Jotel: “We have made investments and developed our operations to better serve our customers.”
29.4.2015
The state of the global economy affects us through our customer base, which includes export-oriented companies. We are a contract manufacturer of electronic devices and automation control boxes, which is why we live by our customers: when their export operations are doing well, we have more work. There was a slight decline in demand, but currently export is recovering.
The dollar exchange rate should boost this development and create new opportunities. However, for us the strengthening of the dollar in relation to the euro is a double-edged sword. The electronic components we use come from the east, so we buy them at growing dollar rates. On the other hand, as the competitiveness of export companies improves in the dollar markets, our customers can afford more, which then increases demand on our end. This is preferable.
Under the circumstances, Jotel is doing quite well. Some 18 months ago, we made a relatively significant investment in new assembly equipment, which has improved our capabilities of manufacturing more demanding products. We have been able to increase our market share and gain new customers.
Jotel's customer base is situated primarily in Pirkanmaa and the Tampere region. This region can definitely be expected to grow in terms of business activity. The strength of the Tampere city region is its strong mindset for getting things done, and the fact that there are actual large development projects under way, such as the new tunnel in Tampere.
For us, being located in the second largest growth centre in Finland is important in that we are close to our customers. The growth of the city region is attracting industry to the area, and people with it, which also improves the availability of labour.
Jotel Oy is a manufacturer of electronic devices, PCB assemblies and automation control boxes. It is based in Kangasala but has a second facility in Tampere. The company employs about 30 people, and its turnover for 2014 was €3.7 million. This year, the company aims to achieve a turnover of significantly more than €4 million.
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