Kontakti Kiilto Oy's customer magazine 2015

Kiilto Oy customer magazine 2015

On a new courseFinland turning around through co-operation and individual efforts.

The theme of Finnish expertise, pages 8-15

KontaktiChange of direction for

the shipbuilding industryPage 8

A fluent chain of Kiilto specialists

Page 16

5810

241820

222426

Finland will head upwards if it goes out into the world to win.

The Meyer Turku shipyard builds 300 metre-long miracles

A successful product from molecules. Welcome to the factory tour.

Anticipation guarantees Kiilto's delivery punctuality.

Multiple layers at the core of Walki's expertise.

Building site crew trailers must withstand demanding conditions and large variations in temperature.

The best in the world play on Finnish artificial turf.

Building supplies company RTV sticks to its line.

Remonttipartio trusts in Kiillto's wet room expertise.

CONTENTS

28

10 22

Regular columns3 Editorial

4 On the surface

28 'In Kontakti'

30 News

Front cover: Meyer Turku

2

EDITORIAL

TEXT: MIIKA KAUKINEN PICTURE: MATTI RAATIKAINEN

Kiilto in top condition heading for international competition

At the beginning of October,Kiilto Oy's new Managing Director

Anssi Asikainen M.Sc. (Econ.) will take charge of a successful

team with tough international competition in front of it.

Retiring Managing Director, Adjunct ProfessorAntti OK Niem-

inen PhD thinks that the team's performance, skills and attitude

to work are so good that we are on the road to success.

– Kiilto is in good condition, both in terms of its personnel and its results. Our

expertise is a great strength both in Finland and at our subsidiaries. Our position

at home is solid and built on competence. The opportunities for and challeng-

es set by growth lie in export which, as a result of our efforts, have become a de-

cent source of income, says Nieminen.

Asikainen thinks that Kiilto is heading strongly towards the dawn of a new in-

ternational age.

– The company is in excellent shape. We are at an advanced stage in our in-

ternational development, in which there is great future potential. In Finland, we

have quite a strong market position, and sales have increased in the different

countries in which we operate. This development is clearly beneficial for the par-

ent company and for our Finnish customers, says Asikainen.

Strong export, a strong home fieldBoth directors emphasise that Kiilto's success at home is based on four things:

reliability, customer-centred marketing and sales, in-house product development

and incomparable stakeholder training.

– In training on the building products side, we are a pioneer that is respected

throughout the Nordic region. We have created completely new ways of oper-

ating for our service. At the same time, we get customer feedback on our prod-

uct development, which we heed very carefully. Finnish quality is valued, for ex-

ample, by our western neighbour Sweden, says Asikainen who has also been in

charge of Kiilto Ab, the company's Swedish subsidiary.

Many Kiilto customer chains operate internationally.

– Kiilto must, therefore, be on the market in many countries and meet local

customers 'on the frontline'. Working methods and things like building regula-

tions can be completely different abroad. Correct and reliable information about

market changes in export countries helps our product development and sharp-

ens Kiilto's competitive advantage.

– The pace of change in our environment is increasing all the time, and Kiilto

always reacts quickly, respecting its customers and employees. Having climbed

to the crest of the wave of digitalisation, we have good views of our field of cus-

tomers, says Asikainen.

In Finland, we have recently been living through a period of rather stunted

growth. How can we move forward?

– Under present conditions, generating growth is challenging but not impos-

sible.

This edition of Kontakti is also full of success stories great and small about Finn-

ish expertise and also contains little tips about how to make Finland better. Pur-

chasing quality domestic products supports our whole society and no recession

lasts forever, says Nieminen.

Asikainen agrees.

– A positive attitude, doing things at grassroots level and hard work. That's the

way to recovery.

What do you think of your colleague?Nieminen considers his successor to be a complete expert in the busi-

ness.

– Anssi knows Kiilto's business very well and from all sides. He has

worked for a long time on the building products side and knows all our

customers from that sector. He has been in charge of our subsidiary in

the important export market of Sweden and has been on the board of all

our subsidiaries. A hard-working, friendly guy who has time for people,

muses Nieminen.

Asikainen describes his predecessor as a man of vision whose exper-

tise extends from the smallest details to the largest entities.

– Antti has extensive experience of the company throughout our pro-

duction chain. This means an overall perspective that comes from busi-

ness expertise. He has been involved at all stages of the company's

growth. I also appreciate the confidence that my superior has shown,

which we have really needed to support our export efforts.

Antti OK Nieminen (left) and Anssi Asikainen

3

ON THE SURFACECompiled by MIIKA KAUKINEN AND MERJA HAVERINEN

Tampere's higher profile carpetThe look of the corridors on the apartment floors of Tampere's Tornihotelli has been achieved using a beauti-

fully patterned carpet whose continuity all the way to the walls has been ensured with Kiilto's M1000 ECO ad-

hesive. The pattern on the textile carpet on the surfaces of the corridors shows bird figures, shapes and land-

marks from the surrounding city.

In 2014, the hotel was granted the Award for Good Construction, based on the fact that it has proven to be

one of Tampere's most important buildings in terms of the cityscape, throughout the city's history.

The hotel, which is completely non-smoking, was also awarded a prize by the Finnish Allergy and Asthma

Federation. Kiilto's M1000 ECO carpet adhesive is responsible for hundreds of square metres of high-quality

construction. The adhesive belongs to building materials emissions class M1, and releases no 2-ethylhexanol

into the air at all. The carpets for this demanding location were fitted by Lahden Lattia- ja Seinäpäällyste Oy.

The 88 metre-high hotel, which opened in autumn 2014, pays homage to Tampere's rich history and the

legends of the city. The modern hotel tower and the 140 year-old locomotive sheds attached to it create a

lively and exceptional setting in which to experience the story of Tampere. The hotel business is run by Solo

Sokos Hotel Torni Tampere.

Anssi Asikainen takes up the reins as Kiilto Oy's Managing Director, Mikko Viljanmaa becomes Deputy Managing DirectorKiilto Oy's new Managing Director as of 1 October 2015 is Anssi

Asikainen M.Sc. (Econ.) (pictured above). In his new role he will also serve

as the chairman of all the boards of directors of Kiilto Oy’s international

subsidiaries. Asikainen came to Kiilto Oy in 1998 as Sales Manager of

the Building Products Department. In 2013, he was appointed Managing

Director of Kiilto Oy's Swedish subsidiary, Kiilto Ab. In summer 2015,

Asikainen returned to Finland and took responsibility for running Kiilto

Oy's Building Products Department when Pekka Lahdensivu retired.

Kiilto Oy's new Deputy Managing Director as of 1 October 2015 is Mikko Viljanmaa D.Tech.

