Category: Customer cases

Customer cases

Building better safety together with Verona Shelters Finland

Verona Shelters Finland Oy, a company gaining market traction with its shelter and safety solutions, values the excellent communication it has established with Mesekon and Stairon. When designing and manufacturing products related to human safety, reliability is of the utmost importance – also from the partners involved.

Verona Shelters Finland specializes in shelter solutions and safety, including protective equipment for the construction industry and traffic control products. The company’s approach emphasizes tailored solutions based on customer needs.

– We’re here to challenge the safety sector. We’ve brought customer-centricity and a solution-focused mindset to the field—things that have been lacking, says CEO Jani Rämänen.

Verona Shelters Finland has its roots in Suomen Turvakauppa Oy. The company was acquired in 2023 by Verona Shelters Group Oy, making it part of an international shelter solution group. The acquisition has opened new markets and significant growth opportunities for the Kaarina-based company.

– By far, the biggest growth now and in the future comes from shelter and protection solutions.

Openness and a solutions-oriented approach matter

Verona Shelters Finland delivers its customers comprehensive systems or solutions composed of many parts. Meeting customer expectations requires partners who offer high quality, reliable delivery, and flexibility.

– We are solution-oriented ourselves, and we want the same from our partners. Our way of working with suppliers is very dialogue-based, says Rämänen.

– We don’t think we always know best how things should be done. Instead, we discuss openly with our suppliers. We believe our partners are the best at what they do, adds Procurement Manager Jere Backman.

Working with Stairon Group enables product development

Collaboration with Stairon Group began in spring 2024, when Verona Shelters Finland needed a capable partner to deliver welded steel structures for its shelter solutions – within a tight schedule and with high quality.

– For the success of the project, it was absolutely critical that the Stairon Group companies, Mesekon and Stairon, could deliver the required components. And they truly delivered on their promises, Rämänen emphasizes.

– They impressed us with the quality of their welding, flexibility, and commitment to the project. Based on these great experiences, we’ve expanded our cooperation with both companies, Backman adds.

In addition to reliability, the ease of working together with Mesekon and Stairon is also appreciated.

– We see great potential in developing new solutions together. Our communication is excellent, and I believe we’ll find better ways of working – perhaps even material choices – which in turn will help strengthen our position in the market, Backman reflects.

Verona Shelters Finland operates in the safety sector, one of the fifteen industries served by the Stairon Group.

Verona Shelters Finland Oy
Industry: Shelter and safety solutions. Product range includes safety signs, traffic control products, fire protection equipment, and first aid supplies.
Revenue: Approx. MEUR 10 (2024)
Employees: 22

www.veronashelters.fi/

Customer cases

New flue gas scrubber saves energy and euros

Turku Energia aims to achieve more energy savings and emission reductions with the new heat pump flue gas scrubber at the Artukainen steam plant. The scrubber to be introduced next summer is also a demonstration of regional cooperation skills.

A new flue gas scrubber utilizing heat pump technology is being completed at Turku Energia’s Artukainen steam plant in the summer, manufactured by Caligo Industria, also from Turku. Stairon, as a partner of Caligo, was responsible for the pre-preparations and assembly of the scrubber.

Jari Lahtinen, a heat procurement expert at Turku Energia, says that the new Artukainen heat pump gas scrubber is expected to save 20 GWh of energy per year.

– This is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of around 1000 private houses. Our goal is to run the flue gas scrubber at its maximum capacity of 3 MW,” says Lahtinen.

– Caligo was chosen as Turku Energia’s partner not only because of its good product, but also because of its good references, Lahtinen says.

Artukainen’s main equipment investment is around EUR 2.5 million in size, plus the construction costs of the property.

The investment also supports the carbon neutrality objectives of the company’s strategy. Turku Energia is committed to the Carbon Neutral Turku 2029 target and is actively working to achieve carbon neutrality in electricity and heat production by the deadline.

Oskari Salovaara, Managing Director of Caligo Industria, which has been operating for ten years, says that the company’s operating model always includes a preliminary study to calculate whether investing in a flue gas scrubber is profitable for the customer.
– A clear potential was identified in Artuke from the very beginning,” he confirms.

30% less fuel

At a general level, the heat recovery benefits of a heat pump scrubber mean up to 30% less fuel. The cost savings are considerable, as the Russian war of aggression has led to higher prices for wood chips and other forest industry by-products, for example.
– There is a very clear business case if every third round of wood chips does not materialise.

– 30% less fuel means the same reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from production,” Salovaara points out.

 

Successful scheduling

The global shortage of components in the industry has only worsened over the past year.
– For example, delivery times for some electrical and automation components have already stretched from four months to two years,” says Salovaara.

