Tampereen Konepalvelu Oy Ltd. 09/08
 Mrs. Leena Vapaavuori, CEO |
Tampereen Konepalvelu Oy is Finland´s biggest importer of Czech and Slovacian machines. The company imports to Finland machines also from Spain, Turkey, Austria, Italy, England and Sweden.
The company started in 1977 by selling used metal treatment machines. This is nowadays also an important part of the company´s function even though it occupies only 10 % of the total sales.
The main character in the company is Mrs. Leena Vapaavuori, CEO, who considers the help of Mr. Heikki Vapaavuori (president of the administration) extremely important for the company.
Tampereen Konepalvelu Oy has been increasing its activity lately. The company´s turnover in 2006 was 8,8 million euros whereas in the year 2007 it was 13,2 million euros. This year’s turnover is expected to be 24 million euros.
At the moment there are 16 people working in the company. Mrs. Vapaavuori comments: “Without devoted and faithful personnel this couldn´t t be done”.
Loyalty is the foundation stone of good and on-going customer relationships. Especially in selling used machines the credibility is very important and this sector is well taken care of in Tampereen Konepalvelu.
Credibility and guarantee presents also the ISO 9002 quality certificate and the company´s ISO 14001 environment system that was finished in 2002.
Post-marketing is an important part of the company´s function and so they have invested a lot e.g. in maintenance. The company has had, for example, a Czech repair man who is responsible of the maintenance of the Czech machines.
In addition to their own personnel, the company co-operates with the maintenance companies recommended by the clients. "Without good post-marketing the business doesn´t have continuity", says Mrs. Vapaavuori.
Tampereen Konepalvelu takes good care of its clients. They arrange yearly customer events and study trips to the countries where the machines are made. Customers have also commented that they feel that they have been considered and taking care of. They’ve had also many new clients: the grapevine is the most efficient marketing tool.
Tampereen Konepalvelu takes the future calmly and with trust. However, there is a big competition in the industry that makes them stay alert and focused. Even though the company is the marketing leader in their field, the changes and the competition have to be observed all the time.
The Asian machines are competing in the same field with Tampereen Konepalvelu. Also the sales of the American machines have raised because of the decreasing dollar.
The Czech machines have good quality, however, tells the Vapaavuori couple. It is a good advantage in the tightening competition.
New technology and new innovations bring new possibilities, such as the wind power technology, in which Mr. and Mrs. Vapaavuori see lots of new possibilities.
Tampereen Konepalvelu Oy has been in the same place since the early 80´s. They moved to Lempäälä from Lielahti (west Tampere).
Mr. and Mrs. Vapaavuori are really content in Lempäälä. They say they have a good place because of the good traffic connections. The company´s clients are all over Finland and as Lempäälä is situated in the middle of Southern Finland the traffic connections to the harbours are also good.
Leena and Heikki Vapaavuori charge the batteries in their cottage and in the nature. In autumn they go picking mushrooms and in winter they like to ski.
Good balance to work is to spend time with grandchildren. And when the work is pleasant and you can do in good company - - it’s not all that bad.
The interview was made by Mrs. Päivi Nahkola, Tourism officer of Lempäälä municipality.
