New Operator Cabin for Agricultural Tractors
Fortaco is introducing a new new Operator Cabin for agricultural tractors at AgriTech Exhibition in Bangalore, India on 31 August - 2 September 2018.
The new cabin is based on the latest global cabin product and manufacturing technolgies securing excellent customer experience and manufacturability.
Modern look, rigid and durable structure are combined in this state-of-the-art operator cabin. In addition to safety, comfort and user friendly working ergonomics as well as cost effectiveness have been the key factors in the design process.
Cabin can be easily adapted to the most common agricultural tractor brands.
Fortaco to exhibit at Subcontracting Fair in Tampere, Finland
Fortaco will exhibit at Subcontracting Fair in Tampere, Finland. The event takes place on 25 - 27 September at the Tampere Exhibition Center.
We have seen a rapid growth on the market during the last years, which has stretched supply chains into the maximum. The busy market situation has created challenges for both OEMs and their suppliers. In order to meet market expectations, Fortaco has continued our Operational Excellence program and made a number of investments into the production lay-outs, manufacturing technology and automation to boost capacity across our manufacturing footprint. Investments will be continued also this year – one big robot welding cell is about to be installed in Kalajoki factory, and more welding robots and machining centers have been taken into operation at our factory in Narva.
Fortaco has launched a new Fortaco Technology unit to help our customers also in steel fabrication and manufacturing technology, in additon to cabin technolgoy. We want to offer the best in class product design and manufacturing technology in one package.
Please visit our stand and meet with our technology team to see possibilities within virtual and augmented reality in cabin design and quality control. The new reality of R&D is close to our heart. Check out the recent blog by Rafal Sornek, Senior Vice President, Fortaco Technology.
Please come and discuss with our team, what new we can offer for your company in manufacturing and development of technology.
See you in Tampere!
Hall A - Fortaco A630
New Correa CNC machining center started at Fortaco Estonia
A new machining center has been started up at Fortaco Estonia during summer.
Fortaco continue strengthening machining capabilities at Narva factory, the new machine is a big brother of the earlier Correa Fox 40 machine investment.
The Correa Fox 50 bridge type of machine is the third machining investment, which has been started this year to be able to meet the increasing demand on the market.
The movements are: Longitudinal = 5 000 mm, Cross = 3 750 mm, Vertical = 1000 mm. The maximum weight of a work piece is 15 tons.
The new production technology, together with skilled operators, is supporting Fortaco mission to create added value for our customers by reshaping the way things are produced.
Modern manufacturing of steel fabrications for off-highway industries in Janow Lubelski
Business Site Janow Lubelski was established in 1976. Today, we are more than 400 highly motivated professionals focusing on the development and production for our world-class off-highway equipment customers globally.
Fortaco is heavily focusing on operational excellence and good cooperation with our customers. With the latest manufacturing technologies and profound knowledge and experience we ensure our services are delivered right time, with right quality and right price.
Learn more about Fortaco operations in Janow Lubelski
Fantastic, sunny summer started already in May and it is time to enjoy holidays
Fortaco’s story continued to develop during the first half of 2018. Market remained overheated and growth gave both positive results and some issues, which needed attention. Our primary focus area was the growth, how to manage it combined with stabilization. I would like to express my thanks to Fortaco’s customers, suppliers, partners and all the great team members at Fortaco who are working together.
What are we expecting in the second half of 2018? I would say, many known and some unknown issues. The known issues are the well-defined customer demand, our ‘Make Tomorrow Better’ -actions and our own people capabilities. There are also some unknown issues, like the world trade barriers impacting on Fortaco’s business, and the high turnover of welders in some countries. Are we going to experience steel price stabilization, and is the offshore market returning like mining 12 months ago. I would like to say that the known and unknown issues are part of daily business and by staying focused we can all benefit together.
New Fortaco Technology unit
I have proudly experienced Fortaco’s mission in talks with our current and new customers - create value add for our customers by reshaping the way things are produced - and what it can offer on short- and long-term. I can see electrification to be one of many power sources instead of diesel power, and the new technology by autonomously driven vehicles addressing the need for change. Fortaco’s response is the new Fortaco Technology unit, we are experiencing an increased need by our customers to change and adapt into the new situation. This is just a positive change and an integrated part of the change of macro economics, which is targeting on more environmentally friendly future.
I am also proud to experience continuous work executed by Fortaco’s people to ‘Make Tomorrow Better Than Today’. It is important to reach ‘zero’ injuries and ‘zero’ quality defects, as well as deliver products as promised. Fortaco is in an early stage of the process. We benchmark the Toyota way of working and we know that Toyota is also in the early stage to make tomorrow better than today.
Value adding strategy
Fortaco has developed a new value adding strategy during the first half of the year to increase customer value. Our current strategy is based on the cost plus calculation, but the future model is based on value creation. The Fortaco team will start to discuss the future model together with our customers. We have spent time to further understand what our customers want from a strategic partner like Fortaco. Based on the talks and workshops we are ready to discuss our customers’ needs and the flexibility of components, module assemblies and complete vehicle assemblies.
It is time to celebrate Fortaco’s 5th holiday period, we are still young company and we intend to be young in our mindset. Let me wish our customers, suppliers and partners - and most importantly - Fortaco people a great summer and holiday with your nearest. The second half of 2018 is about to start, let us have fun together and shape the future.
