The potential of collaboration was once again talk of the day at the annual Alihankinta Subcontracting Fair in early October 2024. Innokas was present to showcase some our customer's devices, and this time, visitors also had the opportunity to speak with one of our customers personally.
Innokas’ stand saw a staggering number of curious visitors, especially on the second day of the event. I visited on Thursday to take in the fair ambience and explore the most talked about inustry topics. "It was gratifying to see the significance of the fair as a place for technology experts to find each other,” comments Janne Kostamo, CEO of Innokas.
While customer representatives often visit the Innokas stand, this year one of our customers was present specifically to showcase a device manufactured with Innokas. On the first day of the fair, Kari Levänen, CEO of Parking Energy, presented the T2Max charger—a state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging solution. For it's advanced nature, the charger is a true testament to the potential of Finnish manufacturing collaboration. Parking Energy also had the chance to meet its own customers at Innokas' stand and discuss the advantages of contract manufacturing.
Kari Levänen exhibits the T2Max charger
Inspired discussions took place at the Innokas stand throughout the fair, particularly around key topics in contract manufacturing. Visitors were especially interested in challenges related to scaling production. Those considering contract manufacturing are often concerned about the potential partner’s ability to meet necessary production volumes in timely manner. Similarly, the topic of transferring production to another supplier sparked debate. While there are many reasons companies may choose to relocate production, it's always a decision that requires careful consideration. Our experts are always happy to explain how a competent partner can mitigate these risks and ensure the manufacturing efficiency.
"Experience is crucial in these situations," Janne notes. "Innokas has a 30-year history of successful new product introductions and moving existing production to new facilities. Close cooperation between manufacturing and design teams has been key in ensuring smooth transitions, giving customers confidence in our ability to scale efficiently."
Our team was also pleased with the interest in Innokas' work across various industries. While Innokas is primarily known for designing and manufacturing medical devices, we have expanded into new fields in recent years. All inquiries about our projects beyond health technology are welcome.
Päivi Leppänen, Janne Kostamo and Mikko Kangas at Innokas stand
Innokas Business Development Director Mikko Kangas reflected positively on the event: "For me, the Subcontracting Fair is one of the highlights of the year. It was a pleasure to catch up with our current customers and to meet potential new clients and partners," he said. "It was encouraging to see that Innokas is viewed as a potential partner not only in medical devices, where we have extensive experience, but also in other industries where quality and safety are critical. We certainly didn’t leave the fair empty-handed; there’s plenty of follow-up work to be done. Personally, I left with ideas related to artificial intelligence and opportunities to streamline practical processes."
"The theme of the event was artificial intelligence and its potential to improve production efficiency, which was well reflected in the talks and event programming," added Eeva Lindroth, Head of Marketing and Communications at Innokas. "However, from the perspective of an exhibitor, the importance of strong partnerships and cooperation remained even more prominent topic. To emphasize this, we launched a unique campaign for the guests invited at our stand, where we made a small donation to the Sponsors of Children's Hospitals for each guest meeting. We were pleased to raise funds through about 30 meetings."
It was inspiring to see so many motivated experts in one place. Although I arrived at the fair on the last day, there was still plenty of time to listen in on insightful talks and find the hottest industry topics. Discussions were inspired, and the sector's development seems to be heading in an exciting direction. While artificial intelligence and sustainable development in device manufacturing are trending topics, the benefit of collaboration is always relevant. Amid all these innovative changes, it's reassuring to know that you don't have to build alone.
A big thank you to everyone who visited the Innokas stand. See you next year!
The subcontracting fair saw many visitors this year
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