seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2018 | Page 36

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-
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