The situation on the raw materials market has also been difficult, with Ukraine, Belarus and Russia being the biggest producers of structural steel in Europe.

In the case of Artukainen, the potential delays caused by component shortages were overcome by good planning.
– Everything has gone well in this respect. Because we anticipated the situation and were on the move with Turku Energia in good time, we have also kept to the planned schedule,” says Salovaara.

Stairon is a trusted partner

The project emphasised strong local cooperation, as Turku Energia, Caligo Industria and Stairon all operate in the Turku area. The parties estimate that the overall implementation will be “about 75% Turku-based”.
– The special transports will not be long, as the distances between the manufacturer, the assembly and the installation site are only a few kilometres as the crow flies,” says Salovaara.

Caligo and Stairon have been working together for several years.
– Stairon’s strength lies in its wide-ranging expertise. We can order the whole package from Stairon – both welding and installation,” says Salovaara.

Turku Energia

Turku Energia is the leading energy company in Southwest Finland. The company’s energy services cover the sale and distribution of electricity, district heating, cooling and steam, as well as network repair and maintenance services for electricity grids, outdoor lighting and traffic lights.

Caligo Industria

Caligo Industria manufactures equipment and systems for the recovery of industrial waste heat.

Customer cases | News

Sulbana is not looking for the cheapest, 
but the most viable partner

In the food industry, hygiene alone sets very high-quality standards for the equipment. Expertise is also measured in numerous moving parts, long trajectories requiring constancy of size, both in rust-resistant materials and thin material thicknesses. 

“I have strong confidence in the Stairon expertise. They fearlessly tackle even larger assemblies, which are usually difficult to get bids for,” praises Jarkko Kokko, Head of Productionat Sulbana Oy, a global supplier of innovative cheese-making equipment.

Large-scale cooperation for mutual benefit

The partnership between Sulbana and Stairon began based on good references. The scope of supply has expanded over the years, from welding subcontracting all the way to component purchases and assemblies on a larger scale.

“The first delivery that introduced me to Stairon dealt with large pressing plates for cheese moulds. These were followed by three salt pools, the largest of which measured 18x3x3 metres, and it was delivered to us complete,” recalls Kokko.

Operating in Finland from Kauhajoki and Seinäjoki, Sulbana is now part of the German, family-owned Alpma Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cheese-making processes and equipment.

“We are currently working on two cheese-mould stores. We provided Stairon with the production drawings, and they oversaw the work planning and procurement of materials. The stores, which are about six metres high, are also test-assembled at Stairon and then dismantled into segments for transport. This is an advantage as a customer, because the larger the assemblies we are able to purchase under one roof, the more our own workload is reduced.”

From Finland to the world with high quality and on time

Most of the equipment manufactured by Sulbana in Finland is exported. The largest markets are Central Europe and the United States, in addition to deliveries around the world from Japan to South America.

“The number one priority in cooperation is Stairon’s reliability, both in terms of quality and security of supply. Transports and installations, shipping from around the world, must be arranged well in advance, as they are very difficult and expensive to move. It is important that we can rely on the promised delivery time and that delays are communicated immediately rather than at the last minute, when it is difficult to do anything about it,” Kokko stresses.

Similarly, at the Sulbana end, the aim is to keep response times as short as possible, so that workers at Stairon do not have to needlessly wait for information that could affect their work.

“When things run smoothly, we work together to find solutions to any potential problems, rather than just saying ‘that’s your problem’. Communication and weekly reports with Stairon run as they should without having to tease out the information.”

Equipment worth millions have their unique challenges

Kokko has first-hand experience of the flexibility of Stairon.

“Changes in delivery times or storage have always been well agreed upon. Once, even during a mid-week holiday, we finalised and checked a delivery together with Stairon’s project manager,” he says with a smile.

When seeking continuity in a partnership, the chosen supplier is not always the one with the lowest absolute price, but instead the most economically viable partner. The Sulbana equipment, worth millions, have their own unique challenges, which can only be understood through experience.

“Our quality requirements always cause challenges for new suppliers, which is why we are looking for a long-term partner who knows our needs without having to constantly monitor them. I also appreciate Stairon’s interest in developing as a supplier and their willingness to offer a more advanced product than just a welding assembly. For example, with work planning coming from Stairon, we achieve much more value for the entire supply chain,” says Kokko.

You don’t learn from problems by sweeping them under the rug

Confidence in skills comes from Stairon’s strong expertise in different areas of work. The fact is that complaints cannot always be avoided, but it requires skill to learn from them for the future.

