Success stories from Lempäälä

Konepaja Santala Oy, 3/10
(Machine shop Santala Oy)

The sun of the beautiful winter day is lighting up the sign of machine shop Santala Oy. It will be easily found. A big building with about twenty cars in front of it says that this is not a small business. The CEO Mr. Juha Santala says that the machine shop is a working place for about 20 people.

Machine shop Santala is a metal supplier that is specialized in different balk and plate constructions. The company cooperates with several leading power station, process, vehicle, foundry and construction companies. About 85 % of the production is made for exportation.

The company has a long history that goes back to the year 1981 when Mr. Santala´s father, Mr. Into Santala, founded the company in Kangasala. It kept on growing so they needed bigger facilities and in 2000 they found a nice plot and a hall.

The main part of their cowork companies are situated in Tampere region so the bearings are perfect. It is easy to head any direction because of the highway. Lempäälä is good environment for a company, says Mr. Santala. The commercial city Ideapark has a strong image affect and the fame of Lempäälä is rather positive. Tampere is really near and there are many important support services for the company.

Personnel´s middle age

The financial crisis hasn’t been too harsh for the company. Obviously the tight growth has slowed down a little bit but there is still work to be done. The CEO sees in the crisis also a possibility to invest more in the product development in order to handle the competition well in the future, too. The company has invested a lot in the machinery itself. In addition to their know-how they also use the newest technology, 3D-design programmes and CNC machinery. Also the welding robot is part of their selection.

Keeping up in the latest turns is important in the competition. Mr. Santala says that in the near future a big part of the same branch companies are facing the situation of owners or CEO´s retirement. If there is nobody to carry on with the business, many times they must be sold or closed down. This will definitely eliminate some of the companies and will, at the same time, guarantee a stronger base in the market for the maintaining companies. The providers might be even lacking in the branch, says Mr. Santala.

Not only the CEO, but the whole personnel is in good age thinking about the future. Mr. Santala thinks the personnel is approximately 30 years old. Their professionality has been developed by educating them within the company. Mr. Santala thinks that the work itself is the best education. They teach the workers in the working place and this way they have extraordinary group of professionals who control the machinery and working policy.

Working since a little boy

Mr. Santala has been making pocket money in his father´s company since he was ten years old. In the beginning he worked randomly and later on in his summer holidays and on weekends. Mr. Santala appreciates this experience and know-how that is impossible to learn from the books. He does know the books, too, however. He is a master of science in industrial management. Right after finishing with the studies he has been working in the company full time. Mr. Santala says that the successful management of the business requires lots of practical experience. That is why the older Mr. Santala is still in the picture, even though his son is the actual CEO. “There he is again somewhere..” says the younger Mr. Santala but seems to be happy about having his father around.

The machinery shop was chosen as “the strongest company of Tampere region” in 2009. It was chosen out of more than 30 000 other companies. In addition, the machinery shop has received the best possible AAA qualification from Suomen Asiakastieto Oy.

Activities with a little princess

When asking about how Mr. Santala relaxes after work he doesn´t have to think about it too long. All the stress is forgotten when he gets home to his 8-month-old little princess. Each day the new dad is mesmerized by his daughter, who obviously has her father rapped around her little fingers.

Mr. Santala has also an ongoing house construction project. This gentleman sure doesn´t have to worry about what to do on spare time! Not now, and not in the near future either, I guess.

(Mrs. Päivi Nahkola)