(pictured below). He came to Kiilto Oy in 1995 as a product developer. In 2009, he was appointed

Kiilto Oy's Technology Director. Viljanmaa's fields of responsibility - production and logistics, research

and development, purchasing and foundry customers – will remain the same. In addition, Viljanmaa

serves also as Kiilto Oy’s EHS Manager.

The company's Managing Director from 2008 who started at the company back in 1983, Docent

Antti OK Nieminen Ph.D, is retiring in 2015.

Follow Kiilto on Twitter and LinkedIn! Kiilto tweets on Twitter under the profile @Kiil-

toOy. You can also follow Kiilto on LinkedIn Ask,

comment, follow: you can get information on,

for example, topical construction issues and Ki-

ilto's responsible operations.

Get Kiilto's Twitter profile from here: https://twitter.com/ KiiltoOy

And from here for LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/kiilto-oy

4

Kiilto growing from its responsibility

"For Kiilto, responsibility means that the company complies uncompromisingly with laws and regulations in all its market areas, and the company's operations create positive added value for its customers, staff, suppliers and other partners. Responsibility also

includes financial stability and healthy earnings, which keep the interest of shareholders in the operations and thus ensure the company's long-term development.

As a chemical industry company, Kiilto's operations primarily emphasise safety and environmental responsibility. Information is needed about chemicals and their special properties and risks. We must also understand chemical processes, equipment and automation systems, as well as their related risk factors. We must know the end product and its use by customers all the way up to the disposal of the product waste and its packaging.

From the customer's perspective, the most important thing is responsible product development, customer training and reliability. As a result of these, the customer gets products that are safe to use and whose properties are fully known about. At Kiilto's research centre, new products are developed by a 40-strong team that has at its disposal the best equipment and most modern facilities in the business. Our large-scale product training and advice service guide our customers in the safe use of the products. In Finland, every year we train about 5,000 people, both in further practical training and using

the eKiilto online modules. There are also good information packs for consumers on our website, and instructive videos on YouTube.

In Finland, Kiilto has a strong position in construction products, industrial adhesives and foundry resins. Our customers are used to trusting in Kiilto's reliability, the high quality of its products and Finnish service. In our export countries, with the exception of Estonia

and Sweden we are just beginning. Although in our largest export country, Russia, we have two production plants, even there we are in the process of creating the position that we are aiming for. International success requires the humility to constantly learn new things, the persistence to work purposefully to reach one's goals and the courage to continue on the road one has chosen, even when there is a headwind.

These days, customers are interested not only in products but also in the company at large and its operating practices. Consumers and industrial customers are increasingly making their purchasing decisions based on the overall image of the product. In that way, responsible operations also support and strengthen actual business." ■

Read more at www.vastuullinenkiilto.com or scan the QR code

Ph. D., Docent Antti OK Nieminen | Managing Director, Kiilto Oy

"Success requires the humility to learn

new things."

5

TEXT MIIKA KAUKINEN, PICTURES MEYER TURKU

In its production pipeline, the German-owned Meyer Turku shipyard has, in addition to four Mein Schiff vessels, two large Carnival cruise ships and a fast Tallink car ferry. The order book is full

until 2020.The latest vessel to leave the Turku

shipyard, Mein Schiff 4 destined for TUI Cruises, is currently sailing on the Baltic Sea. In summer 2015, the keel-laying of Mein Schiff 5, which will be completed next year took place and the production of Mein Schiff 6 was also started. Construction work for vessels 7 and 8 still lies ahead.

The shipyard is the most visible part of a ship's production chain, because it coordinates everything. A vessel is built by a network of professionals who take pride in their quality. In this network, the shipyard, designers, turnkey suppliers and subcontractors realise the vision of the customer from the concept of the ship. >

Heading towards successThe Meyer Turku shipyard builds top-quality cruise ships at such a speed that unprecedented flexibility is required from both subcontractors and turnkey suppliers.

6

7

About 20% of the work is done at the shipyard and about 80% in the subcontractor network.

A sum of innovations– The will of the customer is the ship's concept. For example, the Mein Schiff vessels built so far are tailored to German tastes. The ship has been dimensioned for a modest number of passengers. There are many restaurants and cruising is otherwise simple and enjoyable, says Meyer Turku's Project Manager Kim Olin.

Much sales and design work has already been done, even before the vessel has been ordered. Space provisions are made for larger engines and the ship's speed and capacity are set, as are the numbers of restaurants and swimming pools, for example. The ships are

not identical because tourism markets shy away from copies.

– Each ship concept has largely been created in advance. Only then is it calculated what a project actually costs with all the steel, engines and supplier and subcontractor work. At the conclusion of the deal, not very many technical alternatives still remain. Then things really start to hot up.

The shipyard does the basic design itself. The timetable is tight. There can be no compromise on the ship's date of delivery. The manufacturing planning begins, then the work planning in which the resources and timetable for each job are specified.

According to Olin, drawing a distinction between Finnish and foreign work in a ship project is difficult because the work of many Finnish suppliers is also the result of a chain

of international subcontractors. – When the ship construction is in full

swing, about 1,000 people are bustling about the yard and no doubt hundreds in different companies, because 80% of the value of the ship is bought in from outside the yard. It is a question of a competitive international situation, in which only the most innovative and cost-efficient companies will survive.

Olin emphasises the energy-efficiency of modern cruise ships, which is not just empty rhetoric.

– Half of the ships' underwater part is painted with silicon, so that no algae starts growing on the hull. - If it did, the ship would consume more fuel when sailing.

A modern cruise ship contains a considerable number of solutions aimed at reducing fuel consumption.

The idea of environmentally-friendly cruising

• Mein Schiff 5, which is under construction, is 294 metres long and 36 metres wide.

Mein Schiff 4 (pictured) is the same size.

• The ship consumes 30% less energy than other vessels of a similar size.

• The exhaust gas treatment system ensures that sulphur emissions are just a fraction

of what they once were.

• The ship is tailored to German tastes in terms of, for example, the classical music

concert hall and fitness pools. The vessel also has several jacuzzis and sports

facilities.

• It has 1,253 cabins and 8 restaurants.

8

Kiilto fastening on boardOn the seas of the world there are already many

ships sailing in the construction of which Kiilto's

Finnish expertise has been utilised.

- Many suppliers of the shipbuilding industry use

Kiilto products in cabin and toilet structures, tiling,

fastenings, insulation and vibration elimination, says

Kiilto's Product Manager Tero Mäkinen.

Kiilto adhesive is used in the beds, furniture, car-

pets and floor coverings of cabins. The products

are also used in the furnishings of kitchens, refrig-

erating rooms, restaurants and shops, and in the

structures of lifts and staircases.

