Fredrik Nyström is Escarmat’s new sales manager: ”My strength lies in listening to customers”

Fredrik Nyström has been chosen as the sales manager for Escarmat. He has extensive experience in industrial sales roles.  Nyström previously worked as a sales engineer in Vaasa. Before that, he lived in the Helsinki metropolitan area and worked as a product manager and regional manager.

– Technical sales, in my opinion, is the best thing one can do in life. I grew up with it at home, as my father was in sales, Nyström says.

Language skills and international experience

Nyström studied electronics engineering at a university of applied sciences. He speaks Finnish, Swedish, and English fluently. Having lived in Los Angeles due to his father’s work and engaged in international trade throughout his career, he also possesses international experience.

In sales, Nyström’s strength lies in the art of listening. He carefully listens to the needs of customers, forms his own view, and collaborates with the sales team to find solutions.

– A salesperson’s task is to ask the right questions and assist in decision-making. My principle is to be honest and handle things properly from start to finish, Nyström explains.

He also mentions that he was raised at home to interact with people positively, always finding common ground and building trust based on it.

Escarmat offers opportunities to develop technical skills

Nyström wanted to work for Escarmat because he is interested in electrical and automation cabinets. These cabinets contain a lot of technology, so technical expertise also develops in sales work. Nyström has already noticed that the work community at Escarmat is like a large family where everyone takes good care of each other.

In his free time, Nyström enjoys playing golf. His first summer job was as a caretaker at a golf course.

– I’ve been playing golf since I was a child. What appeals to me about golf is that it’s a social sport combined with walking in nature.

Do you want to get in touch with Fredrik? See contact information.

Escarmat celebrates its 30th anniversary – logo is changing

The year 2024 marks Escarmat’s 30th anniversary. Escarmat, a manufacturer of electrical and automation cabinets, was founded in 1994, and since then, the company has grown steadily. Today, Escarmat operates from two locations and has 120 employees.

Escarmat is celebrating its anniversary with various activities. The celebratory year will be visible within the company, as well as in external marketing communications and events. This year, the focus will particularly highlight the company’s history and its personnel.

Logo change

The most prominent change for Escarmat is the rebranding and change of the logo. The company’s old logo has been in use since the 1990s, so the anniversary presents a great opportunity to update the brand.

– We are a renewing and forward-looking company. We possess high-level expertise, so we want our outward appearance to truly reflect who we are. The brand image must correspond to the company’s operations, says CEO and co-owner Kari Olkinuora.

The new brand look and logo will be immediately put into use.

The secret to longevity: great customers and staff

The anniversary marks a significant milestone for Escarmat and its staff. Escarmat’s co-owners, Kari Olkinuora and Mikael Mäkinen, continue their work at Escarmat. They express pride in the 30-year-old company but emphasize that success hasn’t come on its own.

– The success of the company doesn’t solely depend on the owners but also on the customers and the people. The secret to our longevity lies in great customers and all those individuals who have worked at Escarmat over the years. We’ve managed to maintain the trust of our customers. Each Escarmat member has contributed and will continue to contribute towards this, sums up Olkinuora.

Would you like to know what the new logo signifies? Read this!

Escarmat’s new corporate symbol consists of a mark and a wordmark. The logo was entirely redesigned to make the difference from the old one evident.

The departure idea and design language are propelled by electrical energy. This notion was transformed into a more symbolic representation and amalgamated. The symbol combines the angularity and toughness of the industry with roundness and humanity, the Escarmat family.

The graphic elements support and reinforce the company’s ideology and are a crucial part of its visual identity. In the graphic elements, the plus signs represent a positive employer and workplace, while the arrows signify looking forward.

The red color in the corporate symbol pays homage to the company’s history and the old logo.

Watch the video about new logo below!

Escarmat conducted customer satisfaction survey again – here’s what we found out

Once again, Escarmat has conducted the customer satisfaction survey and here’s what we found out. The survey investigated customers’ experiences with Escarmat’s customer service, professionalism, quality and pricing.

