YardMate member Gofore, selected in 2017 as Great Place to Work no 1 in Finland and no 2 in Europe, opened this year an office in Turku, and they are growing. What does the company do and what makes it great – both for the employees and the customers? Read Kari Karru’s interview below.

Who are you?
I’m Kari Karru, one of the first employees in Gofore Turku office. I work here as senior service architect. Currently I work with many tasks related to building and growing our presence in Turku area and also in different customer projects developing customer processes and solution architectures. That’s what everyone at our office is doing regardless of their title. We are a team of experienced people who are eager to make Gofore Turku-office successful. We provide the same services in this region that our colleagues are providing from our other offices in Finland and Europe.

What is your company specialized in?
We want to make the world better through digitalization and by renewing ways of working. We help our clients ensure they have the ability to change in a changing operational environment. We do this by offering management consulting, service design, software development services and cloud infrastructure.

The world is changing faster all the time and in the future services will be constantly reinvented. Organisations have a constant need for change. There is a huge gap between the current operational methods and the methods that are technically possible. Closing this gap is digitalisation, and that’s what we are good at, on every level.

Tell us about your clients?
Our customers come from all kinds of industries. In industrial area we have worked for e.g. ABB, Metso, Sandvik and VOITH. Common for our customers is the need to make things better and drive the change. We always work together with customer to make that change possible. We are not tied to any technology or technology provider. Our pool of ca. 500 experts, ensures that our clients gets the right expert and knowledge for their own individual needs.

What services or products do you offer to other YardMate members?
In a big picture we want to develop ecosystems, make them transparent and interactive, share their members data and knowledge and by doing that build agile and sustainable business for all the ecosystem members.

So, if you need to renew your software solution, develop your service process, discuss company strategy, investigate possibilities of artificial intelligence, design new mobile application, etc. just name it, we will find a way to help you.

And even if you don’t know yet what to do, just have a gut feeling that something should be done, ‘tarttis tehrä jottain’, don’t hesitate to contact Kari at +358 40 838 0280, let’s find out together what to do.

What are your expectations for YardMate?
Our company is new in the region, so obviously we want to spread the word about our services. We also want to learn to know the business in Turku region and do our part in the success of marine cluster in Finland.

What are your future needs regarding personnel?
Gofore has been growing profitably during all its existence. That means, we constantly need competent people to work with us. Just check our web-site.

To keep these experienced people happy and develop even more, we need to have interesting projects and tasks for them. We want to study new interesting technologies and ways of working – adapt them to ours and our customers’ business and make change possible.

Anything else you wish to say to us?
The world is not ready yet and no one knows where the next disruption comes. By working together our businesses, Turku-area and whole Finland will be leading the way in the maritime industry’s future.

Gofore lives from change and changes itself, too. We met with Kari in their temporary Turku office of 10 senior-level employees. Once the building is ready in 2019, Gofore shall move to brand new premises with space for 30–40 people. ‘Be bold and active in recruiting’ said the management. Great advice, great company. We are happy to have Gofore in YardMate member team!

Photos by Gofore and Annika Perho

Meet Niilo and Mervi from SOL Henkilöstöpalvelut, a company where people matter. At YardMate member SOL the recruiter gets hands-on experience on the job they recruit for, to get a proper understanding on the job requirements and – of course – the best candidate match.

Who are you?
Niilo Kemppe, CEO and company founder in 2006. I sold the company in 2009 to SOL family company, which was when the name changed to SOL Henkilöstöpalvelut (SOL Personnel Services) and I became the director. My retirement time is getting close and we have decided to pass on the CEO title to the next generation. I shall take on Account director role in the company.

Mervi Santavuori, Service Manager in the larger Turku area. I am responsible for customer care and new customer acquisition.

What is your company specialized in?
We provide personnel services. We for example bring workforce from EU countries and outside EU to the whole of Finland, also taking care of the immigration process.

Tell us about your clients?
We have key customers in metal industry, marine industry and ICT.

What services or products do you offer to other YardMate members?
Quality employees for industrial areas, including office personnel.