- Subcontractors and suppliers of the shipbuild-

ing industry often ask us for advice. Together, we

choose the most suitable product for the applica-

tion.

A ship has many different parts, which are man-

ufactured elsewhere and only installed at the ship-

yard.

- Cabins are a typical example. We are involved in

the construction and fitting of cabin elements. The

cabins may be completely ready when they are lift-

ed onto the ship, or they may just be prefabricat-

ed wall elements for the cabin corridors, which are

then only installed once they are on the ship, says

Mäkinen.

The staircase structures and lifts are brought to

the yard as large subassemblies. The lion's share of

fixture and fittings units is made elsewhere.

Kiilto products such as adhesive compounds are

also used in insulation, sealing, jointing and installa-

tion work at the shipyard.

– Frequency converters in the electric motors are more the rule than the exception, which means real savings potential in fuel consumption. At any given moment, only the required power is taken from the engines. They are not turning at full speed all the time.

Who gets a place in the sun?When the shipyard selects its suppliers, it pays attention to reliability, schedule management, quality and cost-efficiency.

– At the beginning of the construction of a ship there are many work stages that are mutually interdependent. If the work of one subcontractor is delayed, so is the next and so on. This is dangerous. This does not happen, however, if the suppliers are reliable and keep their word.

According to Olin, domestic suppliers

generally operate in a reliable way. – We speak the same language, know

each other and keep our promises. In some cultures, a promise is not always a promise. The flexibility of domestic suppliers is good, but cost-efficiency is not always.

– Methods and materials change, and if a Finnish company fails to follow such developmentscost-efficiency suffers. If we start dozing off in Finland, someone else in the world wakes up, says Olin.

From the shipyard's point of view, the hallmarks of a high-quality company are constant development and cutting-edge product development.

– When our suppliers follow change and improve their efficiency, our communications function almost on a telepathic level. At the shipyard, we know what we want, and the

subcontractor knows what it can do. A win-win situation is good.

Olin thinks that there are many innovative companies in Finland, but at the same time, there is also a fear of presenting new ideas.

– Finland has the ability, but people must also dare to voice their ideas for advancement. I would like suppliers to be more apt to take the initiative in presenting their innovations and ideas.

– An iron-clad routine is good, but it must also leave room for innovation. Innovation will disappear if creative people are downtrodden. In the Mein Schiff vessels, innovations are being built into reality one at a time. ■

Fireproof products• The International Maritime

Organization (IMO) deter-

mines the fire safety of ship

structures and components.

• In principle, each adhesive

for the shipbuilding industry

is IMO-certified.

The cabins are lifted onto the ship as almost complete elements.

Project Manager Kim Olin (right) puts a lucky coin under the keel of MS 5.

9

All begins from the tiniest molecules, which carefully arranged adhere, support,

insulate and yield.

Kiilto's chain of expertise is built on the same elements. The end result is an incomparable

product range.

Welcome to a factory tour. Here, there are advanced waterproof

membranes and adhesives.

A successful product from

molecules

TEXT MIIKA KAUKINEN PICTURES SAMI HELENIUS

PIC

TU

RE

AR

I IJÄ

S

10

First make the raw materials

”In polymerisation, we make the raw material dispersions for water-soluble adhesives, which are used in adhesives for the wood and paper processing and

construction industries. We make some of the dispersions we need ourselves. Our own polymerisation also enables the development of tailored adhesive dispersions for different industrial needs, says Product Development Manager for polymerisation, Tuula Lahti.

- A polymerisation reaction occurs in water in which small monomer molecules link up into long chains. Catalysts and additives are used to help. The end product contains tiny plastic balls in water, explains Lahti.

Production employee Sami Porali monitors the polymerisation process and the automation system that controls it. A display in the control centre shows the state of the process. From the windows of the control room, you can see a world of pipes, tanks, condensers and reactors.

- I check that the process is proceeding correctly. If not, I immediately intervene and if necessary adjust the input or mixture of ingredients.

When you work in an explosive area, there can be no compromises. The work requires understanding, responsibility and, if necessary, fast reactions.

• Kiilto's own polymerisation plant manufactures 12 different dispersions i.e. the ingredients for adhesive.

• No by-products result from the process. • The heat released can be utilised in the heating of the building.

We unload in all weather conditions

Kiilto does not produce all its raw materials in-house. Some are bought from carefully selected suppliers. The factory buys in about 500 different raw materials that amount to a total of 60,000 tonnes per year. For the factory, therefore, safe and efficient large-tank storage is

recommended both for liquid and for powder raw materials. Efforts are made to buy the raw materials in bulk and to unload

them from the tanker truck directly into the storage tanks.The job of production employee Ismo Suojala is to receive the

raw materials. He has been doing this for 26 years in all weather conditions. Professionals of goods unloading are clear about what will be done long before the lorry pulls up in front of the high tanks.

- At peak times, there can be up to four deliveries a day. It takes a couple of hours to unload one. The arrival of a consignment is always anticipated. It is ensured in advance that there is enough room in our tanks. Careful planning also ensures that there will be no need to unload two consignments simultaneously, says Suojala.

A sample is taken from each lorry that arrives, and this is analysed in a laboratory. This ensures that the product is what it should be. The laboratory then gives permission to unload.

The unloading situation is constantly monitored. Pressure is fed into the upper part of the lorry's tank and this pushes the material into the storage tank.

- A pressure of 2 bars is used for unloading. The failure of just one connector would mean that the world would suddenly be bathed in a white powder or liquid. For that reason, we must think carefully in which order we unload and when we pressurise the tank, says Suojala.

• A total of 60,000 tonnes of raw materials are consumed annually.• The tanker lorry loads arriving at Kiilto usually contain 25 tonnes

of liquid dispersion or 50 tonnes of powder.• Usually unloading is done under pressure.

Make a virtual tour of Kiilto's polymeri-

sation plant!

Come and see the unloading of raw

materials into Kiilto's tank storage!

11

The manufacture of wood adhesive begins with checking

Production worker Mika Tahvanainen is already a second-generation Kiilto employee. He operates two reactors which are currently making waterproof wood

adhesive for applications in the construction timber industry. As do his colleagues, he controls adhesive manufacture according to a recipe with the aid of a logic control panel.

A Y-shaped pipe leads to two tanks and the raw materials are dispensed into the tanks along it.

– Because of its shape, we call it 'the Christmas tree'! The pipes lead to two of the most versatile mixing tanks in our company, so it's a question of some pretty clever equipment, says Tahvanainen.

When he arrives at his work station, he has in front of him work specifications or recipes that have come from production

planning for the manufacture of today's wood adhesives.

– I first ensure that the tank is empty and clean and that its drain valves are closed. Even if the machine's indicator light shows this, for safety's sake I physically go down to check the valves.