One of the prominent findings from the survey was that all our customers perceived Escarmat’s expertise and quality as excellent. Customers related to expertise and quality had even improved compared to the previous survey.

Escarmat’s Operational Director, Tomi Korkeavaara, expressed his joy about this outcome:

– The results indicate an enhancement in Escarmat’s quality and expertise. This supports our view that Escarmat’s competitive advantage is its personnel.

Looking for Sales Manager

All customers unanimously agreed that Escarmat has been successful in meeting delivery deadlines. However, the survey revealed a need for improvement.

– A significant portion of customers were unaware that Escarmat offers installation services worldwide. Escarmat plans to promote this service more to its existing customers.

Based on the survey, quick responses to inquiries are desired, which is one of the reasons why Escarmat has decided to increase its sales staff. Currently, Escarmat is actively seeking a Sales Manager.

– We want to share our customers’ concern about projects staying on schedule. By reacting promptly to inquiries, the customer can also respond to their own client’s requests on time, Korkeavaara says.

Key points from the customer satisfaction survey

Key points from the customer satisfaction survey

All the customers agreed that these issues are well taken care of at Escarmat:

  • Expertise
  • Quality services
  • Escarmat’s contact persons are easy to reach
  • Escarmat has successfully met delivery deadlines.

Furthermore, all customers would recommend Escarmat to others.

Escarmat received feedback from customers, including:

”Highly functional collaboration and excellent service.”

”Proven reliable long-term partner.”

”High-quality work with exceptional customer service ”

”Collaboration is straightforward and natural.”

”Everything went as agreed. When there’s adherence to agreements, there’s not much more to add.”

”Always professional service and agreements that are upheld. ”

”Escarmat is the best partner I’ve come across. Flexible operations and easy agreement on matters.”

”Escarmat informs about the order’s status, whether the product is on time or not.”

Read Escarmat´s company presentation.

What is Escarmat?

Escarmat is a manufacturer of industrial automation cabinets and control cabinets. Our services also include design and installation support.

Established in 1994, we bring nearly 30 years of experience to the industry. Our annual turnover is approximately 18 million euros.

Facilities and capacity

Escarmat operates from two locations: Vikby industrial area in Mustasaari and Strömberg Park in Vaasa. We have a total floor area of approximately 4600 square meters.

With these facilities, Escarmat has the capacity to execute large projects requiring precision and expertise. Our current spaces allow for significant expansion of our turnover.

Personnel

Employing over 100 professionals, Escarmat’s competitive advantage lies in its skilled workforce. Our product is a service concept encompassing technical specification, production-supporting design, material procurement, assembly, inspection and logistics.

The key element in every stage of this service concept is human expertise. One-third of our capable staff has been with the company for over a decade, bringing technical proficiency through years of experience.

Industries and clients

Escarmat’s cabinets are utilized worldwide in power plants, ships, and various machinery. Our clients include international energy companies, as well as equipment and machinery manufacturers.

Long-standing client relationships demonstrate our team’s ability to support customers with technical expertise. We regularly assess customer satisfaction and refine our operations based on feedback.

Strategy and values

Escarmat’s mission is to operate with quality, reliability, and customer-centricity. Our vision is to be a respected and valued cabinet manufacturer, offering the best workplace in the Ostrobothnia region. Our values encompass employee well-being, respect, flexibility, high quality, and commitment.

Read more about our customer AB Solving Oy.

Ab Solving Oy’s Dick Edström: ”Thanks to the collaboration, we can undertake larger projects”

Ab Solving Oy is a family-owned company founded in 1977 in Pietarsaari, Finland, specializing in manufacturing heavy load handling systems. The company’s products include automated guided vehicles, air film movers, forklifts, and other transfer systems. Solving’s products are used in various industries such as paper, automotive, aerospace, metal, and rail, and are distributed to over 60 countries worldwide.

Escarmat supplies automation cabinets and wired base plates to Solving. The collaboration between the two companies began in 2022 when Solving was searching for a reliable partner for cabinet manufacturing.