What are your expectations for YardMate?
We are happy to provide recruiting services to any YardMate members. You can trust our quality. Our customer satisfaction is 99,8 % based on regular customer satisfaction surveys. Call Mervi Santavuori at +358 40 124 7336, I am happy to meet you!

What are your future needs regarding partners?
We shall be needing accommodation services to the employees that will be moving to Turku area to work for our customers.

Anything else you wish to say to us?
We are the 8th largest personnel service company in Finland, with 52.1 M€ turnover in 2017. There is a reason why we have achieved this. We truly are different in the way we work, let us come and tell you how!

SOL Henkilöstöpalvelut is a company where not only customer but also employee satisfaction reaches top scores. One could see it so clearly during the interview, watching Niilo an Mervi complement each other telling excitedly about the elements the company uses to ensure its service quality, both towards the customer and the hired workforce. Meet Mervi and see for yourself!

Photos by SOL Henkilöstöpalvelut and Annika Perho

This week we’ll present you Marianna Kauriala at Markku Kauriala Ltd, a company who is in international demand as a fire technical designer, consultancy and trainer, and an expert in performance-based fire engineering!

Who are you?

I am Marianna Kauriala, the Vice President at Markku Kauriala Ltd Fire Engineering and Fire Safety Design Consultants, and a fire safety designer specialised in evacuation.

What is your company specialized in?

The branch of our engineering office is fire safety engineering and a safety technical design, consultation, expert services and education. Our services include all the functions that are related to the prevention of fire damage and perfect consultation and planning service. We have specialised in performance-based fire engineering. The advantages of this method are considerable cost savings, freer architect planning, the better usability of the premises and the cheaper maintenance costs of fire technical equipment.

Performance-based fire design is today’s planning where the individual properties of the buildings are taken into consideration. As a result, we achieve the best safety level to the building and remarkable savings in construction costs, even 4-6 %. Performance-based fire design is done using verified and validated software to simulate fire, smoke, temperature, radiation, structures and evacuation inside the building.

We also have a certified quality system to ensure our internal top performance.

Tell us about your clients and other key shareholders?

Our clients come from different sectors and sizes vary from very small to very big companies. Our customers are mainly architect offices and construction companies. We have done performance-based fire engineering for example for cruise ships and we also work with shipyards.

What services or products do you offer to other YardMate members?

We offer fire engineering services. Almost every building and renovation project needs a fire technical expert – at least in the building licence permit phase, when building licence authority quite often demands a fire technical plan.

Whether your project is small or big, you can always contact us. In everything our basic principle is to create a cost-efficient and safe solution to the customer. You can call Marianna (+358 50 3712 065) or send an email (marianna.kauriala@kauriala.fi).

What are your expectations for YardMate?

Good networking and co-operation.

What are your future needs regarding personnel?

We kindly accept open job applications. Our line of business is extremely specialised, one learns the trade by doing it.

Anything else you wish to say to us?

Fire Safety engineering is a very important part of building construction, and it should always be taken into consideration. It is a small part of the overall cost but it has a tremendous effect on the end result.

Markku Kauriala Ltd. brought performance-based fire engineering in Finland. It was great to meet Marianna and learn how this 100 % family-owned company creates life-saving solutions for buildings large and small – Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki Central Library Oodi and Turku Castle, to name a few.

Photos by Markku Kauriala Ltd and Annika Perho

YardMate has established excellent relations in Poland. In October 2018, around 70 companies assembled in Elblag, Poland in Open to Scandinavia event, to make contacts and prepare for business possibilities between Poland, Finland and Sweden.

The event was skilfully arranged by the Polish Enterprise Europe Network. Ismo Karjalainen from YardMate represented the Finnish maritime industry sector, and we now look forward to building great business relations that benefit both Poland and Finland.

Contact Ismo at +358 400 400 535 to learn how this could benefit your marine industry business.

We met with Mari at Logomo, a centre for creative economy, where Jabadabaduu’s Turku office fits like a glove. The office atmosphere was competent and relaxed, the Jabadabaduu Turku team clearly enjoys working together – and the one who benefits is of course the customer!