“Stairon has understood that quality does not only improve in offices, so they go through the negative issues internally, right through to production. As a customer, I have gained the impression that they genuinely strive to learn from any potential mistakes and not just sweep things under the rug.”

Production Director Hannu-Pekka Peräntie at Stairon stands behind this trustworthy and open cooperation.
“Cooperation with Sulbana has successfully taken us out of our comfort zone and challenged us to evolve. As a result, we are more prepared and also bolder in the face of new challenges,” he concludes.

In the picture: Simo Harju, Project Manager at Stairon, and Jarkko Kokko, Head of Productionat Sulbana Oy, observing the cheese-making store under fabrication.

Would you like to read more references from our customers?
Catch, for example, the interview with Sandvik and the interesting Caligo in the current news.

Customer cases | News

Sandvik: ‘Stairon has strong references from the industry’

Sandvik Mining and Construction manufactures underground loading and transport equipment in their Turku factory with over 700 professionals. During the aftermath of COVID-19 at the beginning of the year 2021, the volume of orders reached its previous record – and so did the need for new partners. ‘Stairon is flexible and has premises that are easy to adapt to our needs, as well as strong references from the industry,’ says Sandvik’s production manager Esa-Pekka Kantola, who is responsible for the subcontracting of the final assembly.

It is often thought that collaboration creates something new, but this time the goal is the opposite: Stairon’s task is to dismantle a brand-new machine that has arrived from Sandvik’s main factory, pack up the components and deliver them to the end customer.

‘So far, Stairon has successfully disassembled six machines for us and reassembled one. Because underground mines don’t always have a ramp for vehicles to drive into the mine, the equipment must first be disassembled and then lowered by cranes into the shaft. It’s also vital for product testing and quality assurance to have the machine reassembled once at the factory,’ Mr Kantola clarifies.

An adaptable and trustworthy partner

The opportunities to receive support for manufacture have been ideal for Sandvik when both companies operate in the same city.

‘No one is ready to work in this profession straight from school – you have to be prepared to familiarise yourself with the details. I’ve noticed that the people at Stairon have applied skills they’ve gained from their time with Valmet and experience in handling large components.’

During the year of collaboration, there have been situations where the customer has suddenly changed, and the machine has had to be rebuilt.

‘In this field, it’s necessary to have an absolutely flexible and adaptable partner who knows how to communicate what they are doing, how the project is proceeding, and if something changes along way. Trust and continuity are born of finishing work on time,’ Mr Kantola emphasises.

Preparing and equipping for the future

Stairon is currently working on finishing a reassembly and packing job that will be delivered to the customer in a few weeks. The volume of work Sandvik sends to Stairon has steadily increased.

‘Courage, adaptability and a continuous hunger for learning are the cornerstones of being a successful industrial professional. Sandvik and Stairon’s modes of operation are a unique combination of these three traits. I thank our customer for their trust, and I have faith that our strong co-operation will continue,’ says Stairon’s sales manager, Antti Reivonen. During his career, he has also gained experience in the quality assessment and process development related to heavy mining machinery manufacture.

Depending on the market situation, the shared goal for the future is to grow operations and make use of Stairon employees’ multiple skills in, for example, outfitting as well as rebuilding and manufacture.

‘One of the best things about Stairon is that in addition to being flexible, they are goal-oriented and eager to work with us by developing their expert services on a long-term basis,” Esa-Pekka Kantola concludes.

We believe there is a solution to every problem. That is why our service offering is wide and flexible.
Take a look and challenge us to solve your problem!

Customer cases | News

Stairon is more than a contract manufacturer to Caligo

Caligo Industria is a company that cleans flue gas and utilises waste heat produced in the energy and processing industry. They have been warming up their cooperation with Stairon for a long time. At the beginning of this year, they jumped straight into the deep end. There are three generating sets under way. Stairon oversees their manufacturing from start to finish.

“Stairon is a reliable and flexible partner. To me, not wasting time on moot points adds value. Stairon takes care of the welding installation and coordinates the whole project in a respectable manner,” summarises Oskari Salovaara, Operative Manager responsible for production and manufacturing at Caligo.

Partners consistently on the same page

Manufacturing one factory-tested flue gas scrubber unit requires a supply chain that takes months. As Caligo’s assembly facilities were at full capacity in this busy year, the large generating sets are built at the partner’s factory for the most part.

“Naturally, Stairon could supply us with machine parts when needed, and we have received them in small lots. Talking about long supply chains, it is extremely important that all parties have a clear goal and that they communicate their actual progress openly. Stairon has managed well in this respect, and the schedules have been relaxed or tightened as needed,” says Salovaara.

