal excessive use of service calls and roaming data.

– After the analysis, the users can be influenced.

Normally 95 % of company employees use their sub-

scriptions according to instructions, and only 5 % of users need to be affected. The users – and the budget owner – rarely know total monthly spend of their phone bills, Jani Puroranta says.

Test drive free of charge The sales process of Alekstra allows the customer to test drive the product in practice free of charge.

The trial period can be begun once the customer has delivered a proxy to Alekstra so that Alekstra can retrieve the invoicing data from the operator.

– We analyze the phone traffic in about four weeks. Then we can present a comprehensive analysis on the phone expenses of the company and calculate their exact savings percentage. The trial allows the customers to see how much savings they would have; indeed, after the trial period, 70 per cent of customers buy the service, Puroranta says.

According to Puroranta, telecom analytics generates not only direct savings but also savings in working hours. Invoice processing is facilitated by the consolidated invoice sent to the customer by the intelligent phone bill service; the information on this compilation is electronically transferred to the accounting system.

Currently the customers of Alekstra include 100 major corporations and public corporations in Finland and the USA. – We operate in 13 countries, and the company is owned by approximately forty private investors. There has been a clear demand for the service as our turnover has increased over 200 % each year. We plan on expanding our operations geographically in the future. In addition, we intend to market the service to smaller companies and even consumers, Jani Puroranta states. KKN www.alekstra.com

FinnishProfessionals

15

An unknown Finn at the top of its field

T

he products of this company can be found everywhere both in Finland and abroad. For example, the large video screens in Hartwall Areena and the Helsinki Olympic Stadium are manufactured by them. Darepro is one of the oldest and the most esteemed manufacturers of LED video screens and -displays in Europe but only few know the company behind the products.

The Finnish company fights Asian competition with iron expertise and high quality in product design, manufacturing and technical properties such as picture quality, lifetime and power consumption.

“Delivery accuracy and TCO (total cost of ownership) play an essential part. Designing work as well as implementation must be of high quality. Customers understand that, in the long run, the whole thus becomes significantly more economical than the cheapest alternative available at the moment of acquisition,” says Henri Orpo, CEO of Darepro.

The company led by Orpo is the only only one of its’ kind in the Nordic countries. In addition to the Nordic countries, the principal markets of the company are in Central Europe, Russia and the Baltic region. Displays were first manufactured in Finland in 1986 in Haapavesi by Darekon Henri Orpo Oy, whose principal line of busiCEO of Darepro ness was contract manufacturing

of electronics. The display business was separated from Darekon in 1993, and Darepro Oy was founded. Nevertheless, the products of Darepro are still mostly manufactured in the Darekon factory in Haapavesi.

Turn-key deliveries even to challenging locations Darepro manufactures LED video screens and -displays for, e.g. arenas, stadiums and for outdoor- and indoor advertising. They also deliver display systems for special applications where system integration plays significant part in the whole.

“We offer turn-key deliveries even for extremely challenging locations, whether we’re speaking of large ad displays installed at the height of 40 meters or of comprehensive systems installed in multi-purpose arenas.”

Darepro has delivered LED displays, for example, for the World Cup in France (1998) and Germany (2006). Today, Darepro is the largest supplier of video screens in the large arenas of the Russian hockey league KHL. Darepro will also be delivering large video screens to the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Projects are always implemented in cooperation with the customer, architects and designers.

“We tailor solutions according to customer needs.

Based on our 20-year experience, we are able to discuss with our customer what could be the best solution for them and what will not meet their needs.” MV

Zalgiris Arena, main venue in Euro­ basket 2011 in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Darepro designed and constructed a 262 meter long fascia board surrounding the arena and a 4-sided video cube including scoring- and control system. The entire system was supplied as a turn-key delivery.

www.darepro.com

Blancco, Finnish Pioneer in Data Erasure,

Performs the Ultimate Data Vanishing Act

T

oday’s digital age includes more electronic devices holding ever greater volumes of confidential data. Social security, credit card, bank, medical history and classified information are found on everything from computer hard drives and servers to smartphones.

Where does that data go once the device surpasses its usefulness?

Nowhere, if Finnish company Blancco has anything to do with it.

Celebrating 15 years of protecting confidential information What began as a small start-up in Joensuu, Finland in 1997 has grown into a multinational company erasing tens of thousands of IT assets worldwide each day, with offices in 13 countries. Now the global leader in certified data erasure and computer reuse solutions, Blancco celebrates 15 years of success as the preferred choice of global defense, police, banking, healthcare and IT asset disposal professionals.

Data erasure (also called data clearing or wiping) is a software-based method that completely destroys electronic data residing on a hard drive or other digital media. It removes all information while leaving electronics operable, preserving IT assets and the environment.

Management of secure data erasure will become even more critical in the next few years.

Kim Väisänen CEO and Co-Founder of Blancco

“We’ve seen a growing need for permanent data erasure as electronic devices are retired or refurbished,” said Kim Väisänen, CEO and Co-Founder of Blancco. “Increased storage of sensitive data coupled with rapid technological advances and shorter IT asset lifespans have driven this trend.

A rise in corporate information theft and fraud has also contributed.”

Blancco’s fast track started in 1997, when a Finnish hospital sold a PC containing medical records of 3000 patients. Väisänen and another university student responded to the incident by creating a data erasure tool to securely wipe hard disk drives.

By 2001, the company had more than 100,000 users. Four years later, Blancco exceeded 3 mil-

lion users and started to be recognized in the industry. The company has appeared multiple times in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 list in Finland and has been awarded the highest AAA credit rating nine times by Soliditet (formerly Dun & Bradstreet).

Väisänen says Blancco, which has consistently seen growth of 25-30% per year, is well positioned for another 15 years.

“Recent growth in data security compliance and legislative requirements demonstrates that management of secure data erasure will become even more critical in the next few years,” he said.

“The digital universe doubles every 18 months, while the spectrum of device platforms becomes more fragmented, so secure data erasure will be more challenging. But, Blancco is committed to working alongside organizations to help them manage these challenges.” www.blancco.com

Superior interiors

We design and supply interior solutions for working environments and public spaces. Our objective is to offer the best service in the business and innovative products that inspire people in their work and daily life. www.martela.com