Slamex is moving to Lahti

Viikinmäki processing plant expanded

Mikael Silvennoinen believes in growth

A strong alternative from MalmöRock treatment plants – a Nordic innovation

ECONET LTD CUSTOMER MAGAZINE2 | 2014

2

Treatment plant architecture requires versatile know-how

18164 138

8

3 Editorial column: Water!

4 On the surface: An Ode to Water, Wastewater Research, The Key Flag, The Northern Pike, Terminology Explained

8 Timo Koski knows wastewater treatment plants

12 Mikael Silvennoinen to join Econet’s Board

13 Steel is bending in Lahti

14 A field trip to Kenya

15 The Year of the Gulf of Finland is bringing nations together

16 Econet growing in Sweden

17 Changes to corporate and dividend taxation

18 Bubbles: Tiina Pirppu, IFAT Fair, An Automated Watering System, Slamex is Moving, Ecoset

Contents 2 | 2014Econet Ltd Customer magazine AQ

2 3

Despite the pan-European economic recession, the industrial sector is still consuming a lot of water. It has been estimated that the industrial sector accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the total freshwater consumption. That is a lot. Once the share of the agricultural industry, 30 per cent, is added to that, it leaves about 10 per cent for private households. This is relevant for the so-called industrial countries. In other countries, agriculture accounts for over 80% of water consumption.

Even though freshwater renews itself within natural water circula-tion, its quantity is somewhat stable. This sets limits to human water use. Since the beginning of the 20th century, water consumption has increased two and a half times com-pared to population growth. So, the explosive growth of world population alone does not explain the increase in water consumption. There are several reasons; human activity contributing towards climate change is one of the most obvious.

I can see that humanity has two options here: the use of seawater or saltwater; or recycling, i.e. the treat-ment of water that has been used

already. Modern technology supports the latter option. These options are not mutually exclusive, but also not necessarily mutually supportive.

Econet and its subsidiaries have extensive water-treatment know-how. We design and supply clean water, wastewater, and boiler water treatment plants, both for the indus-trial sector and the public sector. Of course, we are also involved in many other things related to water treat-ment, such as sludge dewatering systems.

All of us have to be responsible for the limited freshwater supplies on this planet. It is not simply a matter of choice that can be influenced by political decisions, but instead, something even more serious than that. If the scarcity of clean water escalates into a crisis, it may well threaten the entire human popula-tion and its existence.

Waiting for autumn,

Matti LeppäniemiEconet LtdManaging Director

Water!

Econet customer magazine AQ Issue 2 September 2014

Publisher: Econet Oy Malminkaari 5, 00700 Helsinki, Finland Ph. +358 9 836 6250 www.econetgroup.fi

Editor-in-chief Matti Leppäniemi

Production Magnolia Media OyEija Öhrnberg

TranslationsEnglish translation Käännöstoimisto ABC

Editing and layout Magnolia Media Oy

Design Kirma Visual

Printing house SP-Paino Oy, Nurmijärvi, Finland

Paper Cover G-print 250 g Inside pages G-print 90 g

Print runs Finnish version 3 ooo pcsEnglish version 2 000 pcs

ISSN 1799-7763

ECONETWater for Life

All of us have to bear the responsibility for this planet’s scarce freshwater resources.

Editorial

4 5

Water is an intriguing element for an artist. A visual artist from Kerava, Finland, Lee-na Vasankari, has tried to capture the topic by photographing water in the Saimaa lake area, where there is a lot of pristine and untouched nature.

– Water is fascinating for me as a subject, because it is of utmost importance for the cycle of life, and also because it entails a lot of mysticism and beliefs, Leena Vasan-kari said. – I’m particularly interested in photographing the movement of water. The clarity of

water, its mirror-like characteristics and reflections are constantly changing, depending on the weather, the light and the time of the year.

As a photographer, Leena Vasankari represents a school of photographers who do not remove anything from or add anything to the pictures using photo editing techni-ques. The photographs have been printed on acrylic plates, and because they are han-ged as they are, without any frames, they are a perfect match with the environment of the Finlandia Hall, which was created by world famous architect Alvar Aalto.

An Ode to Water

Did you know that ...The right to have access to clean

water, and sewerage is one of the human rights recognized by the UN.

The photographs and the video were displayed at the Veranda café of the Finlandia Hall over the course of summer.

Human water in numbers

75%of a baby is water.

48%of an overweight

man is water.

36%of an overweight woman is water. 65%

of a top athlete is water.

60% of a normal-weight

man is water.

7 days is the longest time a person can survive

without water.

50%of a normal-weight

woman is water.

There is 1 litre of water in a

human brain.

AFLOATS

4 5

Did you know that there is no sewerage in the households of 2.5 billion people?

ISTO

CKPH

OTO

Biological carrierBiocarriers are used in wastewater treatment plants to enhance and improve water treatment. Biocarriers are made of moulded plastic, several different types of biocarriers exist on the market and each of these has been optimized to fill a certain role in the treatment process.

The biocarriers have a protected surface where the biomass grows. When the biocarriers are stirred around in the basins by aeration or mixers the wastewater flows through the carriers and the the biomass dec-reases the impurities in the water.

The research conducted in spring by the Finnish Water Utilities Association was carried out to find out more about the presence of 26 harmful substanc-es or groups of substances in Finnish wastewater. Generally speaking, the presence of these harmful substances was greatly reduced during the treat-ment process.

The research analysed the pres-ence of harmful substances in waste-water coming to treatment plants from nearby communities, and in wastewater leaving treatment plants. 64 wastewater treatment plants

participated in the project; together, these plants treat the wastewater of more than three million Finns.

The goal of the project was to pro-duce an extensive amount of infor-mation regarding the load of harmful substances on the treatment plants, the removal thereof during the treat-ment process, and the presence of harmful substances in treated waste-water. This report also helps to un-derstand the role of local wastewater treatment plants in the circulation of harmful substances. www.vvy.fi

The northern pike Esox luciusThe northern pike, which is also the district fish of Aland in Finland, and which can grow up to 1.5 metres and over 30 kilograms, can swim around in inland waterways and in our coastal waters alike. Its green base colour gives it a good camouflage for hunting purposes, and its slender body structure, typical of preda-tory fish, enables it to perform fast attacks on its prey.

The northern pike is one of the most im-portant fish for recreational fishermen to catch. It has spread all over the inland water-ways, and in the Baltic Sea, the northern pike can be found in areas where the water has low salinity levels. As the state of the Baltic Sea has deteriorated, so have the northern pike populations decreased.

The northern pike eats smaller fish, frogs, swimming moles and even waterfowl chicks. The northern pike’s adaptability regarding food sources is what ensures it remains at the number one position in the food chain. In order to grow by a kilogram, a northern pike needs thirty kilograms of nutrition. The northern pike has an important role in keeping the eutrophi-cation of waterways under control; by eating, it keeps the coarse fish populations in check.