– On average, I make 6-7 batches of dispersion adhesive per day. The raw materials come from the dispensing pipes when I

give permission for it on the control panel. The main raw material of these adhesives is dispersion, which is made at our own polymerisation plant. If necessary, I add other substances such as hardeners and different fillers and solvents. Once a batch is ready, the sample is analysed in the quality control laboratory. A sample is taken from each batch of products.

Tahvanainen works based on long

Here we decide what to do todayProduction is directed from this meeting room. A production planning meeting directs all Kiilto's production on adaily basis. Production programmes of 1-2 weeks are issued for different production lines and for 20 different reactors or mixers. These programmes are fine-tuned daily as needed. The meeting coordinates information from production, packaging and the warehouse.

Every morning, the manufacturing programme for the day is finalised. The source data for this is the situation in the product warehouse with its action limits, as well as orders from both overseas and domestically. At the same time, the situation for manufacturing and packaging processes is studied, including their capacities and manning.

– Our planning supports optimal customer service, that is to say absolute compliance with the requested delivery

times. The aim is of course for the customers to receive their products reliably and punctually. It's here that every day we decide in a flexible and customer-centred manner what products will be made in the factory, says Production Manager Tanja Raitaniemi.

The decisions on production are made by a team of five professionals At the meeting, short statements, fast reactions and countless decisions follow one after the other. The professionals understand each other's messages without the need for any explanations.

The nerve centre for production, development, manufacturing, packaging and storage is the planning meeting. Production Manager Tanja Raitaniemi, Packaging Manufacturing Manager Riikka Huolman, Production Development Manager Antti Pohja, Production Manufactring Manager Keijo Salomäki and Warehouse Manager Pekka Isoranta decide on the daily manufacturing programme.

Come and see a production plan-

ning meeting!

Find out about the working

environment of a wood adhesive

manufacturer!

Mol

ecu

le

12

Waterproofing membranes from heavy-duty reactors

Manufacturing foreman Mauri Lähde is examining product recipes in front of him based on 41 years of working at Kiilto.

Two reactors under an industrial crane are awaiting a command from Lähde. At a planning meeting, he was asked to make a batch of waterproofing membranes according to a manufacturing specification i.e. product recipe. Waterproofing membrane is one of Kiilto's high-volume products, of which several batches per day are produced.

– The dispensing of raw materials into the reactor takes place automatically along pipes from the dispersion storage or by manual weighing. Each material has its own special code. Each action is marked

– In front of me is a control panel, on which I have specified the volumes of raw materials and added coloured paste and anti-foaming agent according to the recipe. I have weighed the smaller batches and add them to the reactor once the previous batch has been well mixed.

Lähde starts the reactor. A hydraulic cylinder above the mixing tanks lowers the mixing elements into the closed tanks. He opens the lid and adds powder. He then shuts the lid and restarts the mixing process.

– The dissolver blade in the reactor is driven up and down in the tanks, so that the substances get evenly mixed. I watch the progress of the mixing. Now we can see what a new batch of waterproofing membrane looks like, says Lähde and opens the lid. He puts a sample of the ready blue compound into a small container and delivers it to the quality control laboratory, where it will be checked that the production batch is in accordance with quality specifications. Only quality control can give permission for the product to be packed. Once such permission is granted, the product is transferred through a drain valve to be processed in packaging automation.

– My work requires precision, and you can't achieve that by going solo. The possibility of an error always exists but, by observing the recipe, a good result can be safely achieved. In production, ear defenders, protective goggles and protective gloves are a must. When dealing with dusty material, we also use breathing mask. >

• One reactor can make 2-3 production batches a day.

• It takes about 1½ hours to make a batch.• If the product recipe changes, the reactor

is washed after emptying.

See how waterproof membrane is made based on 41 years of

experience!

There are a total of 20 reactors and mixers. There are many packaging methods: a fully automatic packaging line with robot palletising, semi-automatic packaging lines and manual packaging. There are about 500 product recipes, and most of the products still have different pack sizes.

– In front of us we therefore have almost a thousand different variations. Here, we manage the desired product's manufacture and finally its packaging into small bottles, different-sized vessels or large containers. Automation helps us, but we must have an iron-clad routine, a pretty good memory and a professional feel for everything that we decide to do here, says Production Development Manager Antti Pohja.

• Export orders comprise about one-half of the volume of all departing deliveries.

• Manufacturing is generally done in one shift.• 10 persons work in manufacturing, 27 in packag-

ing and 12 in the product warehouse.

experience, which he has supplemented with studies of the subject.

– While working I have gained a vocational qualification and also learned much by doing. Quality and checks are part of the system. Dispensing must be precise and exact, for example in terms of the colour and the pH or acidity of the product.

Everyone has an occupational safety permit and constant training is required to maintain it. Tahvanainen also drives a forklift truck, and sometimes does hot work, both of which require their own permits in order to demonstrate and maintain mastery of the job.

The packaging department downstairs awaits the output of Tahvanainen's reactors. As soon as permission arrives from quality control, the wood adhesive can be packed.

• Adhesives, sealants, waterproof membranes and lacquers are manufactured in a total of 20 reactors and mixers.

• One production batch weighs 1-6 tonnes.• The raw materials are dispensed from pipelines,

silos, containers, barrels and sacks.

13

The way of the triplicate check

Quality control approves the product. The staff members working in the reactors, such as Mauri Lähde and Mika Tahvanainen, have the quality of the production batches they have made ensured in the quality control laboratory.

Research assistant Satu Peltokangas receives a quality control sample from a newly-made batch of waterproofing membrane. She puts the sample container in a small device that measures its viscosity.

– Viscosity measures the substance's fluidity, which should be exactly what is required for the customer's application. Here, in a sense, we test the substance's resistance to spreading.

Each product has its own quality control measurement. These ensure that the batch contains the right raw materials in the correct proportions, says Peltokangas.

If the quality control measurement indicates that, say, the viscosity of a batch is under the limit value, quality control then gives the person who made it instructions for adjustment. After adjustment, a new sample is taken.

Only once the product meets the criteria is it given permission for packing. The quality of a product batch is also ensured by measurements the following day, after which it is granted permission for dispatch.

– We keep samples of product batches for a year. From these, we can retrospectively check the quality of the products if the customer asks something about it. That way, the customer does not need to send the product to us for us to be able to check whether, for example, there is a fault in the product itself that might be cause for a claim for compensation, or whether the fault has developed during storage by the customer, explains Peltokangas.

Professionals from different fields of training work at Kiilto's Quality Control Laboratory: laboratory technicians, engineers and laboratory workers. Common to all, however, are precision, care and the ability to withstand pressure.

