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Unparalleled service in automation installation technology Insta Automation
Insta Automation is a market leader in automation technology services. Philip Yorke spoke to Jarno Pitkanen, the company’s director for installation, about its diverse range of high-tech services and its move into new markets.
Insta Automation was founded in Tampere by Finn Mattsson in 1960 and after over 50 years of successful trading remains an independent, family-owned business. The company began by offering dedicated industrial automation services and the installation of instrumentation equipment. Insta Automation was able to build upon its early successes and has seen consistent growth since, serving customers involved in business sectors such as automation engineering, manufacturing, installation and maintenance.
The Insta Group enhances the performance of its customers’ operations and through its two core business units, Defence and Security Technology (Insta DefSec) and Industrial Automation Technology (Insta Automation) provides a wide range of technological services. The company’s customers represent a broad variety of fields including the power industry, the defence industry, municipal waterworks, the process industries, pulp and paper industries, as well as public transportation and material handling industries. Today this fast-growing, high-tech business employs over 700 people and in 2012 recorded sales of more than €80 million.
Multi-faceted core competences
Insta Automation’s leading position in the market is based upon the core strengths it has developed through many years of automation technology experience. The company’s various teams of professionals have all acquired strong competences in a wide range of disciplines relating to manufacturing plants, production processes and systems. Insta Automation’s approach is always client-driven, professional and flexible, and the company has an enviable track record for completing its projects on time and within budget.
Insta Automation provides services throughout the automation investment lifecycle which includes automation consulting, engineering, manufacture, installation commissioning, maintenance and modernisation. The company’s broad range of installation services embraces everything from electrification installations, small pipe installations and installation supervision, to control devices and field cabinets.
Mr Pitkanen said, “As an independent family-owned business we are different in many ways from our larger competitors and are known in Finland and the Nordic regions for our dedicated, personal and flexible approach, as well as for our reliability and high-quality services. We are not the cheapest provider but you know with us that you will have a topquality result. This year more than 50 per cent
of the income from our installation division will come from countries outside Finland. We have just completed some major installations in the UK and the Netherlands. In addition, we have recently placed 15 of our fitters in Uruguay to install instrumentation in a major new pulp mill being constructed there.
“Many of our customers are global operators and include such industrial giants as Metso, Andritz and Foster Wheeler. Despite the economic slowdown we are seeing a different picture here at Insta and we remain extremely busy. This is endorsed by our need to move into larger premises which are currently under construction at our head office in Tampere, Finland.
Mr Pitkanen added, “Looking to the future we expect to continue to grow organically and are also looking at new areas of operation, such as the nuclear power industry. However, the main challenge we face is the recruitment of highly skilled and qualified engineers and fitters. For every 500 applicants we see, we are lucky to find 15–20 who meet our very stringent qualifications. Maintaining the highest standards for our customers and the protection of our reputation is of paramount importance to us.”
Versatile expertise and turnkey services
Insta Automation’s engineering unit offers versatile expertise in automation and electrical engineering, as well as in project management. The company provides flexible services that range from conceptual engineering to start-ups and from small
sub-projects to large-scale, comprehensive investments and major installation programmes. Insta Automation’s strengths are based upon its technological and process know-how which has been gained through extensive experience across the board, and the deployment of automation technology that is best suited to each individual project.
Furthermore, Insta Automation is providing electrification and instrumentation installations to a bio-oil production plant at Fortum’s Joensuu power plant, and in February this year it signed yet another major new contract for the delivery of instrumentation installations for a major new waste-to-energy power plant at Vantaa Langmossebergen in Finland. This project includes instrumentation installations, fieldbox supply and trunk bus cabling installations. Insta’s part of the installation works commences in June 2013 and completion is scheduled for January 2014. n
For further details of Insta Automation’s advanced engineering services visit: www.insta.fi
