Stronger together LINPRA

stroNger together

As an independent business organization, the Engineering Industries Association of Lithuania, LINPRA, represents the interests of companies from different engineering sectors with the aim of improving the business environment and increasing competitiveness. Romana Moares spoke to the Association’s director, Mr Darius Lasionis, about how it helps its members to handle new challenges in the evolving marketplace.

Darius lasionis - Interim Director of lINPRA

The engineering sector is an important branch of Lithuania’s economy, employing some 54,000 people and generating a turnover of €3.6 billion. It encompasses over 2000 companies operating across a range of different sectors including metal products, machinery and equipment, electro-mechanics and electronics, plastics and rubber, laser equipment and others.

Mr Lasionis summarises LINPRA’s mission: “Our aim is to empower local companies to increase their effectiveness and sales, and on the international level, to contribute to the recognition of Lithuanian engineering companies as modern and reliable partners.”

Valued support

Lithuania is an export-oriented country, with over 70 per cent of its output sold in the international markets, mainly the EU. Most products are shipped to Germany, followed by Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland and the UK. Therefore, maintaining and increasing international competitiveness is crucial. But that is not the only priority for LINPRA.

“In addition to increasing the volume of exports, our priorities include a general improvement of the business environment, enhanced synergy between scientists and engineers, promotion of vocational training and, last but not least, encouraging companies to take advantage of the new Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0,” says Mr Lasionis.

“We help companies to implement projects improving their competences and increasing the skills required. Training in Industry 4.0-related topics is provided by LINPRA’s subsidiary InTechCentras, the Smart Manufacturing Competence Centre. The Centre is the official representative of the German Innovation Centre Industry 4.0 in Lithuania and provides a three-level training course completed with an ‘Industry 4.0 Driving License’.”

He further explains that LINPRA’s activities are broadly defined as either ‘short-term’ or ‘long-term’. On the short-term basis, members can benefit from involvement in various projects, networking between members, information sharing, and participation in various industry events as well as training courses and seminars. LINPRA also represents its members’ interests and helps them resolve various issues, provides the latest industry information and assists with participation in exhibitions and business missions abroad.

“In the long term, our strategy is to lobby on the political level, seeking to promote engineering business interests in terms of science and business cooperation, education systems, business regulations etc.,” adds Mr Lasionis.

Star players

The director admitted that a lot remains to be done to boost further technological development, but pointed out that there are a growing number of innovative, progressive companies that may serve as examples for others. One such company is Terekas, offering the most flexible PET stretch blow moulding solutions. The company makes universal blowers with variable production speeds that are designed for ultra-flexible bottle production.

“One of the companies that has embraced the Industry 4.0 concept is Novameta, a producer of stainless steel equipment for professional kitchens sold in 18 different countries,” says Mr Lasionis. “They started the digitalisation process in 2005 and now are expanding digitalisation to cover all company processes from production to sales and installation.”

Selteka, an exclusive electronic manufacturing services supplier, is another example of a growing business. Selteka provides circuit board assembly services (EMS) for 49 customers from different European and Asian countries, responding flexibly to market changes and cooperating with scientists. The results of this cooperation include unique lighting solutions and focus on human-centric lighting, tailored to improve the biological responses of the human body to light.

“With sustainability in mind, one must not forget SoliTek – an international photovoltaic solar cell and modular manufacturer and supplier of solar energy solutions. SoliTek manufactures PV products for buildings, especially rooftops – one of the most demanding segments – requiring products to be safe, strong, aesthetically appealing and long-lasting. Their glass-glass modules are incredibly wear-resistant and are made using only renewable energy,” adds Mr Lasionis.

Focus on international presence

As a result of increased international trade and growing production output, Lithuania’s engineering industry has doubled its exports in the last decade. “Our engineering industry is highly competitive in terms of cost and quality and is well-integrated into the global supply chains,” claims Mr Lasionis. However, he admits that several challenges remain, including lower-than-EU-average productivity, an ongoing human resources drain to richer countries and insufficient cooperation between business and science.

In this challenging and evolving business environment, LINPRA’s strategy is to further enhance the international footprint of Lithuanian engineering. “We would like to encourage foreign companies to visit Lithuania to help break the stereotypes and negative attitudes associated with ‘eastern Europe’, to retrieve or upscale the image of Lithuania as a country with reliable and professional business culture – as was confirmed, for example, by the latest investments of Hella and Continental.

“And as I mentioned before, one of our key topics is Industry 4.0 – we prompt our members to use all the support the EU provides in terms of automation and digitalisation, and encourage cooperation between companies to strengthen the value chains. In this context, we would like to cordially invite all potential stakeholders and those interested to attend the Industry 4.0 Conference in Vilnius to be held in May 2018,” concludes Mr Lasionis. n