• The quality of a manufactured product is always inspected in the laboratory before packing. If samples taken from production batches are in accordance with specifications, the product is granted packing permission.

• The quality inspection is redone after about 24 hours. Only then does the product receive permission for dispatch.

• The quality of the product can also be checked retrospectively from the samples kept in storage.

Professionals from

different fields of

training work in

the Quality Control

Laboratory.

Common to all are

precision, care and the

ability to withstand

pressure.

Take a peek at how things look at Kiilto

Quality Control!

Mol

ecu

le

14

The quick fingers of the packaging department

Production worker Kalle Leponiemi controls the packaging line, which is located directly beneath the upstairs reactors. Leponiemi uses an automatic packaging machine, which dispenses the waterproof membrane or adhesive coming from the reactors into packaging units of the desired size.

The machine dispenses, presses the lids shut, guides the containers to the labelling machine and finally palletises the products with the aid of an industrial robot.

– The pumps dispense the desired amount of products into the containers loaded onto the filling machine. I add containers and lids to the machine, and the machine handles packaging and labelling automatically. Automation marks the packing date and batch numbers on the label, so that the batch can be traced afterwards.

A heavy-duty industrial robot blows air at high speed until the full container goes to be palletised. A pallet of goods is completed in just a few minutes.

– All this, of course, must be checked and controlled. We must

ensure that the filling machine operates as it should and that the lids are definitely closed. The labels must be applied straight so that there are no wrinkles. The palletising done by the robot must be monitored to ensure that the containers are not laid crooked on the pallets. We must immediately intervene manually in anything that goes wrong, says Leponiemi.

In the packaging department, products are also packed using manual valves. There are many different sizes of containers and packaging machines. The ready pallets are transferred by conveyor to the product warehouse. >

• The packaging accessory warehouse has about 700 pallet stations and the sizes of product packages vary from 50 ml to 1,000 l.

• The packaging department fills about 1.2 million containers per year and about 5,500 per day.

• It uses both wet-adhesive and sticker labelling.

In the Kiilto Pack-aging Department, people control ro-bots - take a look!

15

In the warehouse, the machines talk to people and people talk to the machines

The pallets coming from the packaging department are transferred by forklift to the warehouse shelves. From the warehouse, goods are collected and transferred to the dispatch area and from there on to transportation vehicles.

Product collection from the warehouse is speech-controlled. The data system tells the collector what must be collected and from where. The collector acknowledges verbally that the task in question has been done.

Collector Samuel Saariaho says that speech control speeds up the work significantly.

– It really works pretty well.Through speech control, collection errors are reduced, collection is

quicker and work simpler.Kiilto's products set out into the world from heated warehouse

facilities in Lempäälä, Vantaa, Kuopio and Oulu, and up to 99% of deliveries are on time. The customer thus gets its product at the right time and place.

– At the shipping department, we use displays to monitor orders, warehouse inventories, the progress of collection and the printing of transport documents, says shipping department manager, Jarmo Pikkuharju.

– If an order comes in the morning, it will leave by the same evening at the latest. This requires a professional attitude, precision and speed from all of us. Our ERP and speech control systems are quite flexible customer servants.

The dispatch note, bill of lading and invoice are automatically generated in the shipping department. At the same time, information goes to the transport company.

– Our pace has always been the same - fast and flexible. Previously,

collection was done using a paper collection list, but now it is all automatic. In the final analysis, however, people are the guarantee of quality and reliability, both here in the warehouse and elsewhere. The entire Kiilto production chain is aimed solely at serving the customer, says Pikkuharju.

– When a loaded truck sets off from this yard into the world, we Kiilto employees feel that we've had a successful day. ■

• Every day, 110 tonnes of products set off from the chemical plant in Lempaalä to customers.

• Every day, the dry mix plant in Lempäälä sends out about 160 tonnes of products.

Our customer can

be confident that it

will receive a reliable total

solution that is as safe as

possible to the user and the

environment.

Read more in our

responsibility report on

pages 15-19.

Mol

ecu

le

See how speech-controlled collec-

tion works!

16

4 of them have

doctoral degrees.

100%ALL PRODUCTS

MANUFACTURED BY KIILTO ARE DEVELOPED IN-HOUSE.

Product development usually takes place in close co-

operation with the customer.

That way we can establish:• the customer's wishes• requirements that suit the

application• manufacturing technology• working methods and materials• environmental and safety

aspects

Product development is founded on a deep understanding of the conditions and user

environment in Finland.

In 2014, the share of new products was

22%Each year,

40-60

research and development projects are completed.

76%of sold products are environmentally-

and safety-classified.

Kiilto's aim is for at least

20%

of annual sales to comprise products that are no more

than three years old.

We develop Kiilto productsThey are • chemists, • engineers, • technicians and • laboratory

workers.20%of personnel work in

product development.

17

TEXT MARJAANA LEHTINEN PICTURE SAMI HELENIUS

Walki's trust in Finnish glueBecause of its roots in UPM, Walki is known as a paper converter,

which these days also makes products in which there is no paper at all. At the moment, Walki is focusing on producing multilayer materials.

The everyday consumer often unknowingly comes into contact with paper and packaging processed at Walki's mill in Valkeakoski. They are to be

found, for example, around ice cream cones, packs of butter and the lids of yoghurt cartons. House builders come across laminates manufactured in the mill, for example on the surfaces of mineral wool or polyurethane insulation boards. The steel industry protects metal sheets and rolls from scratches and corrosion with Walki's creped kraft paper.

– In our most simple products, we glue paper and mesh, aluminium or plastic film together. Technically demanding foil laminates for the construction industry consist of lacquered aluminium, paper, adhesive and polyethylene. In a single run, we manufacture 11-layered laminate, which makes our products unique, says technical customer service officer, product development engineer and laboratory supervisor Saija Kotala from Walki.

The mutual exchange of ideasAdhesive plays an important role in attaching the different layers of products together. Most of the adhesives come from Kiilto; the company uses Sitol dispersion adhesive and

Sitomelt hotmelt adhesive. Co-operation in order to find the best possible adhesive solutions began four years ago.

For example, at this very moment an adhesive laminator is testing the suitability of hot-melt adhesive as a coating for building boards that are under development. Sometimes standard adhesive works, but at other times the adhesive is specifically tailored to a product's requirements.

– We exchange product development ideas. The other day, we co-operated in the development of a fire-retardant adhesive, as fire prevention is important in insulation boards for the construction industry. In another project, we improved the adhesion of hot-melt adhesive to metal rolls. Together, we go through technical properties and product development requirements, says Kotala.

From the adhesives it uses, Walki demands good adhesion, spreadability and water- and heat resistance.