Praiseworthy structuring of work throughout the whole process

Caligo chose their partner partly based on the fact that Stairon has operated in the industry for a long time, and they are a proactive actor that knows how to boldly raise the bar. Cooperation with Stairon had been tested on a small scale already in 2014, when Salovaara started working at Caligo.

“As a customer, I would estimate that both the structuring of work and the technical side are on a reliable level at Stairon.”

Rising to tomorrow’s challenges together

In the future, Salovaara expects a continuum of cooperation, open dialogue and expertise that spars both parties. It is also important for the schedules, costs and price level to stay in line.

“Cooperation with Caligo Industria has been a good and developing experience for Stairon. I refer not only to our commercial projects, but also to the competences accumulated in connection with them and the produced competitiveness. Caligo’s top-quality products and the best professionals in the field have taught us many things. In response, we work hard so that we can provide Caligo with significant competitiveness now and in the future,” concludes Antti Reivonen, Sales Manager at Stairon.

Are you interested in a cooperation relationship that is not satisfied with “this is how we have always done it”?
Get in touch with us!

 

Customer cases | News | Projects | Stairons

12-year-old Stairon challenges the engineering industry with open-mindedness

Industrial service provider is a creative problem-solver

The word creativity is rarely associated with machine shop operation. The core of the industry is ironclad metal expertise, no question about it.  When creativity is viewed through problem-solving, we are already closer to what is expected of a modern industrial service provider. It is the ability to solve customer problems in an exceptional way.

Timo Kylä-Nikkilä, CEO of Stairon, is happy to shake the dusty image of the sector and challenge traditional ways of thinking. He believes that today’s successful mechanical workshop combines creativity, technology and service in its expertise.

“This has always been done” thinking must be forgotten and we must start looking for original solutions to customer problems, “says Kylä-Nikkilä.

The machine workshop’s traditional operating model is undergoing a change

As a result of the entrepreneurial change implemented at Stairon in 2019, the company has continued to develop and modernise its operations with the aim of being an industrial service provider that will solve the customer’s challenges and the most desirable partner in its sector.

– The competitiveness of Western companies is constantly in the spotlight. In global competition, the competitiveness of a common supply chain formed by all companies in the value chain is crucial. On our part we want to actively develop this integration in cooperation with the actors in the chain. One plus one must be more than two, says Kylä-Nikkilä.

– The development of a functional and cost-effective entity requires clear investments and will from both the supplier and the customer. Holding on to many traditions in the industry will deactivate and stifle activities, as priority is given to avoiding mistakes instead of bold solutions. This is exactly what Stairon wants to challenge and solve together with customers.

Stairon’s problem-solving ability is always based on strong expertise in industrial manufacture. Now the best practices are being developed at the cutting edge of technology, so to speak.

– In addition to the machine and equipment base, we have invested strongly in different information systems to support customer and supplier integration. Of course, the utilisation of digitalisation remains a huge potential throughout the supply chain – the development of data volume, speed and diversity is continuing.

 

Stairon guides young people to the field

The roots of Pansio-based Stairon go back to the 1960s. Since 2009, the Stairon name has been used since the Metso Paper Turku Works business deal. Over fifty years ago, the company focused on the design, manufacture and product development of air conditioning systems for paper machines. Stairon currently serves technology industry operators, who represent more than ten different industries.

According to Kylä-Nikkilä, the multidisciplinary nature and in-depth expertise of the activities are competitive advantages for Stairon. The strong expertise of the Pansio factory has succeeded in refining solutions for a wide range of industries, including the energy, mining, shipping and food industries.

According to Kylä-Nikkilä, the continuity of operations must be actively ensured. The image of the machine shop industry is not as streamlined as many others. The shabby workshop image should be adjusted to better reflect what everyday life currently predominantly is in the manufacturing industry. This is how the most talented young people are brought to the industry.

– The future lies with young people from educational institutions. Cooperation with educational institutions is a competitive advantage for us, and we will use it to ensure that we have also the best experts in the future.

There are also many experts in the machine shop industry who are about to retire in the next few years. By offering young people training and on-the-job learning opportunities, their experiences, learning and knowledge will gradually transfer to a new generation.

A modern company invests in digitalisation and responsibility

Stairon is increasingly managed through knowledge. Digitalisation and automation seek cost and resource efficiency and respond to future challenges. One of them is sustainable development. It is part of global development that does not ignore the engineering industry either.

– It’s important to identify megatrends. Environmental awareness and thus evolving requirements for resource efficiency, renewable energy and renewable raw materials. The growth, prosperity and education of the middle class in developing countries increase awareness and purchasing power. The consumer of the future is responsible and conscious. All these will ultimately also affect the activities of each industrial company directly or at least indirectly.