Who are you?
My name is Mari Pirilä, I’m an Account Manager at Advertising Agency Jabadabaduu.  I’m the company newest employee and started in this position on May 2018.

What is your company specialized in?
Our company Jabadabaduu is a full service advertising and marketing communications agency.  We are specialised in multi-channel advertising which means that we have a wide range of advertising services – both digital and printed media.

Our offices are located in Pori, Rauma, Turku and Helsinki.

Tell us about your clients
Our clients come from different lines of business but most of them are middle-sized companies.
Some of our clients don’t have their own marketing department and they use our company as an outsource Marketing Manager.

What services or products do you offer to other YardMate members?
Our services include all kinds of Advertising Services, for example: strategy, brand, communications & PR, web design and development, digital marketing, social media or brochures and fair stands. We have so many different kinds of services that I rather would meet face to face to discuss them.

What are your expectations for YardMate?
More business and new interesting contacts.

What are your future needs?
We believe in partnership approach. Together with the client we analyse, plan and work together to create and execute continuous marketing development plans.

Anything else you wish to say to us?
Our values are driven by what we want to be – not in the future, but every day! We’ve got the ability to understand, the skills to create and the urge to succeed. And what’s most important – we’re easy to meet and greet. So contact me at mari.pirila@jabadabaduu.fi or +358 44 750 3818 and lets have a coffee 😉

A client just recently told Mari how great it was to get all the services from under one roof. It does ease your own workload! Anything from newspaper ads or blog posts to creating your exhibition stand, Jabadabaduu can do that for you. Give Mari a call to find out more.

Photos by Jabadabaduu and Annika Perho

YardMate member Pinus is having Open House on Friday 2.11.!

Listen to the latest on data and business security, learn how technology boosts your meetings, discuss VR and AI with experts, and much more! Lunch buffet open 11–15.

See you at Lämmittäjänkatu 1, Kaarina on Fri 2.11. Pinus wishes you all warmly welcome! Kindly register by Mon 29.10. via ilmoittautumiset@pinus.fi

Only an hour drive from Turku, Dalsbruks Fabrik in Taalintehdas is in full speed shaping their industrial facilities to cover for the growing space requirements in marine and other industries. Learn more from Kenneth Nordell and Göran Eriksson, below.

Who are you?
Kenneth Nordell, technical manager (below right). I am responsible for facilities, modifications and letting.
Göran Eriksson, managing director (below left). My range of responsibilities cover facilities, cluster creation etc.

What is your company specialized in?
We have industrial facilities including infrastructure to let, approximately 25.000 sqm for heavy industry or logistics, in combination with commercial harbor that has 8-meter deep official fairway.

Our facilities can be described as an industrial business center. We offer excellent conditions to our tenants, including electricity from our own electrical substation.
We are located in Taalintehdas in Kemiönsaari municipality, about 80 kilometres from Turku.

Tell us about your clients?
We are a new business – our facilities are taken into new use after former steel industry. Our clients will be private companies, for example from marine and heavy industry. We expect synergy effects for the companies!

Our SW-region has a long shipbuilding history. If your company needs to expand, Dalsbruks Fabrik has excellent facilities, and in Taalintehdas and its surroundings there are skilled industrial workers plus a number of good housing solutions available.

What services or products do you offer to other YardMate members?
We offer flexible facilities for industrial, productional or/and logistic use. Our total floor area is about 25.000 sqm, average height 10–12 metres, overhead cranes 10–40 mtns. We offer long and short term lease. We can offer you a cost-effective solution, also if you have spillover situations and project bound need of facilities for a shorter period.
We also have harbor services for import/export.

Call Kenneth Nordell at +358 40 822 8467 to learn more about Dalsbruks Fabrik’s offering.

What are your expectations for YardMate?
We expect contacts to yard related companies, creating new networks and business relations. We wish YardMate network to act as an information link; when you know each other’s companies the referrals can be two-way.

