Reference
Danfoss' needs and Fintos' boldness translate into added value
The collaboration between Fintos Oy and Danfoss Drives Oy began in 2017, when Danfoss’s Vaasa unit chose Fintos as its supplier. From the outset, Fintos’s strengths have been its strong expertise and commitment, as well as its location just a few kilometers from the Danfoss factory.
The collaboration has always been needs-driven. Over the years, Danfoss’s production and product development have given rise to a wide range of needs, which have resulted in diverse joint projects: among other things, production maintenance and calibration solutions, filter housings, and fluid circulation solutions have been developed.
– Fintos delivered its first large customized liquid cooling unit to Danfoss in 2021. Since then, we have delivered a second one, and a third is now in the planning stages. We have also delivered a customized pressure surge unit for product development needs, as well as filters of various sizes for Danfoss’s factory infrastructure, says Tuuli Prinkkilä, CEO of Fintos Oy.
Danfoss also purchases valves and safety valves from Fintos for its new generation of iC7 products.
Liquid filtration in testing systems as a means of quality assurance
An example of a needs-based project is the improvement of filtration in product testing systems.
As an active product developer, Danfoss is constantly launching new generations of equipment. To ensure that end customers receive products of the highest quality, the products are thoroughly tested before delivery. Water purity is a critical factor in testing. To ensure this, the testing system has been improved by adding its own filtration and installing an additional filter in the process before the device being tested.
– The project, which was launched last fall, began on the drawing board. It started with an assessment of Danfoss’s needs and has since developed into a functional solution. A few control-related issues have been refined since then, says Toni Laiho, Maintenance Manager at Danfoss Drives Oy.
The new product brought with it stricter requirements for production process temperatures, flow, and, above all, fluid cleanliness, to which Danfoss had to respond.
– The products are used in demanding applications, such as ships, so their quality must be top-notch all the way to the end customer, says Laiho.
Before the development project with Fintos, Danfoss’s production was halted for a week when the equipment became clogged due to impurities in the fluid circulation. In hindsight, it is clear that it would have been worthwhile to start developing a solution a little earlier.
– We achieve our quality and productivity requirements when everything works as planned. Now our system has clean fluid circulation and the right temperature. We are really happy with the situation and our cooperation with Fintos,” says Laiho.
Thanks to better filtration, the fluid stays clean and the system requires significantly less maintenance.
– We have been able to extend the filter replacement interval from two weeks to almost six months. This makes things easier for our staff, and we don’t have to stop production as often for maintenance,” says Laiho.
Fintos’s absolute added value comes from their boldness. Other suppliers have not been willing to make customizations. Fintos, on the other hand, boldly seizes opportunities and innovates solutions specifically for Danfoss’s needs.
Toni Laiho, Maintenance Manager, Danfoss Drives Oy
Fintos responds to Danfoss’s needs boldly and comprehensively
Fintos’s key competitive advantage is its unique boldness in customizing solutions.
– Fintos’s absolute added value comes from their boldness. Other suppliers have not been willing to make customizations. Fintos, on the other hand, boldly seizes opportunities and innovates solutions specifically for Danfoss’s needs, says Laiho.
Continuous data collection and knowledge-based improvement strengthen the symbiosis. The solutions developed with Fintos are in constant use at Danfoss, which accumulates valuable information for further development.
The success of development projects is also supported by the fact that choices are made with the entire life cycle in mind. To this end, Danfoss’s maintenance experts, for example, contribute their own perspective to the planning of investments and projects, resulting in the right solutions that guarantee decades of equipment durability as well as ease and speed of maintenance.
Fintos also supplies Danfoss with parts and components. Testing technician Ville Mäkinen is responsible for their procurement.
– We also order smaller parts and components from Fintos. In the past, it was challenging to find suitable suppliers for these, but Fintos keeps a suitable range of products in stock for us. Fintos is located nearby, so it’s easy for us to pick up the products we need from them, says Laiho.
Common goals as the basis for partnership
The cooperation between Danfoss Drives and Fintos is strategic in nature and will therefore certainly continue in the future. The challenges are shared, and the desire to solve them successfully creates a basis for strong commitment.
The partners have strong confidence in each other and in the fact that the solutions developed together will significantly improve quality and efficiency.
– Both parties benefit from the cooperation: both Danfoss and Fintos are constantly learning new things, and together we are developing solutions that we can also utilize elsewhere in our own production and customer projects, says Laiho.
Fintos’ strengths in its collaboration with Danfoss
- The courage to tailor solutions, not just deliver off-the-shelf products.
- Designing solutions based on life cycle thinking.
- Spare parts and components also available from the same place.
- Projects run very smoothly, with no obstacles to continuing the partnership for years to come.
- Strong service attitude: Team Fintos is a small, flexible group where everyone does everything.
- Close location: goods can be picked up quickly without weeks of waiting.
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