– Environmental values are also very important to us. You can't just put anything into the adhesives; they must be safe to handle and it must be possible to dispose of the end products appropriately.

Local Finnish service Walki's and Kiilto's factories are situated just 25 kilometres from each other. According to Kotala, there is much to be gained from such a short distance. If, for example, the required adhesive container cannot be found in the warehouse, an additional one can be quickly procured.

– Being nearby helps operations. We have received good technical customer service and product development is also diverse. In the Finnish style, one might say: don't complain! laughs Kotala. ■

11• The WALKI mill in Valkeakoski can manufacture

11-layer laminate in one production run, which

makes the product unique in terms of its manu-

facture.

• Walki is Europe's leading producer of technical

laminates and protective packaging material. It

has a total of about 900 employees in Finland,

Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the

United Kingdom and China.

• Its majority owner is the investment company

CapMan.

IN IT TOGETHER

18

Product development engineer Saija Kotala

19

TEXT WESA LEHTO PICTURES JONAS WESTLING

Nothing is impossible – your imagination is your only limit

A high target level in meeting the customer's expectations naturally sets high requirements for crew trailer production in the factory.

– Almost every trailer is tailored to the customer's needs and wishes. Our basic selection comprises about 30 trailer models, but their interior decoration in particular varies greatly. This is a great challenge both for our design unit and for production, particularly since we are aiming for each trailer to be delivered to the customer within

6-8 weeks of order, says Moritz Isaksson, Production Mananger at Norrlandsvagnar.

The product range includes different sizes of trailer, the largest of which weighs about eight tonnes. The customer can select for its trailer, for example, electrical and/or gas heating, the number of beds and the interior decoration.

Trailer exposed to tough conditionsMost of the production goes to the Swedish market, but some also goes for export, particularly to Finland.

– Most of our customers are contractors, for example construction companies and forest contractors. In the trailers, you can, for example, change clothes, have a shower, eat lunch and, if necessary, also spend the night, says Isaksson.

The tough weather conditions of the north set high requirements for trailer insulation, and all crew trailers manufactured by Norrlandsvagnar also have very good insulation.

The trailers are often used in difficult conditions. For example, rocky and potholed

The company, which is based at Skellefteå in Northern Sweden, manufactures very durable crew trailers that are made for tough operation in extremely difficult conditions. The company is renowned for making its trailers based on the wishes of the customers. Nothing seems impossible for them, and only the imagination of the customer sets any limits.

IN IT TOGETHER

20

Norrlandsvagnar

• Was founded in 1961

• Is situated in Bygdsiljum, which is in the

municipality of Skellefteå.

• Approximately 35 employees

• Specialised in the manufacture of high-

quality and durable crew trailers.

• Since 1961, the company has produced

about 19,000 trailers.

• They are mainly sold in Sweden.

forest roads test their durability. – The frame of the trailer is subject to

hard stress when driving along such roads. The frames of all our trailers are, therefore, made of galvanised steel and their rust and corrosion protection is the best possible. Many trailers are fitted with a lifting bogie whose height can be adjusted, says Isaksson.

Gluing must be durableMoritz says that Kiilto's adhesives are mainly used in gluing ceilings, walls and floors. The trailers' challenging operating environments

and the large temperature variations in the north cause extremely great stress on their materials. The durability of a gluing bond is put to great tests.

– Kiilto's products meet our strict requirements. Meeting the customers' wishes and tailoring the crew trailers also constantly create new challenges in production and we thus need rapid feedback from our suppliers in order to avoid production delays. We are very satisfied with the quick service that we get from Kiilto, says Isaksson. ■

Production Manager Moritz Isaksson

21

TEXT MARJAANA LEHTINEN, PICTURE: SAMI HELENIUS

Good football on Finnish artificial turf

In the 1990s, Saltex Oy, a textile company from South Ostrobothnia, decided to expand its product range from carpets to artificial turf and to target international

markets. Investment in product development has reaped benefits.

The grass is known to be greener on the other side of the fence. The artificial turf manufactured by Saltex, however, offers an even and pleasant surface to

footballers all year round all over the football pitch. The company is one of just nine companies worldwide that meets FIFA's highest quality requirements. It is mostly people in the Nordic countries, Eastern and Central Europe and Russia who play football on Saltex artificial grass. Development work begins with the players' safety and the quality and functionality of the pitch in mind. In addition to sport, the grass is also much used in landscaping.

– We have developed a product and have been progressing logically towards international markets. This has required a great deal of product development, legwork and good partners. The product must be attractive both in terms of price and quality, explains Saltex Managing Director, Timo Salmenautio.

The company manufactures artificial grass at its state-of-the-art plant in Alajärvi, and all its products have been accredited with the 'Avainlippu' symbol of Finnish origin. Saltex gladly favours Finnish raw materials if they are available.

– We only have a few domestic suppliers, of which Kiilto is the greatest in monetary terms. We use their 2-component polyurethane adhesive to attach the seams of the artificial turf, says Salmenautio.

Adhesive keeps the pieces of the pitch togetherA football pitch made from artificial grass is quite a patchwork quilt; there are about 4,000 metres of seams to be glued. They must never become detached from the base nor come unstuck in even the most heated of battles, so durability is required of the adhesive.

– The adhesive must also be delivered for outdoor installation in different weather conditions: wet, cold and hot. Adhesion, elasticity and quick-drying are all important.

Since 1995, Saltex and Kiilto have been engaging in fruitful co-operation and have developed an adhesive that meets all these criteria. It is formed and tested in both Saltex and Kiilto laboratories, and it also always undergoes field tests when the material of the grass changes.

Finnishness strengthens co-operationSalmenautio sees clear benefits in domestic co-operation. For example, product development progresses more quickly, when you can meet, look at samples together and talk things through immediately. He does not think that Finnishness is an intrinsic value in itself, but that it is a factor that strengthens partnership. Most important is the desire to co-operate and achieve good things.

– In Kiilto, we have found an efficient partner that also helps us to operate efficiently. Kiilto is one strong link that helps us to succeed in the world, says Salmenautio. ■

9• SALTEX OY is one of nine artificial turf manu-

facturers in the world that has been granted Pre-

ferred Producer status by FIFA.

• The company is one of the sector's trailblazers

and is a founding member of the European Syn-

thetic Turf Organisation ESTO.

• The product range of the family business that

was established in 1991 covers artificial grass for

the use of sports and landscaping, surfaces for

athletics fields, safety surfacing for playgrounds

and high-quality interior carpets.

• The share of export of the turnover of the Alajär-

vi-based company is about 60%.

IN IT TOGETHER

Managing Director Timo Salmenautio

22

"Finnishness is a factor that strengthens

partnership. Most important is the desire

to co-operate and achieve good things.