Did you know that ...The most common cold beverage accompanying Finnish meals is tap water.

Harmful substances in wastewater researched

ISTO

CKPH

OTO

Water on Earth

1.74%of water is bound to

continental ice sheets and glaciers.

96.5%of water is

in seas.

0.022%of water is

in permafrost.

1.7%water is

groundwater.

0.013%of water is

in lakes. 0.0002%of water is

flowing in rivers.

71%of Earth is covered

with water.

0.001% of water is in

the atmosphere.

the terms

Get to know

6 7

KUVA JOHAN AHLrOTH

Around a hundred volunteers put their gardening gloves on, grabbed some litter picking tools, and aimed towards Töölönlahti beach in Helsinki, Finland on a hot day in May. This was already the third time for this kind of bee to be held. This volunteer project launched by Finlandia Hall was part of the Mental Health Art Week Hyvää mieltä kulttuurista and the Siisti Biitsi (Clean Beaches) campaign.

A spring cleaning bee at Töölönlahti

The Key Flag for Dewaco The Association for Finnish Work has awarded the right to use the Key Flag symbol for the product DEWA chain scrap-er systems 30190. DEWA products have been designed and manufactured in Laitila, Finland already since 1988.

Nearly 90% of Finnish consumers recognise the Key Flag. It denotes that the product has been made in Finland. The average level of domestic origin in the Key Flag prod-

ucts is over 80 per cent. If every Finn purchased 10 euros more worth of domestic goods and services every month, there would be 10 000 more jobs created in a year.

The Key Flag will be visible in Dewaco’s brand advertis-ing and its corporate image. The symbol helps to construe respect for Finnish work and craftsmanship across the Finnish border, as well.

For 9–10 days, water is in the air in

molecular form. Then, it will fall onto the ground

either as rain or snow.

There is altogether 495 000 cubic

kilometres of water condensed into clouds.

6 mm is generally the

largest diameter of raindrops.

13%of an iceberg

is above the surface of the water.

One water molecule has 2

hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen

atom.

Waterin numbers

AFLOATS

6 7

Did you know that over 780 million people live today without clean water?

Roofing that is in good condition will keep all water damage at bay. A small leak in the roof can cause large problems for the lower structures of the roof, and this, in turn, can lead to unexpected repair costs.

It is wise to perform regular checks on the roof. After the snow has thawed, it is worth checking the roof for any damage that may have occurred over win-ter. In autumn, it is good to clean all fallen leaves from the gutters and the roof. The regular maintenance of the roof prevents the majority of roof damage, and also anticipates any possible repair needs.

Steering Group of the European Innova-tion Partnership on Water, EIP, held its 5th meeting in May in Brussels. The im-portant work will continue with shared enthusiasm.The EIP Water aims to facilitate the de-velopment of innovative solutions to deal with European and global water challeng-es in relation to quality, availability, floods and droughts, implementation of legisla-tion and others exacerbated by climate change, demographic changes and other developments.

Innovative solutions are required to adequately address these challenges, which create significant market oppor- tunities and potential for job creation.

The EIP Water is a critical initiative that gives visibility to water-related chal-lenges and brings together all relevant perspectives such as research, technology, finance, non-governmental organizations and governance.

The partnership approach ensures that public interest objectives are com-bined with private sector opportunities and solutions. These innovative solutions should support the implementation of the European water policy and improve the wellbeing of citizens.

At the same time, the EIP Water aims to stimulate that European and global market opportunities for water innova-tions are seized by connecting the demand and supply sides of water innovations.

The list of activities should be under-taken by the EIP Water during the coming The members of the Steering Group of the EIP Water underline their support and commitment, and look for-ward to continue steering the initiative under the leadership of the new Environ-ment Commissioner.

EIP for clearer water

Matters related to water services were dealt with extensively in June in Hel-sinki, where the domestic and Nordic professionals of the water industry assembled in the Finlandia Hall for a drinking water conference.

The Finnish Water Utilities Associa-tion held the 9th Nordic drinking water conference and the 2014 water services days simultaneously. More than 1 000 people participated in these two events. 90 companies active in the wa-ter industry presented their business in the exhibition that was held together

Nordic water industry experts gathered in Finland

Did you know that ...Water recycling between companies, the industry,

municipal water treatment facilities and agriculture would

alleviate water shortage.

The EIP Water is ownedby its stakeholders, who share the view of the importance of the partnership approach.

Matti Leppäniemi, Managing Director of Econet Group is a member of the EIP Water Steering Committee, and Project Manager Antti Herlevi works as a active member for the EIP Water Action group.

3 000 litresof water is necessary

for making one kilo of rice.

A tap with a drip of 1 drop of water per second

wastes 10 000 litres of water per year.

A big thirsty camel can slurp 200 litres

of water.

0.0001%of water is found in

plants and in animals.

With 140 litres of water, it is possible to

produce enough coffee for a single cupful.

16 000 litresof water is necessary for the production of

one kilo of beef. During their lifetime,

a person drinks approxi- mately 420 bathtubs’

worth of water.

Water on Earth

When was the last time you went onto the roof?

with the 2014 water services days.

More than 50 presentations were heard during the water services days. The domestic topics included, for ex-ample, matters related to the chang-es in the Water Services Act, special regulations regarding stormwater, as well as sustainable water services in sparsely populated areas.

The topics of the Nordic drinking water conference included NOM and membranes, the safety of water serv-ices, as well as wastewater, sewerage and construction.

Did you know that ...It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of wastewater is returned to nature untreated.

8 9

The planning process of a wastewater treatment plant constructed inside a rock requires time and know-how. The compilation of an operations and premises plan, based on the plant’s

process plan, is Timo Koski’s specialty. He refers to it as plant architecture.

Eija Öhrnberg Photos Jouni Harala, Vilja Harala

C ollaboration within the design team is essential: It affects everything, so the collaboration has to function well, and schedules must be adhered to. A wastewater treatment plant requires competence in the fields of construction, machinery, HVAC, electricity, automations and IT.

– The contracting entity’s competence and desire to influence the process decides the chosen operating model, i.e. the guidelines for the work of the designers and the contractors.

A treatment plant tender can be implemented in such a way that the contract-ing entity chooses the designers, and based on the documents compiled by the designer, the contractors are chosen. The starting point of this so-called tradition-al model in Finland and in several other countries is that the contracting entity is most likely to get the process and the plant it wants. This is called the Detailed Design model.

In various projects, particularly in those with international funding, overall re-sponsibility models are used, for example the Design-Build, or the Build Own Operate Transfer -models. With any of these options, the final design of the plant would be construed by the design team hired by the contractor.