A lot has happened in twelve years of Stairon. And the pace of change is hardly slowing down. Kylä-Nikkilä emphasises that when a company calls itself a service company, it must also act accordingly. Often that means the courage to think differently. As when Stairon developed a method for servicing the internal surfaces of cruise ship exhaust pipes through rope work, enabling uninterrupted operation of vessels.

– The future Stairon wants to solve even difficult problems. Throw us a challenge! We are ready for this at Stairon, says Kylä-Nikkilä.

Stairon’s 12 years

  • More than 1500 implemented customer projects
  • Services for more than 100 industrial operators
  • Deliveries to over 50 countries
  • Equipment manufacturing for more than ten industrial sectors
Customer cases | News | Projects | Stairons

Co-operation stemming from shared values

Vema Lift, a manufacturer of rescue lifts and rescue vehicles based in Kaarina Finland, and Stairon have worked together long-term and intensively in connection with products that require co-operation in manufacturing and product development. Stairon has claimed their position commendably.

– Stairon can boast with robust expertise in industrial manufacturing, good understanding of the importance of quality and Finnish origins. We value these things greatly, Vema Lift says.

Vema Lift’s history covers over 1,000 manufactured units delivered to 40 different countries. The forward-looking company also demands a lot from their partners.

– Our company manufactures and markets rescue lifts and vehicles worldwide. Naturally then, it is an unquestioned prerequisite that we can be certain of the quality of our products. Stairon has been a key supplier meeting these requirements for Vema Lift.

 

Partnership grows from openness for change

Without communication and openness for change, partnership cannot work as expected and in a forward-looking way.

– Proactive approach to manufacturability related questions of our products has brought additional insights to support our design work. Straightforward communication on the part of Stairon’s professionals has been the key for effective co-operation.

Change is always present. Many devices which are in the product development phase still undergo changes during the manufacturing stage.

– Stairon always reacts to changes openly, Vema Lift summarises.

– It has been exhilarating to see how extensively Vema Lift’s staff have participated and their open mindset for new proposals when presented with common challenges. Open business culture yields the best results, and I believe that is the case here too, Antti Reivonen, Sales Manager at Stairon, comments.

Learn more about Vema Lift and its high-quality products at www.vema.fi

Customer cases | News

Co-operation from design to projects

Antti Mäntynen, Engineering Manager at Valmet Technologies Oy, has been working with Stairon’s resident employees on product improvement and manufacturing efficiency of air dryers for three years now. Sometimes the agenda has included design work, but also more and more project-related processes.

– As someone who has gone through two development projects and many design initiatives together, I can tell that our co-operation is proactive and knowledgeable, Mäntynen says.

At the beginning of our co-operation back in 2019, Stairon’s people immediately demonstrated their hands-on and active approach. Comments were not a scare resource and the targets were set high.

–  People at Stairon want dialogue. They engage themselves actively at every stage of the project. Costs and scheduling are also communicated transparently, and the previously agreed on numbers are also something that stick and can be trusted, Mäntynen says.

The value of co-operation increases when all parties understand the importance of transparency and appreciation.

– We can achieve savings in everything when co-operation is carried out by listening to the opinions of those responsible at different stages of the project and keeping the big picture in mind during every moment, Mäntynen emphasises.

Decisions reached during the design phase of a product have a major impact not only on the functionality of the product, but also on its manufacturability and, naturally, therefore also on manufacturing costs.

– It has been great to see that Valmet has involved us in the development of products at an early stage, so that we can influence these decisions. This way we can manufacture together products that serve not only the customer but also their end customers, Stairon’s Planner Miika Pietilä comments.

Pioneers in co-operation

– Certainly, co-operation is at its best when the customer trusts their supplier so much that they involve this into product development from the very first steps of the project. This also keeps the spirit and mind of production team fresh, and constantly challenges you to think and consider new methods of manufacturing. It feels an honour to participate in product development work of a leading company in its own field, tells Hannu-Pekka Peräntie, Production Director at Stairon.

According to Mäntynen, smooth and seamless co-operation can also be expected in the future.

–Stairon’s expertise can be clearly seen in how they take ownership of manufacturing technology and advanced welding robotics. Co-operation is smooth and competent.

During our years of co-operation, Mäntynen has been most positively surprised by the attitude of Stairon’s people – over and over again.

– Level of commitment by Stairon’s people is truly exceptional. They show common ground and benefits, and certainly consider positive effects of co-operation for both parties. The way they operate is really professional.