Danfoss Editron grows in Lappeenranta, Finland

Now in its 90th year, Danfoss is a Danish family business employing more than 40 000 people and operating in over 100 countries .

One of these countries is Finland. And in Finland, Danfoss Editron's factories and most of its staff are located in Lappeenranta .

Danfoss Editron, a supplier of high-performance powertrain systems for heavy-duty vehicles, machinery and marine vessels, has been operating in Lappeenranta since 2009 under the name Visedo. The name was changed when the company was taken over by the Danfoss Group eight years later in 2017.

Visedo was once founded on research at LUT University and the same expertise is still an important anchor for the company. Tero Järveläinen,Research and Product Development Director, says that in addition to Lappeenranta, Danfoss Editron now has operations in other locations in Finland. The company's operations have grown tenfold in the last five years and the Lappeenranta unit has also grown fivefold. The company is now looking to build new premises and possibly a new factory in Lappeenranta. 

- Lappeenranta is an important place for us, partly because of its history, but also because of its talent," says Järveläinen.
- Both LUT University and LAB University of Applied Sciences are in an important position when we are looking for new staff and trying to get students in early for internships and thesis work.

Järveläinen mentions in particular the university ' s renowned research and teaching in electrical engineering, which focuses on topics of particular interest to Danfoss Editron.

- LUT's top areas of expertise are in sustainability, energy efficiency and renewable energy and its piloting, he says.
- These are exactly the same issues we have been focusing on for a long time. We believe that green electricity brings added value and faith in the future when combined with the company's products.

Järveläinen is also delighted that LAB University of Applied Sciences is planning to start an engineering degree in electrical and automation engineering in Lappeenranta next autumn.

There is a great demand for university expertise in the design of the company's high-tech products. Danfoss Editron manufactures hybrid and all-electric powertrain systems for the off- and on-highway and marine markets, based on Editron's unique synchronous reluctance-assisted permanent magnet technology.

Space to grow sustainably

In Lappeenranta, the company currently employs around 150 people, of whom about a third work in the factory near the airport. Some of the staff are based in Skinnarila, but if and when the new investment is completed, the entire workforce will move to the same location.

At present, Danfoss Editron's production facilities are located in a rented building owned Lappeenrannan Yritystila - a company owned by the City of Lappeenranta. Tero Järveläinen says that there is a nice variety of space available in the city and that new solutions can be negotiated flexibly if necessary.

- Lappeenranta has good space for companies and the prices are competitive, he says.
- Space also has another meaning here: the city also offers freedom for personal living and there are plenty of different housing options available without having to spend your entire salary on a loan. Lappeenranta is the best place to live if you like the lake scenery and peaceful surroundings.

The strong growth of the parent company Danfoss supports Editron in its growth. As a unit, Lappeenranta is naturally local and a product of its own history, which Järveläinen sees as an asset.

- The aforementioned access to labour, a reasonable subcontracting network, a safe environment and a suitable cost level are all arguments in favour of staying here, he says.

- Although we have a good customer base in Finland, our market is global, which means efficient logistics chains on the one hand and decentralised manufacturing on the other. Currently, Danfoss Editron also has production in Denmark, China and the United States.

When asked what the world will look like in five to fifteen years' time, the R&D Director is content to give a conservative estimate .

- What is certain is that electrification - especially the green kind - will continue apace. Our company will probably grow considerably and product development will continue," he says.
- I believe that the electrification of trucks and lorries will soon really take off, as Volvo has already launched its first electric truck. Anything is possible!

 

More:

Tero Järveläinen, Director R&D, Danfoss Editron
tel. 040 7080 314, tero.jarvelainen@danfoss.com