– The requirements related to the plant’s functionality and quality are, of course, the contracting entity’s responsibility, preferably so that all processes have been clearly defined.

The need determines the operating model In Finland, everything takes place mainly within the framework stipulated by the ex-perts of the contracting entity. The clients, or in practice the municipalities and the indus-try are aware what kind of treatment plant they want. Domestic and foreign innovations have often been used with preventative pilot testing operations, and process plans com-piled on the basis of such tests. Contracting queries based on this process have been used to choose the contractors for the main ma-chinery and the process units. Based on these, the designer has finished the final construc-tion plans of various subsections, and cho-sen the contractors for these. This operating model was used in Viikinmäki, Helsinki, Finland for example.

– At Kakolanmäki, in Turku, there was a lengthy discussion about the reno- vation of the old treatment plant, but in the end, it was decided to build a new

A design consultant Timo Koski, MSc Eng, works as a consultant for the Finnish Water Forum in

export-related matters in the water industry.

Kari Hiekkanen, the machine controller of equipment installations, is performing tests at the depth of 16 metres.

At Viikinmäki, there are nine lines, at a width of 300 metres.

Cave planning is teamwork

9

Nowadays, IT and the Smart

Water mindset are essential parts of

water management technology.

The blue pipes are five metres below sea level level,

notes Jarmo Sarvi.

9

10

treatment plant underground. During the developing phase of the project, the use of various overall responsibility models was studied, for example the Build Own Oper-ate model. In this case, the contractor would have supplied a total plant according to their own designs, and even organised the funding. At the end, however, the same model was used in Turku as in Viikinmäki.

– I wish that there would be a lot of entries from Finland in international tenders, also when it comes to providing operations and even financing. However, Finland lacks the financial readiness for participating in such tenders that require ownership and investment, as well as long-term use. Our technical capability is at an interna-tional level, and we’re good at it. However, our sales skills are modest, compared to our competing countries, Koski stated.

According to Koski, Design-Build models have their own pitfalls. – Procurement documents are often vague, so contractors submit quotes for the

projects with their own technically minimised solutions and products. These are not necessarily the best possible technology. As far as the end result is concerned, the most ideal solution would be to have a close-knit symbiosis between the contracting entity, the developer, the designer and the contractor. In this case, all parties are familiar with each other’s competences and resources while taking these into consideration.

– We should be able to identify quality better. It is unfortunate how rarely quality is used as a competitive advantage. They purchase the cheapest, even though it might not work out as the most advantageous option either for the whole, or in the long run.

Rock treatment plants a Nordic innovation The basis for the construction of rock treatment plants has been wastewater treat-ment in good working conditions indoors. The Finnish bedrock creates a suitable framework for it.

The rock treatment plants made in Finland have been delivered in accordance with the plans submitted by the contracting entity, as for example in Helsinki, Turku and Lahti. The aim is to complete the basic technology of a rock treatment plant as well as possible, while taking into consideration the special characteristics of under-ground construction, regarding the implementation of various processes and tank

solutions. – The plots of land of the former above-ground treatment plants are now in mu-

nicipal use, for urban development, as the treatment plant is moved underground. This happened in Helsinki and in Turku, for example, Koski enumerates the benefit of an underground treatment plant.

Regional co-operation is of great significance for large rock treatment plants. For example, the capacity of the Viikinmäki treatment plant is so high that it is

also able to accept wastewater from the neighbouring municipalities. – The Finnish biological-chemical wastewater treatment plants built in rock are

clearly manageable ensembles, which are pleasant for their operators to maintain. However, the requirements for treatment plants can become increasingly stricter

in the future. Efficiency can be improved by adding secondary treatment and addi-tional processing units.

Currently, notable rock treatment projects are being planned in Espoo, Tampere and Mikkeli.

The spirit of innovation in high regard The planning and construction of large wastewater treatment plant takes years. Nowadays, the blueprints are finished and submitted to the construction site via computers, even though as far as Koski is concerned, the manual schedule of yesteryear had its advantages.

There is a need for high-achieving companies in the water industry, so that SME-s could become even more successful in tough competition.

Kakolanmäki Wastewater Treatment PlantCity of Turku, FinlandKakolanmäki, the second largest wastewater treatment plant in Finland, was constructed in the rocks in the middle of the populated area. The pro-ject was handed over in 2009 and it was rewarded with the RIL award.

The total value of the investment for the construction of a new waste- water treatment plant was approximately 125 million euros.

PHOTO: HSY

11

T he Viikinmäki plant was designed by FSG in accordance with previous plant mod-els. Econet was chosen as the machinery

manufacturer for this project organised by YIT. The 18-month project is now complete, and the ninth line is ready. During the writing of this ar-ticle, last tests were being made in the 16-metre deep tanks, and since then, the line has started operating.

– The Viikinmäki project was started in Janu-ary 2013, although the quarrying in the caves had already been started earlier, said Jarmo Sarvi, the project coordinator from Econet.

– First, the concrete works were completed; the bases and walls of the tanks were poured. Then, it was possible to start the equipment instal-lation phase, which took eight months, all in all.

The giant Viikinmäki project has been completed

The largest wastewater treatment plant in the Nordic countries, situated at Viikinmäki in Helsinki, Finland, treats not only industrial wastewater, but also the wastewater of 800 000 inhabitants of the capital. The average wastewater volume is 280 000 cubic metres per day. The machinery works for the ninth

treatment line, which Econet completed in early summer, increases the plant’s capacity to the maximum.

A similar plant is being planned for

Blomminmäki in Espoo.

Jarmo Sarvi represents extensive competence in the water industry. He has been involved in the in-dustry in various tasks for nearly three decades, and he has seen all the stages of the construction of a wastewater treatment plant.

– The Kakolanmäki project in Turku – which was similar to this one – is the largest I’ve ever been

involved with, Jarmo Sarvi looked back.

The Viikinmäki plant is unmanned, but it is monitored around the clock. The plant also requires regular maintenance, which is performed one line at a time. Good ventila-tion in the caves makes the air nearly odour-less; and thanks to an extensive underground network of roads, getting around is easy. At their deepest, the pipes reach five metres be-low sea level.

The sludge separated from the wastewater during the treatment process is retted, and the biogas created during the retting process is used as heating and electrical energy at the plant. The dried and retted sludge is refined further in the composting field, to be used as garden soil.

The inspection methods for electronic plans are not yet at the same level as the cor-responding manual ones.

Finnish wastewater treatment plants have made good use of domestic and foreign innovations. For example, the energy efficiency at the Viikinmäki and Turku plants improved considerably, once the aeration tanks were deepened. The automa-tion of aeration and the overall energy efficiency of the plants is a notable export ar-ticle.