– We wanted a partner with expertise and experience. From our very first conversation, I realized that we understood each other in technical matters. Escarmat understands our criteria and quality requirements, says Dick Edström, Production Manager at Solving.

Staying on schedule despite component shortages

Solving has experienced rapid growth in recent years, leading to increased quantities of products for their projects. Solving requires a partner for cabinet manufacturing due to the company’s limited capacity to handle all the work internally.

In the first project, Escarmat manufactured automation cabinets for 31 automated forklifts, which were delivered to a customer in Germany. The project was executed using components ordered by Solving. However, the project faced challenges due to component shortages.

– We reached an understanding with Escarmat on how to stay on schedule despite the component shortages. Escarmat provided excellent service, and they always responded to us promptly. The end result was exactly what we wanted, Edström adds.

The collaboration has continued beyond the German project.

– Now, Solving has the opportunity to undertake larger projects because we know we can purchase specific products from Escarmat. This partnership is a significant advantage for us, Edström states.

Continued collaboration and mutual understanding

In cabinet manufacturing, Edström emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing challenges promptly.

– Escarmat has met all our quality requirements. Handling uncertainties is also crucial, and Escarmat has managed that well. Post-production troubleshooting would be costly once the product is with the customer.

Edström also appreciates the proximity of Escarmat, located just over an hour’s drive from Solving in Pohjanmaa. When Escarmat manufactured the first cabinets for Solving, Solving’s experts visited Escarmat. This visit helped determine the necessary product specifications right away.

– The work must be done properly because safety is paramount in Solving’s transfer systems. Additionally, we want to maintain our good reputation among customers, Edström adds.

Solving’s future looks promising, with orders already booked until the summer of 2024. Edström believes that the collaboration with Escarmat is worth continuing.

– We speak the same technical language with Escarmat, Edström concludes.

Escarmat’s competitive advantage is its personnel

Escarmat’s product is a service concept that includes technical productization, production-supportive design, material procurement, assembly work, inspection, and the logistical process. The end product is a product that meets the customer’s needs and expectations.

The most important link in each stage of the service concept is the human element: Escarmat’s personnel and their teamwork create the whole for the customer.

– Our competitive advantage is our personnel. We know how to read the customer’s expectations and needs and build the desired product from them, says Tomi Korkeavaara, Escarmat’s chief operating officer.

Skilled individuals in a human-centric work culture

Korkeavaara explains that every member of the staff creates a competitive advantage. Escarmat is proud of its competent personnel, with as much as a third of it having worked for the company for over 10 years. Experience brings along technical expertise.

In recruitment, Escarmat aims for a learning and solution-oriented individual profile.

– However, we want to maintain humanity in the workplace. Mistakes are minimized, but the operating model is error-tolerant. Because usually, only by not fearing failure can one achieve greatness. We encourage learning from mistakes and from each other, he adds.

Escarmat’s vision is to be a respected and desired cabinet manufacturer that offers the best work community in Ostrobothnia’s industry. A human-centric work culture helps in finding good workers even in the midst of a shortage of experts.

– The work must be organized in a way that allows individuals to influence their own work and see results, Korkeavaara summarizes.

Customers benefit from the expertise of personnel

Escarmat maintains long-term customer relationships. This demonstrates that our staff can support customers with their technical expertise. Escarmat gets to know customers and their products, which results in a confidential dialogue between the customer and production.

Escarmat conducted a customer satisfaction survey this fall. According to the survey, Escarmat has succeeded in operating in the way the customer desires. Escarmat will also develop its services based on the feedback received in the survey.

Korkeavaara says that Escarmat’s manufactured cabinet is an experiential-based, high-quality assembly of components. By purchasing a cabinet manufactured by Escarmat, customers enhance their strength in their market area.

– From us, the customer gets a product that aligns with their plans, and it’s hard to find anything better.

Escarmat ranked in the top 25% of its sector for sustainability

Escarmat participated for the first time in an evaluation that measured the company’s performance in terms of sustainability. The assessment was carried out by EcoVadis. EcoVadis is a fully independent, international body that has assessed tens of thousands of companies across the world.

