Oy Robit Rocktools Ltd: “We want to be an example of a growth company that can manufacture its products in Finland and still remain internationally competitive.”
29.4.2015
At Robit Rocktools, we tend to steer clear of negative thinking and complaining about the difficult times. At the moment, Finns seem to be sitting and waiting for the growth to begin, which we feel is a slightly wrong approach to take. On a global scale, there is still more than enough business to go round, which means that growth is possible through aggressive and dynamic operations. Market shares are changed during economic slumps!
Robit has managed to grow despite the market situation. Last year, we achieved a turnover of €38.3 million and 13% of growth from the previous year. To me, that is an astonishing achievement. Now, the general atmosphere in our field has shown clear signs of recovery, which is evident in practice. In the first quarter of 2015, we have been able to engage in active trade, the numbers of requests for tender and projects are up, and the accumulated number of orders is promising.
“In Finland, you can also be competitive in more traditional fields of production.”
Robit has been actively investing in production, and aims to continue along the same path: this year, the company will invest over €1 million, the clear majority of which will go to the company’s Lempäälä unit, primarily in order to increase the automation and robotisation of the production. A significant number of new employees will also enter the company. This will maintain competitiveness, productivity and excellent quality.
Robit wants to demonstrate to Finnish industry that metal industry production of this kind is feasible in Finland using modern equipment. We want to be an example of a growth company that can manufacture its products in Finland and still remain internationally competitive
R&D activities are important for all Finnish companies. Robit is constantly producing new products and solutions, along with improving the current ones. One of our products is the new measuring system, Robit Sense Systems, which will be launched at the Intermat 2015 fair in Paris. The system is the end result of a seven-year project that combined the company’s strong efforts, social support and cooperation with a variety of partners.
In the Tampere city region, the R&D operations are strongly supported by cooperation with educational institutions (Tampere University of Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere University of Applied Sciences). I have been travelling around the globe in this field for over 30 years and I can say that Tampere University of Technology provides us with the best employees in the world who meet all of our needs and possess the required technical expertise, language proficiency and social skills. The Tampere city region is the number one place for industry in Finland and fully competitive on a global scale.
Robit Rocktools develops, manufactures and markets wear parts, i.e. button bits for rock drilling and casing systems for ground drilling. Last year, they were sold to 115 different countries. Robit has production operations in Finland and South Korea. The company employs over 110 people, 60 of whom work in Lempäälä.
Read the article in Finnish >