– The use of frequency converters for the optimization of pumping is in gener-al use, and heat pump technology uses energy in co-operation with water plants and power plants.

– Finland has traditionally had a high level of remote use and automation. Nowa-days, IT and the so-called Smart Water mind set are essential parts of water manage-ment technology, as well.

Help and support for export – The first wave of wastewater treatment came in the 70’s. Then, there was concern that the work would end. These fears were unsubstantiated, as in addition to the con-struction of new water treatment plants, plants are also made more efficient, modern, and also transferred into rock.

There are a few big agencies currently active in Finland in this field, dividing all work between them.

Koski advocates for the collaboration of large companies in the water industries, and stimuli for SME businesses. The Finnish Water Forum, where Timo Koski works as a consultant, helps companies in export-related matters in the water industry. How-ever, our efforts towards an increase in the export of our water know-how will take a lot more work.

– There is a need for high-achieving companies in the water industry, so that SME-s could become even more successful in tough competition. There is currently no real or practical financial help from the Finnish government towards any businesses in the water industry.

– It would at least be worth looking into getting private and public funding for the so-called Suomi Vesi Oy operating model. The aim would be to create a common busi-ness, which is sufficiently large and which provides various kinds of competence. There would be a need for private and public capital, as well as Finnish water treatment plants with the competence of their equipment suppliers, contractors and designers. In this case, the company could successfully participate even in large international projects, while making good use of our water industry know-how. Would the new mechanisms of the shipbuilding indust be of any interest, perhaps?

The space inside the rock has

now been used.

12

E conet has received a strong expert of financing and strategy on their team, as the top business execu-tive, Mikael Silvennoinen, has joined the board of

the company. Among other accomplishments, Silvennoinen is re-

nowned as the long-time CEO of Pohjola Pankki, as well as the member of the boards of Konecranes and Orion. Nowadays, he is involved in running a family business, IMS Talent, with his wife, specializing in recruitment con-sultation for corporate management.

– I’m a full-time head-hunter, but I have enough inter-est and energy for a few more board positions, if such hap-pen to be available in good and fascinating companies, Sil-vennoinen said.

– I have mainly been involved in the boards of larger companies, but I was interested in Econet as soon as the CEO of the company, Matti Leppäniemi, called and sug-gested we work together.

Silvennoinen said that he always examines all the com-panies carefully before accepting any nominations for their boards. He pointed out that members of the boards have many responsibilities and obligations, so that all aspects must be weighed carefully.

– I want to ensure that I am beneficial for the compa-ny, and that the company is healthy and developing. With Econet, I was assured quickly that these conditions were met.

– In my view, Econet is an extremely interesting com-pany, and its main business has an exceptional growth prospect. The demand for clean water will definitely grow in the coming years, Silvennoinen said.

What can Silvennoinen give to Econet? – Econet is an engineering-driven company, where the technical side, such as the products and the manufacturing process, is in great order. I probably wouldn’t focus on creating additional value for those things. Instead, I would be turning my attention towards issues related to financing, export, marketing or management, for example.

According to Silvennoinen, Econet has good growth potential. He thinks that the company is being managed well, and its business has been growing well. Various business acquisitions have also propelled the group ahead.

– I can see that there are all the necessary ingredients for a considerable new growth spurt on the international market. However, this growth will also entail challenges, and the competition is hard, so the risks will have to be kept under control even during frenzied changes. These are definitely some of the most important topics to tackle dur-ing the upcoming board work sessions, and in the entire company, Silvennoinen said.

A new accelerator in the cleantech industry has been sought after in Finland for years, but so far, there have not been any major break-throughs.

– I think that as far as cleantech is concerned, the gen-eral expectations have possibly been slightly unrealistic. However, Econet’s business operations have a solid foun-dation. The business of clean water will be around forever, Silvennoinen ensured.

Eija Öhrnberg Photo Jouni Harala

The business of clean water will be around foreverMikael Silvennoinen, who became a Member of the Board at Econet, believes in a growth spurt.

A well-operating board is a valuable asset for a company

Some of the key roles of a board:

• Promotes the company’s interests

• Supports the company’s management in strategic choices

• Carries responsibility and monitors that the company’s business is moving in a desired direction

• Offers expertise and help during situations of change, as well as evaluating future prospects

• Improves a company’s competitiveness

• Takes care of the company’s management and the proper organization of its operations

• Is responsible for the company’s book-keeping and financing supervision being organised properly

Source: Hallituspartnerit ry, Limited Liability Companies Act

Econet’s board: Matti Leppäniemi (chairman), Juha Kontturi and Mikael Silvennoinen

Since the foundation of the company, HTM Stainless has been manufacturing high-quality stainless steel products. The level of expertise in

this company is cutting edge, and there are also plenty of specialists available. The cautious investments in the industry have affected the demand over the past years. Now, the corporate image has been clarified in such a way that in addition to the former output, the group’s own products will be manufactured in Lahti, as well.

Welding is the thing! HTM Stainless knows all about welding stainless steel. It is important to adhere to the durability and hygiene requirements, while maintaining meticulously accurate weld seams, not forgetting basic welding work. Crafts-manship is valuable, and special know-how will be needed in the future as well.

– The economic recession seems to be ongoing, al-though there are a few positive signs in the air, predicted Jukka Katila, the manager.

– Collaboration with Econet and Slamex opens up

Eija Öhrnberg Photos Jouni Harala

The winds of change are blowing in the HTM Stainless factory at Lahti. After a corporate acquisition, this company became a part of Econet Group, and simultaneously became Slamex’s own engineering shop.

Custom-made steel products

13

All stainless steel tanks are custom-made.

Kari Patovuo can fit into a milk silo.

A welder, Rauno Näveri,

is finishing a seam.

HTM Stainless is participating in the NORDIC FOOD trade fair in

Tampere from 8.-10.10.2014. Former and new clients alike are welcome

to visit us at box no. A 710.

opportunities, and requires more recruiting, which is always a positive matter.

HTM Stainless has been a familiar company to Econet Group. Among other things, wastewater clos-

ing latches and various products for Slamex have been manufactured in Lahti.

A direct line from planning to production This engineering shop manufactures certain tank parts as semi-finished products that are kept in stock. Gener-ally speaking, the raw materials are acquired as neces-sary for any particular project; there is no warehouse as such. The purchase location of the raw materials varies depending on the purpose of use, and price.

– The annual work cycle usually turns out so that the beginning of the year is quieter, things get busy from late spring onwards, and the pace only accelerates towards the end of the year, Katila described.

– The tanks are designed in accordance with the client’s requests. We will partly be relying on the group’s resources for this. I believe that the feedback will be functioning flexibly when there is a direct line within the group, from the designer to the production facility. This enables us to serve our clients in the best possible way.