Valkeakosken Haka players Anton Popvitch (left) and Joni Mäkelä feel that they have a firm footing on artificial turf.

23

IN IT TOGETHER

Markus Lindblom (in front) and Markku Holm are at the helm of RTV's service-minded family.

RTV-Yhtymä Oy

• Founded in 1951, RTV-Yhtymä's head office and

central warehouse are situated in Riihimäki. The

company employs almost 600 people.

• It manages the property it owns through a com-

pany called Sislin Oy,which it set up in 2008, the

ownership base of which is the same as that of

the parent company.

• On the board of RTV, which has remained a fami-

ly-owned business, sits founder Karl Gustav Lind-

blom's children Heidi Juonela, Markus, Ulla and

Lotta Lindblom and Markku Holm.

24

TEXT AND PICTURES: JUHO PAAVOLA

The family is best Specialist paints and surface materials retailer RTV-Yhtymä from Riihimäki is a family business that wants to cope with competition by doing things differently from others.

When Markus Lindblom, Chairman of the Board of RTV-Yhtymä, and Managing Director Markku Holm talk about the weather, it is not just a question of exchanging daily pleasantries.

- When the sun shines, people start to renovate. Exterior paint sales and external repairs are an important part of our business, says Holm.

The key customer group for RTV, which specialises in paints and surface materials, is, however, painting and decorating companies. They also even out the seasonal fluctuations in sales.

– Even the simplest renovation jobs are increasingly being transferred from normal people to professionals. Many could, however, achieve more if they just dared to try, says Lindblom.

When Lindblom's father Karl Gustav Lindblom bought the Riihimäen Tapetti ja Väri business in 1951, times were different. In a country recovering from war, people could build houses for themselves that were as durable as those built by companies.

Over the years, RTV has grown into Finland's largest private specialist retailer of paints and surface materials. Karl Gustav passed away in 2003, but his legacy is still visible in the everyday work of the company.

– What else would we have but the working culture created by him, says Lindblom.

Unlike all othersThese days, this means doing things differently from how others do them. Whilst other companies are selling their premises and moving to leased facilities, RTV wants to own all its stores. This creates permanence. Instead of hiring outside caterers, RTV trusts in its own hostess to handle meetings’ refreshments. Instead of using transport companies, RTV owns 40 lorries and also employs their drivers.

– We can control the delivery chain and customer satisfaction better when we know who is getting the products to their destination, says Holm.

Remaining as a family business enables originality. In the manner of Kiilto, which supplies products to RTV, many suppliers are family businesses, which speak the same language with each other.

– When dealing with family businesses, it's easy to find the decision-makers and you can agree on things quickly, says Lindblom.

"A family's quarter is 25 years."Although some may disagree, Lindblom and Holm believe that private specialist retailers will survive into the future.

– A quarter for a family firm means 25 years. Because of that, we can use bad times to our advantage and invest, while others are laying people off, says Lindblom.

RTV now has 31 stores around Finland. The latest of these is Varkaus, where RTV bought Värisilmä's business and the staff were transferred as old employees to the service of RTV.

– This is how we expand. The local people know the person appointed as Sales Manager, who in turn already knows the needs of the customer, explains Holm.

RTV intends to continue this strategy that it sees as good. At the same time, it plans to develop its online store at a moderate pace. Because of the DIY generation born into the digital age, even a traditional business must have online visibility.

– We want to offer good product information on our website. At the same time, we want to guide our customers to pick up the products from our stores as, in our business, freight costs eat up the benefits of online shopping. In that way, we can also ensure that the customer selects just the right product and we can personally give them guidance in its use, says Holm. ■

Markku Holm (left)Managing Director Markku Holm joined RTV in

1997. Before that, he worked at Etola for 14 years

as Sales Department Manager and Commercial

Director. His management philosophy is clear.

– Action, not words! And when we act, we

must do it properly.

Holm is a trained economist, but in addition to

a slide rule, he also keeps a hammer and saw at

hand. In his free time, he likes to do DIY.

– I recently did up both the outside and in-

side of the summer cottage. My hobbies include

spending time at the summer cottage and doing

things with the family. I'm not really much into

that trendy triathlon!

Markus LindblomWhen he was young, Chairman of the Board

Markus Lindblom worked hard at university. Dur-

ing the recession, however, he swapped academ-

ia for the school of life.

– I bought the bankruptcy estate of Värimeri

as store manager. My first job was to select the

workers who could stay. I learned a lot about life

doing that, says Lindblom.

His ideas about management and work come

from his father, Karl Gustav, who founded RTV

and passed away in 2003.

– Work is a value in itself, and must never be

trivialised.

Lindblom says that he knows the theory of RTV's

products well, but confesses that he a is a lazy

handyman. In his free time, he competes on his

own horses.

– But I have some time for decorating too. Peo-

ple can achieve anything if they just try.

25

TEXT AND PICTURES: JUHO PAAVOLA

The tile is there to stay!When competition is fierce, contractors survive by providing good customer service. Making service promises is made easier by the knowledge that you can trust the products that are available.

Remonttipartio Oy's tiler Petri Anttila rubs Kiilto's Lattiasaumalaasti tile grout onto the floor of the sauna facilities of a Vantaa-based housing association.

– We don't really use anything except Kiilto products, says Anttila.

The fields of specialisation of Remonttipartio, which operates in the metropolitan region are line renovations or major water and electrical renovations for housing associations.

In this business, the pace of work is intense, so the products used must be reliable in the hands of a professional. Experience has shown Anttila that Kiilto always has a suitable replacement product if the originally planned substance is not exactly suitable for the application in question.

– For example, this tile grout is easy to make, use and wash off. It is an excellent product particularly for doing small bathrooms.

People remember good serviceIn August, Remonttipartio began a contract for the plumbing and electrical cable renovation of three prefabricated buildings built in the late 1960s. Nine months later, the contract is now nearing completion.

– For us, this is a typical target for renovation. The discharge drains were already prepared a little earlier, and we are installing new electrical ducts and water pipes through the stairwells. We renovate many houses of this age, says Production Director Esa Isopahkala .

About 95% or Remonttipartio's turnover comprises orders from housing associations. The rest come from shareholders to whom the company offers the chance to have other renovation work done as well.

– In any case, the resident moves away during the work, so that, for example, kitchen renovation can be done in the same job. In terms of financial profit, one of the most important things is for people to remember us because of such good additional service.

These days Remonttipartio, which was founded in 1993, belongs to the Päätoimija Group. As part of a large concern, the company is also able to tender for larger projects.

– Because we have a big group behind us, we can access collateral for considerably larger contracts than would otherwise be possible based on our turnover.Success at once saves money

The size of Remonttipartio's renovation sites has varied from housing associations with just 15 apartments to those with 230. They all have one thing in common, however: the company always tries to use Kiilto products when renovating wet facilities.

