ABB’s motor factory in Vaasa is continuously investing heavily in both manufacturing and product development. With a new paint workshop and an increased workforce, the future looks promising.
ABB’s Vaasa production unit continues to strengthen its position, increasing the workforce by approximately 100 new employees in the past year alone.
“All the work done in the Vaasa factory is driven by innovation,” says Harri Mykkänen, Vice President and Regional Hub Manager, EU & Americas, IEC LV Motors.
“Approximately 300 of the nearly 700 people working here are engineers, so much of what we do revolves around technology, even though we also have and require experts in a wide range of other areas,” says Mykkänen.
ABB employs approximately 1,800 people in Vaasa, around 5,500 throughout Finland, and about 110,000 worldwide.
“Studying technology is good advice”
What guidance do ABB directors offer today’s youth hoping to work for the IEC LV-Motor division in the future?
Stefan Floeck, Division President, IEC LV Motors, notes from his own experience, that many young people do not really know what they want to work with, with many choosing business studies just to keep their options open.
“We would still like to motivate young people to consider technology studies or at least combine technology studies with something else,” says Stefan Floeck.
Harri Mykkänen agrees, highlighting that ABB actively collaborates with local universities and young students to increase their interest in technology, even with children at very young ages.
“Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and data management are all skills in demand. But ABB is a large company, and of course we also need, for example, sales and financial experts,” says Harri Mykkänen.
Those who already have the right skills do not need to put off applying – ABB is continuously recruiting and at present there are several open positions.
Many seek a deeper purpose
Head of Strategy & Business Development, IEC LV Motors, Ivor Vidjen points out that the entire labour market is evolving. He believes that it is becoming increasingly important for many people to care about what they actually do at work. It is not just about the salary anymore, but about the work having a deeper purpose.
“Many people want to feel that they are contributing to moving the world forward, which is something we do here at ABB,” says Vidjen.
He emphasises that a passion for a more sustainable future drives all of ABB’s operations. While Vidjen does not want to sound dramatic, he reminds that a fight against climate change is underway.
“We help our customers move towards a carbon-neutral future.”
Substantial investments
ABB continues to invest heavily in research and development, developing its operations both in Vaasa and globally. In Vaasa, the company has consistently made significant investments to remain at the very forefront of production.
One of the latest major initiatives is a paint workshop, or actually a new painting system, that was recently brought into operation. This system captures and reuses heat from production and provides great opportunities for surface treatment. The upgraded paint workshop allows motors manufactured in Vaasa to be easily adapted for challenging environments, from offshore to desert conditions.
Motors tailored to meet customer needs
The Vaasa factory produces approximately 125,000 motors annually. A key distinguishing feature of the factory is its ability to customise motors to meet each customer’s specific requirements. Because the motors are manufactured directly for customers, no overproduction takes place.
Inside the Vaasa motor factory, there is an accredited laboratory, where customers can participate in the testing of their own motors, which ensures they know exactly what they are receiving.
This article is part of a series about companies undertaking world-class product development in Ostrobothnia. Partners:
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