What are your future needs regarding personnel, sub-contractors and partners?
Our future needs depend on upcoming tenants, to whom our first spaces will be available in spring 2019. We have already started discussions with a number of potential tenants.

Anything else you wish to say to us?
We are pleased to be in a forum that clearly focuses in marine industry and we expect to form business relations with the member companies.

And I expect to see Dalsbruks Fabrik’s business bloom as they are a perfect answer to the facility needs of the Finnish industrial business expansion! With a rare combination of flexible industrial space, a harbor at your doorstep, moderate-cost housing nearby – and even potential of employees from an area with a long marine history.

Photos by P.Järvinen / Dalsbruks Fabrik and Annika Perho

This week we present you Tammet and Michael Qvarnström, whom we managed to get hold of in the midst of busy preparations for FinnBuild 2018 fair, Tammet already having received the FinnBuild Highlights honorable mention. Read more below!

Who are you?
Sales manager Michael Qvarnström, responsible for Tammet sales mainly at the southern Finland. I am also responsible for export.

What is your company specialized in?
We are manufacturer and producer of metal mesh and metal mesh products. The company was founded in 1946 and we have ever since constantly developed and expanded our business.

Tell us about your clients?
Our clients are different kind of industries like building industry, metal industry, food industry, wood processing industry, marine and automobile industry and mining industry. Our clients are situated in Finland and abroad.

What services or products do you offer to other YardMate members?
Our core products are metal mesh products and gratings. For marine industry we offer for example step blocks, maintenance and walking bridges. Our products are highly competitive in weight, and our offering provides also solutions for construction site safety for marine industry.

What are your expectations for YardMate?
In YardMate network we are looking for mutually beneficial co-operation with partners from heavy industry.

What are your future needs regarding partners?
We are looking for clients and partners who are using metal mesh products and gratings in their businesses.

Anything else you wish to say to us?
YardMate network concept is at the heart of the matter, for Finland needs to grow the palette of companies who work in and for the marine industry. The network covers a wide area of service providers, one’s own industry defining what segment your own offering is for.

And so it is, Tammet being one of our network companies with an excellent, innovative offering for both marine and other industries. We look forward to hearing if Tammet element unloading rack, with FinnBuild Highlights honorable mention, will be selected as “the Highlight of the Highlights” this week at FinnBuild Awards Party, Messukeskus Helsinki! For more information on Tammet’s offering, please contact Michael at +358 405 875 152.

Photos by Tammet and Annika Perho

YardMate member network meets face-to-face, to facilitate business! Jukka-Pekka Ilola, Vice President Sourcing at Rauma Marine Constructions, was our October keynote speaker.

We heard about RMC’s organization, the expectations of the partner network, and RMC’s future needs.

The member company offering and what the network could provide for each other naturally interested us all.

We talked about member deals and YardMate team went through the company’s latest. Thank you, Jukka-Pekka, thanks again Manu Events for the meetup venue, and thanks to all the attendees! YardMate wishes everyone flourishing business!

Photos by YardMate

Cooperation and joint special knowledge are the keys to respond to the market needs. Break the barriers and work together! This is possible through one easily accessible channel. This was YardMate CEO Kari Härkönen’s message to AlihankintaHEAT audience, in his presentation on SME collaboration.

The presentation continued directly with a lively panel discussion on digitalization, industry disruption and innovation. The panel was moderated by RAG – Rapid Action Group Oy, with participants Harri Jaskari from the National Coalition Party, Olli Tannerkoski from Tannerkoski Capital Oy, Paula Kuusipalo-Määttä from VR Group, and YardMate CEO Kari Härkönen. The idea of RAG was for the panelists to rapidly react to the topics in question – they didn’t know each other’s questions in advance.

Here are some ideas Kari challenged the co-panelists with: An increasing amount of (the so-called Big) data burdens our globe. Problems might be solved, but from an incomprehensible amount of data the right one is extra challenging to find. You need to know how to search. You cannot outsource your thinking to Google!
What do you think?

Photos by Ismo Karjalainen