Escarmat received a score of 57/100 from this assessment. This means that it is within the top 25% in its sector and received a silver medal. Joni Syrjälä, Quality Manager at Escarmat, is very pleased with the result.

– Our goal was to achieve the industry average, but the result was much better, Syrjälä says.

The categories assessed were the environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. No new practices are allowed to be developed ahead of the assessment, which ensures a realistic result.

– This external evaluation allows us to prove to our partners that we are truly acting in a sustainable way. This is also proof to our employees and job applicants that we act responsibly.

Top scores for labour and human rights

Escarmat scored highest in the theme of labour and human rights. The evaluation looked closely at factors related to the well-being of employees.

– It came as no surprise to us that we were so successful in this particular area. At Escarmat, employee well-being, respect and appreciation are values embedded in our strategy. We invest in them constantly, as this score shows.

According to Syrjälä, partners today want to know about a company’s values in more detail in order to have a better overall understanding of its practices. Partners no longer make purchases on the basis of price alone – corporate responsibility also carries weight. But it is not just about business, as it is equally important to demonstrate responsibility to employees. After all, there is currently a severe shortage of workers. People these days think much more carefully about the kind of company they want to work for.

– Especially young people put great weight on working for a responsible employer. Employees also want to invest in their own well-being. Because work is a big part of life, people want it to be meaningful and they want to make a difference. This sustainability ranking proves the cornerstones of our work to jobseekers.

Aiming for the gold medal

In future, EcoVadis will perform a sustainability assessment for Escarmat on an annual basis. Syrjälä reveals that Escarmat will aim for the gold medal next, because it is important to always aim higher.

– This was our first evaluation and an excellent starting point for further development. We received valuable feedback from it and are now ready to systematically drive the different aspects of sustainable development forward, Syrjälä concludes.

Read more about our quality.

Escarmat also holds the following certificates:

  • ISO 9001:2015 quality management systems
  • ISO 14001:2015 environmental management systems
  • ISO 45001:2018 occupational health and safety management systems
  • Annex 4
  • ATEX QAN
  • IECEx QAR.

Rutuja Walimbe: “Quality defines the brand – and this is especially true in case of Escarmat”

Quality is one of the most important parts of our brand and the reason why our customers trust us year after year. Now we ask our Quality Engineer, Rutuja Walimbe, what kind of job she does and what she thinks about Escarmat´s quality.

Who are you and what do you do at Escarmat?

I am Rutuja Walimbe and I work as a Quality Engineer.

My job mainly includes creating and maintaining the quality-related documents. One of our quality motives is to abide by the regulations of various conflict minerals and hazardous materials under EU REACH, RoHS and IHM, so I have been working on collecting these declarations from our suppliers.

Moreover, I also participate in quality audits and quality planning that is conducted in cooperation with our customers. During the audits and quality meetings, we come across different suggestions and improvement ideas and we make sure to act upon them.

Why is quality so important?

Theoretically, quality is simply conforming to customer requirements; however, in a broader sense, every element of an organization contributes towards achieving the objectives of organizational quality management. For example, in addition to doing the work right, a worker’s discipline to work or staff’s ability to communicate efficiently also helps to reduce mistakes which in turn leads to better quality.

Every company is working towards growth and the secret to growth is customer satisfaction. Thus, delivering good quality products and services plays an integral part in customer satisfaction which in turn helps the company to grow.

What quality exactly means at Escarmat?

When everyone in an organization function altogether to the best of their abilities, the resultant is the best product in the market. Mistakes are a part and parcel of every work but abiding to our tagline ‘Makes every piece works together’, each of Escarmat’s employee works in a way that mistakes are avoided and if at all they occur, they are handled as efficiently as possible.

We are continuously improving our processes to make them as efficient as possible. Thus, for every new project, we collaborate with our customers to develop different quality assurance plans such as PQAP (Project Quality Assurance Plan), FMEA (Failure Mode Effect Analysis), and Control plans. Moreover, we also use analytical tools such as 8D reports and 5-Why.

What do you think about Escarmat´s quality?