With best regards,
Lars Hellberg
President & CEO
Fortaco Estonia continues with investments - new machining centers taken into use
Fortaco Estonia has taken into use two new machining centers to secure the future business growth. The new machinery will improve accuracy and quality for the manufacturing process and ensure increasing demand from the market.
The Huyndai horizontal boring machine KBN135L makes it possible to handle pieces up to 10 tons of weigh. Huynday is capable to handle movements up to X = 3 000 mm, Y = 2 000 mm, Z = 1 600 mm and W = 700 mm.
The Correa Fox 40 bridge type of machine represents a new and innovative concept with the speed and precision of high performance machining. There is a unique system, which is controlling temperature generated in the vertical axis of the machine. Correa has versatile capability up to X = 4 500 mm, Y = 2 500 mm and Z vertical = 1700 mm. The maximum weight of a work piece is 15 tons.
Together with the zero point fixing and pallet system the both machines are improving production efficiency and machining quality at Business Site Narva.
Fortaco Estonia strengthens prefabrication capacity by investing in new laser cutting machine
Fortaco Estonia has taken into use the brand new Bystronic ByLaser 6000 -cutting machine to secure capacity for ready-to-weld parts. The new machine is using the latest laser technology with software solutions that enables the lean manufacturing processes. The machine will improve the quality of cutted parts and ensure effective robot welding process. In-built automatized features increase the utilization rate and make it possible to run the machine unmanned as well.
The new laser cutting machine is part of Fortaco Estonia’s investment program to ensure a sustainable growth together with Fortaco’s key customers.
Fortaco Business Site in Narva is one of the biggest Steel Fabrication companies in Estonia. Our factory is specialized to make components for material handling, forestry and mining industries, like booms for cranes, crappers and frames. Fortaco factory in Narva is using about 10.000 tons of steel plates per year, which are processed to high quality products by over 500 employees. Fortaco Estonia is the competence center of high-strength steel processing, as it requires special skills and experience in all phases of manufacturing processes.
The cutting area of the machine is 4090 mm x 2060 mm and maximum plate thickness is 25 mm.
New General Manager - New Era at Fortaco in Kurikka
Mr. Olli Koivisto, B. Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management, has been appointed as General Manager for Business Site Kurikka as from 28 May 2018.
Fortaco Business Site in Kurikka compromises two businesses - Fortaco Cabin and Fortaco Vehicle Assembly. We combine a long tradition of cabin development and manufacturing in a modern factory environment. The recent investments into the factory layout, robot technology and surface treatment process are ensuring efficient and flexible production processes of world-class.
Long tradition of cabin development in Kurikka
Learn more about cabin development and manufacturing in Kurikka, our biggest factory for cabin manufacturing and the home of CabTech. This video gives you a full insight into our Business Site in Kurikka. The factory combines a long tradition of cabin development and manufacturing in a modern factory environment.
Our recent investments into the factory layout, robot technology and surface treatment process are ensuring efficient and flexible production processes of world-class.
Fortaco is steaming ahead in busy market
Year 2017 has been successfully closed, and in 2018 Fortaco is steaming ahead with a full speed in the overall busy market. Let me recap some key highlights from 2017 and share our key priorities going forward this year.
Increasing market demand
There were only a few economists some years ago, who could foresee the general pick-up on the market, realizing towards the end of 2016 and continuing the full year of 2017. As a result, Fortaco experienced an increasing demand on most of our customer segments – especially amongst mining, material handling, forestry and construction. The increased demand was converted into the growth of net sales, in the excess of 20% in 2017. As the capacity is not unlimited on short-time, this growth of net sales often meant working 24/7 and long days at several Fortaco Business Sites. I would like to take this opportunity and express my gratitude to all our customers and Fortaco people for the hard work done.
Fortaco’s position and strategy crystallizing
In 2017 the position and strategy of Fortaco have been crystallizing. Just to reconfirm, Fortaco is the leading brand independent strategic partner to the heavy off-highway equipment and marine industries offering Technology, Vehicle Cabins, Steel Fabrications and Vehicle Assembly. Fortaco’s pledge is to provide our customers with the industry leading mix of quality, delivery accuracy and cost and the highest safety standards. We are continuously challenging our way of working to make tomorrow better than today, and we benchmark ourselves to the automotive industry standards. As an example of our development, a new Fortaco Technology business area was established in 2017 providing our customers with additional value and services across the whole Fortaco product offering portfolio.
Fortaco continue building up capacity in 2018
In 2017, Fortaco started increasing the overall level of investments in its operations. Consequently, several important capacity investments were finalized or decided, including several new welding robots and machining centers, a new laser cutting machine and a new press break and large-scale layout change project in one of the Business Sites. Fortaco will continue building up capacity also in 2018, several new capacity investments have already been decided during the first quarter. After refinancing was fully completed during the first half of 2017, Fortaco is financially a sound company and well positioned for untapped market opportunities.
Fortaco - the premium supplier
Dear valued customer, Fortaco is the premium supplier on the market, our commitment is to act accordingly every day. Going forward 2018, ensuring the industry leading delivery accuracy is the highest priority on our agenda. We do have continued good performance at most of our Business Sites, whereas delivery accuracy has not been where it should be at some Business Sites. We are working actively to ensure the needed capacity and supplies in accordance with the customer promise. Together we will make it.
Kimmo Raunio
Senior Vice President & CFO