HTM Stainless... is a stainless steel processing plant situ-ated in Lahti. The company’s clients include businesses in the food, pharmaceutical, en-vironmental and process technology indus-try, and nowadays the company also manu-factures water treatment equipment used for the cleaning of raw water, industrial wa-ter and wastewater. The company currently employs about 20 workers, and it is a part of Econet Group.

HTM Stainless and Slamex are merging. Starting from 01.12.2014, they will be doing business under the name Oy Slamex Ab. The company will be serving its new and existing customers at the address Asentajankatu 4, Lahti, Finland. Website:www.slamex.fi, e-mail: firstname.lastname@slamex.fi, exchange 09-343 6200.

A trade fair event of the food industry

14

Text and images by Jussi Laine

L ast spring, the search for my own vision led me to the Turkana County in Northern Kenya. There, I met unbelievably tenacious people of the Turkana

tribes, who need no introduction to the Finnish sisu concept.

I’m a 28-year-old student, currently enrolled in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, majoring in Water and Environmental Engineering. A year ago, I tried to find out how it would be possible to be of any help with international water problems from Finland, and I was lucky enough to receive good advice regard-ing becoming a volunteer for an NGO involved with the water industry.

I joined an organization called WaterFinns ry, where small project groups work in collaboration with NGOs operating in target countries. As an essential part of the operations of a project group, experienced professionals of the water industry transfer their know-how to young experts, who are getting valuable experience in inter-national operations during these projects. After I had taken my first step, I bravely decided to apply for the position of the coordinator of the Kenya project that was being planned at the time. I was very pleased to be granted this position, which also gave me the responsi-bility to plan my first-ever trip to Northern Kenya.

A lush Kenya When I found out in March that the funds for the project preparation trip had been granted, only few weeks remained until the departure, and as I was still in the middle of my studies, I didn’t even have time to be anxious about my first trip to the African continent. I had Eero Meskus as my travel partner, he was experi-enced and calm, having completed his first trip there already a few decades earlier. All in all, everything was

well, as long as we would make it to the first flight in the middle of winter.

Our first stage was the city of Kisumu, where a local NGO, our collaboration partner GWAKO (Ground-Water Abstract Kenya Outreach) had already been im-plementing water industry projects for several years. We became acquainted with their previous projects implemented in the schools and villages of the Kisumu region, and my respect towards GWAKO’s activities in-creased even further after every visit. A single well can be servicing only a small portion of the population of Kenya, but its significance cannot be underestimated, once you see with your own eyes how vital a well can be for a school with several hundred children.

I didn’t know what to expect when I joined in with the activities of WaterFinns, but as I was moving from one school to another, it felt really good to be a part of this project, and the motivation to successfully drive the project forward grew with each visit.

A challenging Turkana Together with Meskus and some representatives of GWAKO, we travelled to the Turkana County, which was the hoped future implementation site of the project. The northern living conditions were complete-ly different compared to the lush landscapes of Kisumu; here, the drought was present everywhere. Over the course of a few days, we visited several villages, where

new drilled wells were planned, and we met with really motivated and determined Turkana people, whose posi-tive attitude was absolutely admirable.

The prevailing conditions where the most challeng-ing I had ever experienced, and it was even somewhat bizarre, how little the extremely rough environment seemed to discourage the local population. During the visits, it felt unrealistic at times for me that I was dis-cussing water supply problems with the village elders. During these conversations, GWAKO’s representatives acted as interpreters, and Meskus lightened the mood by using the Swahili language.

During the few days we spent in the north, we ex-perienced setbacks with nature, our car and our health, but we were able to find a solution for every problem, and the journey of our group progressed smoothly to-wards a successful final meeting.

The return trip to Finland included a stopover in Nairobi, where we were neatly dressed and took taxis from one meeting to another, and I was amazed by how quickly the austere conditions of Turkana were forgot-ten in the hustle and bustle of a metropolis. One may well study and analyse statistical figures, but finding solutions is definitely much more efficient if you go as close as possible to the problem that needs to be solved.

I have a few more years of studies left, and I’m in-terested to see all the things I will encounter during this period. I’m currently gaining experience with Econet, where I have been able to work on various water treat-ment projects. I have accumulated a larger under-standing of the industry with the help of a few export projects, and it is very educational to see how elaborate plans are implemented with the help of experience. I’m hoping that my own vision will become clearer over the coming years, and hopefully, there will be more trips in store.

Throughout the course of their studies, several students ponder what this long-term commitment and challenging self-development will finally lead to. What kind of tasks are available in the student’s own field, and how would

it be possible to find a suitable place among what is available? An incredible amount of additional energy and interest is added to the studies, if there is a vision towards which a student can aim in their academic life.

Finding one’s way

We found a solution for every

problem.

15

T he Gulf of Finland Year 2014, which was launched in January, is a unique assembly of Finnish, Estonian and Russian experts, deci-

sion-makers and people for collaboration for the sake of the shared Gulf of Finland. The long-term trilat-eral collaboration will now, for the first time, enable extensive, joint measurement works, which will give a better overall view of the condition of the Gulf of Finland.

According to Kai Myrberg, a leading researcher at the maritime centre of the Finnish Environment Institute, and the coordinator of the Gulf of Finland Year, the main objective of the theme year is a joint effort, where all three countries, as well as the three different agencies: the researchers, the decision- makers and the people, interact with each other.

– The research material produced by thew re-searchers loses its social effectiveness, if the decision-makers do not read it, and the people will become frustrated if they don’t think they’re able to influence matters. The goal of the theme year is to have all three parties communicate with each other, Myrberg clarified.

Presidents’ patronage Finland, Estonia and Russia have committed to the theme year all the way to the top politicians. The pa-trons of the theme year are the presidents of these countries; and influential politicians and governors are at the helm of the non-governmental delegations.

– Due to the political interest, and the interna-tional nature of the project, we have been able to compile a common research programme for the Gulf of Finland, and a joint monitoring programme of the condition of the sea, Myrberg commended.

Through the Gulf of Finland Year, there have been many types of specific, new kinds of collabora-tion methods.

– On the maritime research vessel, Aranda, we were now able to access Russian waters, to per-form extensive measurements on what we wanted to measure; and for the first time, we entered into a maritime data exchange agreement with Russia and Estonia. In August, we will be conducting simultane-ous measurement work in the territorial waters of all three countries, which will give us completely new data, enthused Myrberg, who has been coordinating the trilateral collaboration for the protection of the marine environment of the Gulf of Finland since the year 2010.

Long collaboration There is a long his-tory of collaboration in the Gulf of Fin-land. Trilateral col-laboration reaches back to 1968, when Helsinki, Leningrad and Tallinn agreed upon environmental co-operation.

