or some time ’s Auto has ity, significantly increasing their operational working life as a ship’s engineering officer in been working on finding new markets availability. The lower maintenance cost over the Finnish Navy, Mr Korhonen has formerly Ffor its heavy duty beyond its tra- their expected lifetime of up to 25 years is been R&D director at Sisu as well as work- ditional markets of the Finnish Army and the also a major benefit to us.” ing on engineering research at Wartsila forest, mining and construction industries. The first of the new workover rig pack- Diesel; he also used to run the Sisu Now a major breakthrough has come with ages are scheduled to be delivered in the racing team, first as manager then as owner. an order from Romania: Sisu’s 10x10 truck second half of 2014. For CEO Returning to Sisu Auto in 2006, he took over has been chosen as a platform for a new Timo Korhonen, the order is of particular as managing director in 2010 following an fleet of workover rigs to be supplied by local importance in that it takes the company not MBO of the company. project prime contractor UPetrom 1 Mai SA only into a new geographical market but “My experience is focused on engineer- to the operator OMV Petrom. also into a new application. “This is really ing, at Sisu, Wartsila and with my own The Sisu E15TP 10x10 heavy duty truck, good news for Sisu – we have broken into consultancy, which has years of experience with its ten wheels and caterpillar , the market for platforms for the interna- providing engineering services to the vehicle has already proved its exceptional off-road tional oil industry which until now has been industry,” explains Mr Korhonen, “and capabilities as a bridge launching platform for pretty much dominated by US companies,” innovative engineering will drive Sisu forward the Finnish military. The extreme mobility and he says. “It proves that the versatility and to create new, profitable business oppor- durability demanded in this role make it ideal adaptability of the products and technolo- tunities by developing and adapting our for the equally demanding conditions encoun- gies that Sisu originally developed for the excellent range of military and civilian trucks tered in oil field operations, where it will have extreme conditions of military use are just and finding new markets for our products to operate in all seasons and all weathers. as effective in the very different operational and our engineering services. We have a The technology of the rig itself – the mast, uses of the civilian sector. It is also an impor- great record as a supplier of exceptionally platform, hydraulics etc. – is the responsibility tant benchmark as we expand our offering capable vehicles in our home market but of the co-supplier German company KOLLER to the export market of special vehicles.” Finland is too small a country to support Maschinen und Anlagenbau. our future success so we are looking not Ewald Stoecke, the team leader of OMV Engineering inspiration only for new customers for our products in Petrom’s Workover Rigs Intervention Busi- Timo Korhonen is not only the CEO of Sisu foreign markets – the order for Romania is a ness Unit, says, “The Workover Rig project Auto, he is now also the owner of the whole great example of success in this drive – but will have a great impact on our operations company, following his acquisition in 2013 also to make our engineering services avail- and productivity. The Sisu 10x10 platform of the 50 per cent of the company’s shares able to commercial vehicle manufacturers will give the workover rigs totally new mobil- that he did not already hold. Beginning his right around the world. We are focusing on Trucks for professionals Sisu Auto is a byword in Finland for heavy duty vehicles that can handle anything that their military and civilian users throw at them. Now the company is looking to new markets and specialised vehicles to secure its growth. Peter Mercer reports.

94 Industry Europe Industry Europe 95 the vehicle industries in the BRIC countries, base vehicles, we consult with the customer ments, from design and R&D to production order from the 300 base vehicles and 1500 for example, and we are already support- to choose the number of , the wheel and marketing,” says Mr Korhonen. “We need module options. This information is then fed ing companies in China in the design and base, engine, and so on to to accelerate the production process and back to the factory where we have recently development of their trucks.” meet exactly his needs. All the components increase flexibility to deliver the customer- made major investments to ensure that we are pre-designed but each truck is specially specific solutions that are our trademark. It’s can produce these highly configured vehicles Heavy-duty specialists configured for the customer.” much easier to do all this with all our opera- on what is still a serial production line. What Sisu Auto has specialised in the most heavy- The main component supplier of the tions under one roof; we have more control we have to achieve is the capability and effi- duty and most demanding class of trucks range is Daimler AG. The special over every aspect of production, easier com- ciency of a custom-made vehicle at not much since it was established in 1994 as the succes- strong Sisu chassis features a unique munications, quicker problem-solving and I more than the cost of a standard product. sor to Oy Suomen Autoteollisuus AB, which tandem drive that allows the rearmost believe that making the complete truck here That’s why we need to coordinate and carry had been producing trucks in Finland since to be raised and disconnected from the at Karjaa helps to motivate our employees. out the whole process here at Karjaa.” 1931. Its current Polar range of trucks includes drive while the other option, Sisu bogie lift, Of course our factory is very small compared Looking to the immediate future, Mr a rock gravel truck and a timber truck for trans- replaces the tandem drive in many driving to those of our direct competitors, such as Korhonen sees continuing opportunities in porting logs as well as a multi-purpose road tasks – it features a lighter structure which , but it’s important for us all that we applying the experience that Sisu has built up maintenance truck, a crane truck, a carrier means a larger payload and greater agility. have here a full vehicle production line and in its military vehicle business to the civilian equipment transport truck and a roll demount- There are three cab options in the range; in that complete Sisu trucks roll out of the plant sector. “We intend to build upon our reputa- able body truck. The company’s defence divi- the high roof cab there is enough room to ready for customers.” tion as a developer of special vehicles for sion manufactures armoured off-road vehicles stand up inside. Sisu has also brought its domestic sales very demanding applications but we will also for military purposes and Sisu Engineering operations back in-house. “When we started maintain our position in the domestic vehicle provides engineering consultancy services to Under one roof to sell the Polar range we made a deal with a market, especially in the construction vehicle customers worldwide. In 2012 all production of Sisu trucks was Finnish Mercedes importer to sell Sisu trucks business where we have always been strong. A key feature of the Sisu Polar range is brought back in-house. This move brought to alongside the German trucks but we have Where we see really good opportunities for that each truck, including its superstructure, an end an arrangement to outsource assembly now brought the entire sales force back under growth is in our newly developed ‘hybrid’ vehi- trailer and other equipment, is designed of two important delivery projects for the Finn- our own control,” explains Timo Korhonen. cles; that is, off-road vehicles developed from specifically according to the customer’s ish Defence Forces to Komas Oy, a specialist “We see this integration of sales operations as our military range that offer exceptionally high requirements and is delivered as a complete in sub-contracted assembly. Now all Sisu crucial to our customisation offer. Our sales mobility and load carrying capacity. What we product. “Truck manufacturers usually just trucks are produced by the company’s own people begin the process by discussing with are offering is essentially the very high capabili- make the chassis but Sisu supplies the personnel at its Karjaa plant. the customer his exact requirements and they ties of trucks made for the army at the cost of customer with a complete vehicle,” explains “As sales move ahead, we need to have then use our sales configurator program to a civilian vehicle. We are confident that it is a Timo Korhonen. “Working from some 300 seamless cooperation between all depart- establish the individual specification of the winning formula.”

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