Quality defines the brand and this is especially true in case of Escarmat. At Escarmat, quality is not only visible on the shop floor but all throughout the organization. To remain up to date on quality standards, we are certified for ISO 9001:2016, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018. As a result, in addition to providing good quality products, we are also being responsible towards the environment and looking after our employees’ health and safety.

Quality being embedded in our values; we are striving to provide the best of the best to our customers. However, quality is a never-ending process. There is always room for improvement and what keeps us going is the will to improve ourselves.

Why do you like to work at Escarmat?

Providing the best quality with honesty and integrity is a central thought of Escarmat which is what I like the most. One of the best things is that everyone here is open to new ideas, so I never feel afraid to speak my mind or ask any questions.

Additionally, since our business is spread around the world, I love that I get to meet people from different cultures and traditions. And now that our business is growing so well, I look forward to new opportunities and the challenges that may come with it.

Peter Piispanen from Mychrome Ltd: “Escarmat is a hands-on and enthusiastic business partner”

Mychrome Ltd is a company specialized in manufacturing nailing machines and production lines for pallets. The company operates from Maalahti. Mychrome has collaborated with Escarmat since 2015 and altogether they have completed 119 projects.

CEO Peter Piispanen says that Escarmat designs and manufacturers electric cabinets for the nailing machines.

– We wanted to have a partner, who is capable to supply big cabinets. When we started to build our nailing machine, I contacted Escarmat and we were able to come up with a deal right away.

Piispanen says that every production line manufactured by Mychrome is different.  This means that Escarmat must have a great know-how too.

– We give them the initial data from which Escarmat does the design for the electrical cabinets, drawings, and manufacturing. Usually this is enough for them to complete the order and we do not have to intervene with the project. We can trust to Escarmat, they will do what they promise to do.

Escarmat stays on the schedule and on budget

Mychrome’s nailing machines and production lines are exported around the globe, for example, to the Nordic countries, Germany, Poland, the United States and Taiwan. The work is project like, and the machines are customized to fit the customers space, budget, and the type of pallet they are manufacturing. In most cases a new project starts from the base of an old one. Usually, the old project directs the way for the new one.

Now the component shortage is making deliveries challenging. According to Piispanen Escarmat suggests alternative components and suppliers if the desired parts are impossible to get.  Some parts can be installed afterwards, if needed.

– Despite COVID-19 and the component shortage Escarmat has stayed on the schedule and on budget. If there have been any delays, Escarmat has informed us in time, and we have been able to decide together, how to prioritize the manufacturing of the cabinets. We are very keen on staying on the schedule and making the end customers happy.

Interest towards customers and work shows

Mychrome is pleased with Escarmat’s service and quality. Piispanen describes Escarmat’s attitude as excited and joyful. The quality of their doing shows a real interest towards their own and towards customer’s work. Escarmat also helps when the things get rough.

– Once upon a time we had a situation in which the cabinets were delivered without monitors. Escarmat got them via back order, and they spontaneously suggested that they could deliver the monitors to us with their own car. This allowed us to test the cabinets in time, which was important to us.

Mychrome is a fast-growing business. They have already sold their capacity till the spring of 2023.

– There is not a replacement for the pallets, so our nailing machines are still much needed. In other words, there is also a huge demand for the electric cabinets. A joint product development might be something we could consider in the future, Piispanen ponders.

Open Application

Didn’t find an open position suitable for you on our website? Send us an open application!

At Escarmat, we offer different work positions for different life situations. We offer work positions for those who are looking for permanent employment and for people who need a summer job. We also have opportunities for people who need to complete their apprenticeship. We have, for example, different work positions in sales, in management, in logistics, in ICT and in control cabinet installations. Some of our work positions might include travelling.

Escarmat is known for long careers. This means that our employees really thrive with us. We always give thorough familiarization to our new employees.

We are looking for people who are excited about their work and who have the right attitude and the will to learn more. Send us your open application and we will contact you if we have something to offer you. Tell us about yourself, also include your work experience and a short explanation of what kind of work you are looking for.

Send your application to this address:

rekry(at)escarmat.com.