The first Gulf of Finland Year was held in 1996. Back then, the col-laboration took place mainly between the researchers, as Myrberg stated. The planning work of the Gulf of Finland Year, now held for the second year, started in 2010.

-–For a long time, the objective of trilateral col-laboration has been to get Russia involved at a high level. We aim to prevent cross-border environmental damage, and Russia plays an important role in this. It was specifically the Russian scientists that request-ed for a new Gulf of Finland Year to be held, so that they could receive better funding from their relevant authorities. The fact that we even managed to get the President of Russia on board, has indirectly been a huge leap forward, Myrberg shed light on the matter.

Political trends must not have an effect Myrberg emphasised that as far as the Gulf of Finland is concerned, Finland, Estonia and Russia are all on the same side. These matters must be kept separate, and they can be discussed also during more difficult times. For this reason, the situation in Ukraine, for ex-ample, has not been allowed to complicate the collab-oration done for the benefit of the Gulf of Finland.

– When working with Russia, it’s important to understand their culture. There’s no need to act sub-serviently with them, but showing off is also inadvis-able. Orientated towards this issue, we have reached further in our collaboration than ever before, Myr-berg pondered.

In addition to binding the political decision-mak-ers of the three countries to protect the common maritime region, the goal of the theme year is also to inspire the people to make choices in their everyday lives that are more environmentally friendly. Indeed, hundreds of events will be organised for the wider audience throughout the year.

Everything for the sea we share

riikka Mäkinen Photos Vilja Harala, iStockPhoto

The Gulf of Finland Year 2014 links together Finnish, Estonian and Russian scientists, decision-makers and people for ensuring that the sea is used in a sustainable way. The theme year will peak with the politically binding Declaration of the Gulf of Finland, signed by the above-mentioned countries, which will create the guidelines for the protection of the Gulf of Finland all the way until 2021.

The Gulf of Finland Year 2014

Kai Myrberg, the coordinator.

The Gulf of Finland Year 2014

The Gulf of Finland Year 2014 gathers Finnish, Esto-nian and Russian experts to develop collaboration, and to produce new information about the condi-tion of the sea. The solution suggestions based on the study will be delivered to the decision-making parties, for taking practical measures.

The study is divided into five topics: The health of the ecosystem of the Gulf of Finland, the biological and geological diversity, fish and fishing, maritime area planning, as well as the safety of seafaring. The themes that are present in all topics are: the nutri-tional load of the Gulf of Finland, eutrophication and the measures taken against it, and the effects of climate change.

The patrons of the theme year are Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland; Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation; and Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia.

The theme year involves a great deal of civic events held at various places along the coastline of the Gulf of Finland, organised by different towns, research facilities, foundations and private companies. The chairman of the Finnish non-governmental delega-tion is the Managing Director of the Association of Family Businesses, Matti Vanhanen; in Russia, the governors of the Len Oblast and St. Petersburg, Al-exander Drozenko and Grigori Poltavchenko; and in Estonia, former Prime Minister, Andres Tarand.

The event calendar of the Gulf of Finland year can be found on the website www.gof2014.fi/fi/cal-endar. You can also have a look at the project’s FB page at www.facebook.com/gof2014. www.gof2014.fi

– This is the year of the people; next year will be the year of science. An extensive assessment of the mari-time conditions will be published at the end of 2015, based on the joint measurements and analysed research results, as well as a long-term assessment on the influ-ence of measures that have already been taken, Myrberg summed up.

14

16

Currently, business turnover is growing by approxi-mately 30% per year, and the company is keen to maintain this pace in the future as well. The small

and skilled Vatten & Miljöteknik has become noted as a reliable choice for a business partner in the water industry. Competition over clients has been tough in Sweden, but thanks to good contacts and references, the company has succeeded in winning significant tenders.

– In Sweden, the water industry market has been quite stable, even slow, for the past few years, there have been no big changes in one way or another, said the CEO, Håkan Persson.

– On the municipal part, however, there is constant de-velopment, and the need for investments is growing. This, of course, interests us, and we consider the municipal side to have the largest growth potential at the moment.

Clients at the forefront About a third of all quotes given by Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik AB became actual deals. 40% of the projects are municipal tenders, 30% are industrial assignments, and 30% are biogas projects.

– As far as biogas is concerned, we are waiting for the government to finalise decisions regarding issues that are still open, and once this has been done, we can start grow-ing the business in this field, Persson outlined.

Discussions about new cleaning methods, filters and water quality are ongoing, and Vatten & Miljöteknik is

monitoring the situation, and participating in these discus-sions with its own contributions.

– Project know-how is one of our strengths, and we are also able to keep to the agreed schedule and budget. We keep our promises and we listen to our clients, Persson nu-merated the factors that have influenced success.

– I can see good growth potential, as long as the busi-ness focus remains clear.

In Sweden, the water industry is currently experiencing a change of generations; the veterans are retiring, and the young generation is trying to fill their rather large shoes.

– As far as successful business is concerned, the good reputation of a company is of primary importance. It is not built overnight, but it is the result of long-term work, Pers-son emphasised.

– It is easy to continue collaboration on the basis of good contacts that were made earlier. The contacts made by Risto Arminen over several decades as the head of former YIT Vatten & Miljöteknik AB, are very important to us today.

Persson states that a central location is important in com-petitive circumstances; and some of the large clients, such as VA SYD, are located ”right around the corner”. Howev-er, Vatten & Miljöteknik operates throughout Sweden, and they have even completed a project in New Zealand.

– Our position is good also as far as recruitment is con-cerned. We have just recently employed a new experienced project leader, Persson stated.

Controlled growth New directions are also sought after for the company’s growth. Norway is interesting as a region, but the com-pany is also looking for new growth opportunities within Sweden.

– We’re interested in developing new products for sludge treatment. As far as the biogas side is concerned, we have our own products, and we also buy goods from our subcontractors in Sweden and from Econet’s subsidiary, Dewaco, Persson listed.

– Maintenance contracts are a future possibility for us, we haven’t been involved with it so far.

Eija Öhrnberg Photos Eija Öhrnberg, Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik AB

During its first few years in the business, Econet’s subsidiary Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik AB, situated in Malmö, Sweden, has been experiencing a good growth pace. The nimble and flexible engineering company has done well among tough competition. The future looks promising; more water industry experts will be recruited to the office by the end of the year.

A flexible player from Sweden

Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik ABProducts: Municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment solutions and biogas upgrading plants

CEO: Håkan Persson

Staff: 6

It was decided that VA SYD’s old poly-mer unit, which had been in use since the 1960’s, would have to be modernised, and Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik AB won the project.

The project was launched quickly in January 2014, and the unit was functional already in May.

– The user training, which was just held, was successful. The unit still needs some fine-tuning, which is normal in this situation. Everything seems to be in or-

der, stated Jens Larsen, Project Leader for VA SYD.

