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Developing tomorrow’s specialised polymer technologies Teknikum
Teknikum is a global player in the development and manufacture of polymer-based fluid handling systems and is a technology leader in corrosion protection. Philip Yorke spoke to Juha Martikainen, the company’s CEO, about its latest ceramic hose products and its move into new markets.
The roots of Teknikum reach back to 1898, although it has only been operating under its present name since 1989, having been a part of the Nokia Group up to that point. For over 20 years the Finlandbased company has been developing highquality polymer products for fluid handling and corrosion protection. The company’s commitment to developing innovative polymer products for use in handling various liquids has placed them at the forefront of the industry.
Teknikum offers a wide range of products in three capability sectors: wear and corrosion protection, fluid handling, and contractor and OEM production. The company’s portfolio includes industrial hoses, moulded products, rubber linings & coverings, polyurethane and liquid silicone products, rubber compounds and rubber sheets and mats.
The company has its own mould design department and offers compound development and process planning at its headquarters in Finland. Today the Teknikum Group remains an independent, family-owned business that employs around 500 people worldwide and in 2012 recorded sales of more than €55 million. The Teknikum Group of Finland consists of Teknikum Oy’s factories in Vammala and Kiikka and Teknikum Sekoitukset Oy at Kerava in Finland. In addition, the company has factories in Russia and China, as well as a European sales office in Germany.
Tailor-made innovation
Teknikum’s technological expertise has enabled it to develop ground-breaking technology to meet specific market needs. This is particularly true of the corrosion protection sector where it has created new products and solutions for protection against wear and corrosion. The company develops, manufactures and markets high-tech rubber products, polyurethane products and lining solutions to meet tomorrow’s challenging needs of diverse industrial groups.
Teknikum serves a broad range of companies that include industries such as mining, energy, chemicals, forestry and marine as well as a large number of process industries. All these industries handle substances that can be hazardous, as well as solid materials or sludge, or fluids that cause wear and corrosion. The line of products in this sector is comprised mainly of mill linings, screen panels, material handling hoses and couplings, as well as special connection hoses and compensators. In addition,
the company produces rubber linings and polymer coatings, roll coverings and various polyurethane products for wear protection such as valve linings and bolter elements. Working in close partnership with its clients, Teknikum develops optimised tailor-made solutions to meet each individual challenge.
Mr Martikainen said, “We have recently launched a number of new products including a very special rubber hose with an inner ceramic composition that enables it to be flexible and yet withstand high temperatures at the same time. Working in partnership with our customers we have developed many new innovative products over the years. We have also recently invested in a new hose production facility in Finland for manufacturing a new range of products for the mining sector, as well as in a major new factory in Russia for our polyurethane hoses. In addition, we have developed a range of flexible fuel hoses for use in very low temperatures where flexibility becomes a major problem at -10C or more.
“However, the most important aspect of our company’s culture remains our close customer focus where service and technical support is paramount and drives everything that we do. Delivering products on time is also essential for our customers – when they need a product we need to be there. Another important service trend is the need for value-added facilities such as product assembly, which is becoming an increasingly important service for our customers.”
Customer-orientated solutions
Placing such focus upon the needs of its clients is a vital part of the company’s philosophy and is most evident in the poly-
mer solutions area of its business. This is focused on the task of developing products that are highly tailored to clients’ needs and uses advanced materials development and specialised product design and manufacture, based upon close cooperation with the customer. Another key area of operations is the manufacture of products and solutions for vibration and noise damping, which are applicable to a wide range of industries from shipbuilding and construction to mechanical engineering and infrastructure.
In the contractor and OEM manufacturing services division Teknikum has a broad range of clients and each has a specific need for a materials-based solution. The company can provide these solutions following a series of proven processes and is involved at an early stage in order to achieve the most successful outcomes.
Innovation and quality driving growth
Teknikum is also involved in the fluid handling sector through technical retail and this is targeted towards delivering a fast and flexible range of industrial hoses. These include both standard and special hose products for the chemical and food-processing industries, all of which are designed to meet the most stringent standards and regulations that are set for those industries. The high level of innovation and the consistent quality of its products are seen as the key drivers for growth for Teknikum. Strong growth has also followed as a result of investments in Asia and Australia where it already supplies materials and products to a range of clients.
When it comes to sustainability, Teknikum is committed to the protection of the environment and continuously monitors and develops its operations to minimise waste and reduce its energy consumption. The company strives to develop environmentally friendly products and seeks different possibilities for the reuse of its waste products. n For more information about Teknikum’s high-tech products and services visit: www.teknikum.com
