LEADING THE REVOLUTION IN ‘CLEANTECH’ APPLICATIONS
Cencorp is a global technology leader in the field of laser and industrial automation solutions. Philip Yorke talked to Iikka Savisalo, the company’s CEO, about its transition from an automation systems solutions provider, to a broader based company that provides ‘cleantech’ applications. The report also includes details of the company’s acquisition of the leading photovoltaic company, Sunweb Solar.
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encorp Corporation was founded in 1978 and is a leading provider of laser and industrial automation solutions. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Finnish Savcor Group, which is listed on the Helsinki and Australian stock exchanges. Savcor is a global supplier of technology involved in the maintenance of infrastructure, buildings, marine structures and waste water, as well as having industrial assets in the process industries, including mining, power and oil and gas. Today Cencorp’s corporate offices are located in Mikkeli, Finland, with sales and manufacturing facilities in Finland, China, North America, France and Estonia. The company also has regional sales and service centres in North America, China and Europe. Today as well as being a technology leader in the supply of laser and industrial automation solutions, Cencorp also 32 Industry Europe
produces special components for mobile phones, cameras, laptop computers and other electronic devices.
Transition offers new ‘cleantech’ solutions Cencorp is known worldwide as a company that specialises in production automation systems and special components for a diverse range of manufacturing and electronics industries. However, in a strategic move to optimise its strengths in laser and automation technology, it is today in transition to become a company that also provides advanced ‘cleantech’ applications. The company’s main objective is to achieve a strong market position as a leading provider of high-quality photovoltaic modules that are locally produced by leveraging its laser and automation technology. To accelerate this change, in January this year, Cencorp and Sunweb Energy Hold-
ing BV (Sunweb Solar) of the Netherlands, completed a transaction in which Cencorp acquired Sunweb’s photovoltaic module business and related pilot production lines, as well as its trademarks and other intellectual property rights. Cencorp’s goal is to build its own dedicated photovoltaic module factory in Mikkeli, Finland, based upon its well-proven engineering and automation know-how. This will result in the most advanced and efficient photovoltaic production plant in the world, taking Cencorp to the forefront of technology leaders in its field. At the time of going to press, Cencorp has already received its first batch of orders for its advanced photovoltaic modules and anticipates sales in the first year to exceed €50 million. Mr Savisalo said, “We have taken this strategic step to leap-frog the competition and we will be redesigning everything inhouse, so we will end up with a fully auto-