The previous polymer plant used to have one big line, which was operating with technology that had become obso-lete. It was replaced by two new polymer units, which enable to adjust different mixes as necessary, for example.

– We now have a more efficient oper-ating framework while using less rawma-terial. This is evident in cost savings on an annual level, Jens Larsen ensured.

The geographic proximity of the client and the business partner is of great significance in this case, as well. If necessary, the client can receive help even on short notice, with-in a quarter of an hour.

Both units are in operation all the time. One unit is serving the Predewatering ta-bles and the other the Centrifuges. The consumption of the raw material is moni-tored continuously, and check-ups and changes are made approximately once per week, depending on the consumption.

Text

and

imag

es b

y Ei

ja Ö

hrnb

erg

VA SYD updated the polymer unit in Malmö

VA SYD joint municipal authority Takes care of the water supply, wastewater treatment and waste management for 500 000 residents and industrial clients in the Burlöv, Eslöv, Lund and Malmö municipalities.

Headquarters in Malmö, Sweden

Approximately 300 staff

Håkan Persson, the CEO, is steering the

company towards intensive growth.

Econet group’s corporate colours can also be found

at the office in Malmö.

Magnus Wahlqvist, Håkan Persson and Jens Larsen.

16

17

From the beginning of 2014, there were up-dates in the taxation regulations in Finland for companies and their owners. The most important growth-oriented change was the lowering of the corporate tax rate to 20 per cent. During the summer of 2014, there have been suggestions for strengthening the competitive edge of the export indus-try in Sweden by lowering the corporate tax rate to 16.5 per cent, but at the same time limiting the interest reduction right in taxa-tion. So, it seems that the tax competition is ongoing. There is no need to stare at plain nominal tax rates blindly; instead, it is im-portant to ensure that the regulations form a consistent, trustworthy whole, by which the interests of companies and company owners is focused on the development and internationalization of the businesses.

The first experiences with the 2014 divi-dend taxation update, whereby all divi-dends are taxable starting from the very first euro, but partially offset, have mainly been positive for individual shareholders. The withholding obligation, related to the dividends, present already during the divi-dend distribution decision moment, has nevertheless been a surprise to some en-trepreneurs. The withholding obligation may well have been forgotten during the set time limit, as the dividends have not been paid out to the shareholders, or it has not been possible to pay out dividends af-ter the dividend distribution decision has been made, as the money has been needed for business operations, instead. From the beginning of 2015, these regulations will again be tighter regarding capital income taxation, as the capital income tax rate of 33 per cent will be applicable for any taxa-ble capital income exceeding 30 000 euros.

The capital management required by lim-ited liability companies has been work-ing flexibly already for years, when owners have been able to make investments in the so-called invested available own capital fund, and withdraw any investments made without any taxation consequences, if the company has not needed these. The taxa-tion regulations of these capital invest-ments were changed in such a way that the returning of the company’s own assets may transfer within the limits of dividend taxation regulations. This change is insig-nificant in situations where, for example, a local municipality is the owner of a compa-

ny,

but it can cause severe taxation conse-quences to individual shareholders.

Even though this change will come into effect in stages, it is already evident that capital investments have been made to companies from above into the share capi-tal, and otherwise as capital loans. The lat-er return of a share capital requires adher-ence to the regulations for the protection of creditors, as outlined in the Limited Li-ability Companies Act, and the former has been perceived as cumbersome in various companies. On the other hand, a capital loan is shown in many companies’ books as a loan, which may increase the cost of bank financing, for example. Thus, the taxation changes of 2014 do not consistently con-tribute towards the growth of businesses or encourage entrepreneurship.

Some of these updates have been tempo-rary projects. As far as the non-deductibility of representation expenses of the year 2014 is concerned, the year 2015 will see a return to the former regulations of the year 2014. On the other hand, the tax deduction for re-search and development activities, which any limited liability company can claim for the fiscal year 2013, by the end of October 2014, will no longer be continued in 2015.

The corporate tax environment is con-stantly changing, and taxation is one of the most important areas which influence business expenses, and our competitive-ness in an international operating environ-ment. In this area, as well, advance plan-ning can help affect corporate expenses in a multitude of ways.

Ari EngblomService manager, family businesses

and expanding businesses KPMG Oy Ab

PHO

TO: K

PMG

OY

AB

Experiences with updated corporate and dividend taxation

Column

Gotland is the biggest Island in the Baltic Sea. A couple of years ago, Biogas Gotland was established there, with a vision to create a greener island.

Biogas Gotland, which is a client of Econet, has a vision to make as much of the trans-portation on the island as pos-sible free from fossil fuel. This is achieed by getting cars and buses run on biogas, instead

Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik AB has During spring 2014, Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik AB supplied cooling towers to New Zealand.

It is one of the pulp & paper mills on the North Island which needed to in-crease the cooling capacity in their wastewater treatment plant. The function of the cooling towers is to lower the temperature of the untreated wastewater before the wastewater enters the biological treatment facility.

Econet has extensive experience in specially designed cooling towers for the pulp and paper industry. That is why the client ordered the cooling towers from Econet for their pulp and paper mill in New Zealand.

Staff from Econet was down under in March and supervised the installation.

Cool in New ZealandHåkan Persson Photo Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik AB

In Gotland the buses use biogas.

Biogas is produced when organic material – i.e. food waste, manure or waste from vegetable fields etc. – is digested in an anaerobic environment. The biogas is then led to a gas refinery where it is cleaned and enhanced. In the refining process, the biogas is cleaned from carbon dioxide to achieve a methane content of at least 97% before it is compacted and stored, so it can later be used in gas fuel tanks in cars and buses.

18 soccer fields of biocarriersRecently Econet supplied 160 m3 of biocarriers to a wastewater treatment pant in Sweden. The supplied biocarriers have a protected area of approxima-tely 800 m2/m3, that means that there is over 128 000 m2 of protected surface for the biomass to grow on in the wastewater treatment plant. If you make a comparison to a soccer field, it would mean that the protected surface of the biocarriers in the plant covers the area of more than 18 soccer fields.

A little greener Gotland of petrol or diesel.

Biogas Gotland owns a biogas plant, gas refineries and several gas tanking stations on the island. Econet has been a partner to Biogas Gotland for several years and supplied many key components to them. Among the supplied equipment are, for example: gas refineries, gas drying facilities, and a fuel station for cars and buses.

What do you do in Dewaco, what’s your job description like? – I’m a buyer, and my responsibilities in-clude purchasing of materials and compo-nents according to the manufacturing de-partment’s needs. I’m also in charge of road transport in Europe, as well as air transport and courier deliveries outside of Europe.

