Project engineering made easy

Whether building a new precast production facility or updating an existing one, Elematic’s project engineering department has solid experience and expertise.

Every project, whether a complete facility or just a part of it, needs good planning. Project engineering is essential in every step, from the very beginning, through implementation and maintenance.

“We are here to help at every phase,” says Janne Luotoharju, head of Project Engineering.

The sole purpose of the Project Engineering Department is to tailor and customise every project in order to meet the specific need of each case.

The Project Engineering Department consists of designated teams in mechanics, automation, electrical design and documentation. The thirty-person department operates out of Elematic’s headquarters, making internal communication fast and efficient. The project manager is the contact link between the customer and the engineering team.

The department gives support to the client and answers technical questions from the initial sales phase. When a project is agreed upon, the real work begins.

“It is our moment of glory. We make the complete design work, produce the documentation and help the customer to start the new factory or machinery.

We also work together with aftersales and maintenance when updates and modifications are needed,” Luotoharju explains.

Everything under the same roof

When you have an idea, no matter how demanding, the people at Elematic are ready to take up the challenge. The team’s expertise is broad and their experience strong from all around the globe. The company knows machinery from the inside out, and have tamed the challenges of automation, construction regulations and other geographical circumstances. Last year about 150 projects were completed.

The projects vary from software updates or new machinery to a whole new production facility. The majority of cases involve extensions or updates.

”In hollow-core and Acotec we have a strong range of standard products that can be implemented easily. The layouts are adaptable to any circumstances. But sometimes we develop a completely new solution together with the customer.”

Luotoharju emphasises that everything is done under the same roof. The project managers work closely with project engineering. This makes the process iterative and fluent.

“There is constant cooperation between the customer, project manager, sales and the engineering team. We get all information from the project managers, plan the schedule and tasks and match the automation and electrical design.”

Janne Luotoharju

Modelling is a must

The documentation of the factory layout is a key element of the work and it is done through models. There is no need to go through a multitude of 2D drawings because Elematic is constantly developing 3D tools.

“We don’t do anything in 2D anymore. With 3D modelling we are able to design complex structures and pay attention to the industrial design of our machinery, which of course improves its safety and usability. We are also currently launching new ways to look at a project virtually as well as new tools in design and education.”

In a nutshell, rather than customers just placing an order and waiting for the results, they are involved and guided through the project. Communication and service are at the heart of the process.

“We make the complete design work, produce the documentation and help the customer to start the new factory or machinery. ”

”We do everything ourselves and are there to serve our customers for the whole lifespan of the projects.”

Three quick questions

1. What are the biggest challenges when planning a new production facility?

“The biggest challenge for us is usually working in new cultures and environments. It is important to understand the surroundings and local circumstances, as well as the needs of our client.”

2. What are the most rewarding bits in the work of the project engineering department?

“It’s always interesting to learn about different cultures and work in changing circumstances. The most rewarding thing is a satisfying result achieved through mutual understanding and cooperation with the client. Once, I was in a meeting with a client who wanted changes in the first sketches. I contacted our team and the next morning we had the updated documents ready. The client was very happy with this flexibility and efficiency. We got the first plans approved during the same trip and the project went on schedule.”

3. What kind of preparation do you expect from the clients?

“We expect open communication and solid cooperation among experts in all relevant fields, such as structural engineers and production managers. Getting the best possible result should be the target from start to finish. The better we communicate at the beginning, the easier it is to create a good working solution.”

Order our newsletter

Accept cookies to see the form or visit our contact page for more information.