that have even previously been utilised for this purpose,” describes Pöntynen.
KEEPING BUSY
“ The whole concept for the industrial park was originally created in cooperation with the major-scale companies in this area,” notes Mr. Timo Luukkonen, CEO for Rauma Maritime Industry Estates Inc.
for both RMC and Rolls-Royce – but also In the course of the closing year, the for other clients as needed. infrastructure for the industrial park has” After all, the whole concept for the been repaired and modernised. The networks for district heating, electricity and industrial park was originally created in cooperation with the major-scale companies in this area,” Mr. Luukkonen points out. jected to renewals. Cranes and other pro-
sewage have been – and will be – subduction equipment have undergone basic
GETTING FASHIONABLE repairs.
RMC and Seaside Industry Park were practically established together in 2014. When demands, the park’ s equipment and facil-
” In order to be on a par with current
the shipbuilding company STX decided to ities have been repaired, renovated and close the Rauma shipyard, the process partially even replaced.” for selling the shipyard cite to the city of CEO Heikki Pöntynen from RMC Rauma was set in motion. abundantly praises the concept of the Seaside Industry Park.
In spite of the tumultuous times, the shipyard activities were continued without” We have a good team spirit between interruption. companies within the industrial park, but
” The last STX employee left the area also with the City of Rauma. The City has on the last day of June. The same guy came a good understanding of the needs of this back on the 1st of July, wearing an RMC type of business and is also able to contribute to the establishment of good operat- worker’ s jacket,” Luukkonen reminisces.
The number of companies operating ing environments.” within the industrial park has stabilised to Even though the industrial park has approximately 30. However, the Seaside officially been in operation for three years Industry Park employs more people than only, ships have been built in this area for before. The number of employees in the decades. industrial park was 450 in 2016, but now” This is definitely one of our strengths. the number of employees has already risen Furthermore, we have been able to recruit above 700. employees who have plenty of know-how.
” In fact, we now employ more people than STX did in the last stages of the are now continuing their work by using
They are shipbuilding professionals who
old shipyard,” adds Mr. Luukkonen. the same machines and other equipment
The industrial park has been issued one environmental permit, common to and covering all the companies operating within the area. The permit is the first of its kind in Finland. According to Mr. Pöntynen, this type of permit facilitates a company’ s operations considerably.
” There is no need for each company to go through the application process separately: everybody can operate within the limits of a joint permit. This is quite a unique arrangement in Finland,” he notes.
Mr. Luukkonen explains the practice of the joint permit:” Our estate company is responsible for overseeing that the companies keep operating within the limits of the permit. We report to the authorities jointly, on behalf of all the companies within the industrial park.”
In his view, the joint-issue environmental permit has worked very well.
” There have been no problems or malpractices. The companies are totally committed to fulfilling the obligations defined by the permit.”
According to Luukkonen, the same practice should be used also elsewhere in Finland.
” Even from the point of view of the authorities, it would be easier to keep an eye on larger regional entities, rather than separate chimneys one by one.”
While the Seaside Industry Park has been designed for the needs of major-scale companies, Timo Luukkonen expects the industrial park to offer plenty of possibilities even for small and medium-sized companies.
” The main benefit is found in infrastructure. Our production facilities have all the time housed companies that are engaged in subcontracting projects but retain their headquarters and main facilities elsewhere.”
” In general, a small or medium-sized company first runs out of space. It would like to set out on a big project that it cannot carry through inside its own produc-
36 seatec 1 / 2018