What’s your work history like, how did you end up in your current job? – I first joined the company in 2003 for a summer job; and in autumn 2004, I got a permanent job contract. At the begin-ning, I created an operating system for the company, and I maintained it until 2010. At the same time, I did secretarial work in the sales department, and towards the end of my stay in sales, I was also in charge of the spare parts trade. I moved on to purchase activities at the beginning of 2010, due to some organizational changes and by my own request. Later, the job descriptions were overhauled, and deliveries were added to my area of responsibility.

Where do you work and how? – In Laitila, I mostly work in front of my computer, but team work regarding design and manufacturing also plays a large part in my work days.

What sort of client work do you do? – I’m in contact with the clients when it comes to transport arrangements. How-ever, I’m mainly in touch with the supplier network.

Has Dewaco’s merger with Econet Group changed your work? – So far, the merger with Econet Group has not affected my everyday work.

What other employees in the group do you work with? – I have recently been in touch with Econet’s Quality and Environment Manager, Taina Dammert, regarding matters related to the quality system. The acquisition of the certi-fication is in progress at Dewaco again, and Taina will naturally have a part to play in this process. The project group also includes the CEO, Matti Leppäniemi and planning engi-neer Ton Nguyen from Econet, as well as the sales manager from Slamex, Hannu Tu-runen. At a later stage, other professionals of the group will also be included.

What forms of collaboration do you actually use? – Taina operates as an advisor in the project, and its main impetus for the en-tire group. In practice, we will be in close contact. The project group will have regu-lar meetings over the coming months.

What sort of challenges do you face in your work? – The schedules are tight, which is the cause of the largest challenge. As soon as a project is transferred to the purchas-es department, the work must be started straight away, so that the material will reach the manufacturing department in time. There have also been situations when things have been needed already by the next morning. This mixes up the schedule of other jobs, and causes some “excitement” in the day, of course.

Sometimes, negotiating with suppliers about delivery times and prices can also be challenging, as it’s not always easy to find a common ground. For example, if the price is good, the delivery time might be off, or vice versa.

Operating in a technical environment while having received a business education has also brought about some challenges. I’m very lucky to be a part of a competent and collaborative team. We complete each other’s professional skills.

What sort of jobs and tasks are your favourite? – I like my work, which is varied, and de-spite containing a lot of routine, it also includes problem solving, quick decision-making and negotiations with suppliers.

I get the biggest satisfaction out of situations where I can think of a new way to make a current practice more efficient. There’s always something new to learn.

What do you consider to be Dewaco’s keys to success? – The keys to success lie in the competent personnel, who are committed and ready to give everything for Dewaco to be seen as a tough competitor among a group of big names.

Product development must also be a continuously ongoing process, and I believe it will become our trump card in the future.

How do you picture the future of the Econet Group and the water industry? – The water industry is still growing, and there are plenty of potential new mar-kets to conquer. I believe that Dewaco and Econet are in the forefront when it comes to conquering these new areas. There is definitely enough potential and a suitable mind-set.

How do you spend your free time? – My dog and three cats take up some of my free time, but various handicrafts and spending time in nature are also close to my heart. Zumba is currently my favourite form of exercise.

A team that adds competence Tiina Pirppu’s career in Dewaco at Laitila, Finland has lasted for over ten years. Her skills and know-how make future prospects look interesting. Tiina answered AQ’s questions about her every-day life at the engineering shop’s office.

18

Waterix Corona Borealis in Stockholm W-Rix Oy, a member of Econet group, has supplied a spectacular Waterix Corona Borealis device to the Bro Hof Slott golf course, which is situated near Stock-holm, in Sweden. This device has been designed for the ponds of golf courses and cities, as an aerating and cooling fountain. Bro Hof Slott is one of the most renowned golf courses in Europe.

BUBBLES

There are no obstacles, only

things that slow you

down and those that reveal

opportunities.

Econet kilpailee European Business Award -palkinnostaEconet Ltd has been selected as a Natio-nal Champion representing Finland in the 2013/14 European Business Awards. Econet competed with the best business-es in Finland to win the accolade of repre-senting Finland in The BP Target Neutral Growth Strategy of the Year Award.

The European Business Awards pro-gramme runs over 18 months from En-tries to the Gala Ceremony making it the largest awards programme in Europe.

European Business Awards 2014/15 announced the National Champions for 33 countries across Europe on 4th September 2014.

A list of all National Champions across Europe is now available on the European Business Awards website www.businessawardseurope.com.

The European Business Awards aim:• To draw attention to and recognize

our best businesses and what they are involved with.

• To enable companies of all sizes and industries to compare themselves to and learn from the very best in Europe.

• To stimulate the debate about the future shape, form and substance of the business community in Europe – on a national and Europe-wide level.

19

Crafting with Econet

Are your neighbours tired of you travelling all the time? Would you rather avoid asking them to water your plants while you’re away? Now, it’s easy to build an automated watering mechanism for whenever you’re away from home.

Automated watering mechanism

The next issue will be published in December 2014.

Oy Slamex Ab is movingStarting from 01.09.2014, Slamex’s new address is:

Asentajankatu 4, 15520 Lahti

Other contact information will remain unchanged.

Dewaco in IFAT againDewaco participated in IFAT Munich exhibition in May 2014 in Germany. Once again the exhibition was success and gathered together all the DEWA customers, the old and new ones. Once again, the exhibition was a success, and it gathered together all DEWA customers, both existing an new ones.

The traditional DEWA dinner was held in Munich. During the dinner, all DEWA customers were able to have a great and relaxing evening with DEWA staff. Over the course of dinner, the conversation was di-rected from business to more conventional topics.

The purpose of the evening was to get to know each other and have fun. The whole evening was empha-sizing the intangible values behind the DEWA brand, such as trust, caring and openness.

The IFAT 2014 was a little bit different than before. Dewaco’s sister company Waterix (from Econet Group) also participated together with Dewaco. The sister company’s presence was very exciting. It was nice to spend time there, and work-together with new people and learn more about water treatmen and the “WaterHow”.

Tim

o Ve

ijane

n

1. Take a container that is sufficiently large and tall, and fill it with water suitable for watering.

2. Weave a rope from cotton fabric, for example; cotton thread is also suitable.

3. Put one end of the rope in the watering tank, and the other end into the soil.

4. Take note that the water level in the container is higher than the surface of the soil with the plants to be watered. The greater the height difference is, the quicker the water will flow.

The WaterHow by Econet logo gathers all Econet’s products and services under the same brand.

A real water pill, eh? That kid really has the strangest ideas. Alright then, let’s play along…

WATER PILL!

What does this say? “Water pill. Add just a drop of water to the pill, and you´ll get drinking water.”

®

Already over 140 years of Finnish water expertise ECONET

Water for Lifewww.econetgroup.fi

Slamex DewacoEconet