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CASE LEHTOSEN KONEPAJA
The Kokemäki-based mechanical engineering company Lehtosen Konepaja has carried out close co-operation with UPCAST for almost 50 years now, and the company’s know-how can be summarised in four words: quality, reliability, agility and flexibility.
Mutual trust since 1970
Lehtosen Konepaja is a prime example of a classical family enterprise whose global success is rooted in local operations. Focusing on heavy industry, the engineering company produces and develops machine and equipment manufacturing services and manufactures conveyors and conveyor systems as well as industrial blowers as its own products. Established in 1923, the company has always been owned by the same family and grown from a mechanical workshop run by a few people into a corporate group with 140 employees.
All of the company’s physical functions are located in South-West Finland. Managing Director Erkki Lehtonen says that the industry’s long history in the area has provided a strong basis for today’s productive – and global – operations. – The Satakunta region has a long tradition of mechanical engineering, which is evidenced by the number and quality of operators. Our own customer base consists of international export companies operating within the EU, whose products continue their way to end customers all over the world, Lehtonen comments.
UPCAST’s most important supplier Locality and globality also characterise the co-operation between UPCAST and Lehtosen Konepaja: the physical proximity of the companies’ offices creates good opportunities for developing the co-operation and manufacturing UPCAST products. – For UPCAST, we manufacture almost all of the company’s mechanical equipment and carry out the necessary assembly work. We
also perform cold test runs of the equipment in our facilities, Lehtonen says.
As a systems supplier for the forest industry, harbours and the process industry and a machine manufacturer, Lehtosen Konepaja is ranked among the top three operators in Finland. Lehtonen says that the secret to a working partnership is trust. – Our co-operation with UPCAST is built not only on the quality, reliability and agility of our production, but also on the mutual trust arising from that. Our partnership has continued since 1970, which can be seen as a sign of trust in and of itself.
Continuous development to ensure quality In order to provide its co-operation partners and customers with technological solutions required in modern industrial production, a mechanical engineering company must keep up with the times. Thus, Lehtosen Konepaja has made strong investments in growth since the 1990s: two of the latest concrete signs of growth are the almost 2,500 m 2 sheet metal work and welding hall and the robotisation of welding in Kokemäki. – The secret to our longevity lies in longterm operations and constant development, as well as investments. In accordance with our growth strategy, we seek both organic growth and growth through acquisitions, Lehtonen comments.
Lehtonen says that Lehtosen Konepaja’s own future looks very bright, as does the company’s future with UPCAST. – UPCAST invests heavily in product development. The company’s suppliers also develop themselves constantly in their respective sectors. •
Lehtosen Konepaja Ltd
• Founded in 1923 • Mechanical engineering company, specializing in heavy metal industry • Employs approximately 140 professionals • Production areas include system deliveries, body manufacture, and complex machined components • Delivers loading and logistics systems and production lines for sawmill industry, ports, and process industry • Subcontractor for several international export companies in the technology industry