– Kiilto has a good range of products. Fitters like to use Kiilto products, says Isopahkala.

The significance of the Finnishness of family businesses like Kiilto's cannot be underestimated. Isopahkala is especially appreciative of Kiilto's training and co-operation in problem-solving and product development. He points out that, although with some manufacturers one product may emphasised above others, from the contractor's point of view what is essential is the overall product range and the price-quality ratio.

– Our fitters have long experience of Kiilto products, and we also get help from Kiilto in the selection of the correct products or in problem situations. This saves us a lot of money. ■

IN IT TOGETHER

Remonttipartio's Production Director Esa Isopahkala

26

Remonttipartio Oy

• Founded in 1993, the company belongs to the Päätoimija Group and operates in Uusimaa.

• The company has almost doubled its turnover in three years to €14.6 million.

• Remonttipartio offers a project management model with total responsibility for contracts

valued from €0.1 million to €5 million.

In this business, the pace

of work is intense, so

the products must be

infallible in the hands

of a professional.

Tiler Petri Anttila favours Kiilto Lattiasaumalaasti tile grout especially in small bathrooms.

27

TEXT MARJAANA LEHTINEN, PICTURES: KIILTO

Cross-border product developmentKiilto's production units in Finland and Russia are engaged in active co-operation in product development. Chief Technician Alexander Malkin who works at the Ramenskoye factory is discussing lamination adhesive with Product Development Manager, Ilkka Salonen.

Alexander Malkin (AM): One Russian paper converter has tested our lamination adhesive in the bonding of two pieces of cartonboard. The customer said that the adhesive does not work well at high production speeds, but splashes from the rollers, spreading all around and making a mess. The customer constantly has to stop production and clean the line. This is a bad thing as unplanned stoppages weaken productivity. How can we improve the adhesive?

Ilkka Salonen (IS): Try to modify the adhesive recipe and reduce the ingredient that gives wet grip and makes it shine. That's how to reduce the wet grip of the adhesive. But don't leave out that ingredient altogether, otherwise the binding speed will deteriorate.

AM: That could work. Over a long period, we can test in the Ramenskoye laboratory how much we can change the recipe so that the adhesive still works but does not splash. Once a suitable consistency has been found, we will make a batch for the customer to do test runs with.

IS: In the laboratory, we can develop a recipe in which the ingredients are in optimal balance with each other. As we know, adhesives often have to be tailored, because each customer process is different.

AM: That's right. Most of our work is constant dialogue with the customers. It's the only way to learn to understand the needs of each customer and to be able to supply them with high-quality products. The laboratory tests are an important part of product development before test runs at the customer's premises. If necessary, it's a good thing for us to be able to send samples to you in Lempäälä for testing, if we don't have the right test equipment here in Ramenskoye. We can always trust in the help and advice of our Finnish colleagues.

IS: That's why we're here. But let's go back again to this lamination adhesive. If changing the recipe doesn't help, we must think about some other solution. There is no clear way of measuring splashing; the only indicator is an actual test-run situation on the shop floor. One alternative could be to do rheology tests in the Lempäälä laboratory - that means to test the visco-elastic properties of the adhesive. That could shed additional light on solving the problem.

AM: Yes, let's try that if changing the recipe doesn't help!

IN KONTAKTI

Alexander Malkin

Ilkka Salonen

28

The ready to use plaster range is expanding – now also in small consumer-friendly soft packsKiilto ready to use plasters offer comprehensive solutions for different plastering

work in home renovations and construction. Now the range is being supplemented

with products packed in plastic tubes, which are ideal for minor domestic plastering

needs, such as filling scratches and dents and smoothing out small surfaces.

The small packed products are:

• coarse Kiilto Max Repair Filler (400 ml),

• grey Kiilto Medium Renovation Filler (400 ml),

• very fine, white Kiilto Fine Finishing Filler (400 ml) and

• quick-hardening Kiilto Quick Filler (250 ml), which is also suitable for wood

For living comfort, Kiilto dB Stop impact sound reduction systemNew Kiilto dB Stop is an impact sound dampening system that is used in dry indoor

spaces under floor tiling or parquet flooring glued to a base. The system dampens the

disturbing clattering and echo noises that migrate from floor structures. According to

tests carried out by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the system reduces

the impact noise level by 13 dB on ceramic floors and 14 dB on parquet floors.

The Kiilto dB Stop system comprises 500x500 mm sheets, which are glued to the

base with Kiilto M1000 ECO floor adhesive. The floor's overall structure rises by just 3

mm, i.e. the thickness of one sheet. The product is very light and its installation is easy

and trouble-free. It is M1-classified.

Kiilto R - rollable ready to use levelling compoundKiilto R is a light rollable ready to use levelling compound. The product is suitable for

levelling painted glass-fibre wallpaper and for levelling walls and ceilings in dry indoor

spaces before painting or wallpapering. Also suitable for cementing the joints of plaster

boards. The maximum layer thickness is 3 mm for a single spreading and drying time if

2-3 h/mm. It is M1-classified.

New improved Kiilto Raksa construction adhesiveKiilto Construction Adhesive is now Kiilto Raksa Construction Adhesive.

M1-classified and water-soluble Raksa, which has excellent initial tack, is suitable in

indoor spaces for gluing different wallboards, acoustic boards and insulating boards to

wall and ceiling surfaces and for cementing plaster boards in addition to mechanical

fixing. Coverage 1-2 m2/l and up to 4 m2/l for point fixing. Colour off-white.

NEW PRODUCTS FOR CONSTRUCTION

29

More power for wood adhesive testingKiilto has made a considerable investment in testing wood adhesives in the pe-

riod 2014-2015. As a result of that investment, the quality of bonding and the tol-

erance of conditions can be studied at our own research centre more diverse-

ly and also in the most demanding conditions. For example, in the production

of all CE-certified glued laminated timber (gluelam), the properties demanded of

the adhesive can be tested in-house.

In the newly renovated woodworking facilities, test pieces requiring precision

are being manufactured using state-of-the-art machinery. The new steady-state

room for wood stabilises the temperature and humidity in the bonding room

and enables testing of the bondings in the same conditions in which industrial

customers for wood adhesives manufacture their products.

The investment also includes many test devices for the monitoring of the en-

durance of long-term stress, and a new more sturdy tensile testing machine,

which can be used to test the permanence of the bonding of pieces of wood

with a force five times greater than previously.

– Gluelam manufacturers carry out compression strength tests as part of

their own quality control. We now have the chance to perform this test too in

accordance with the EN 14080 standard. At the same time, we can perform

tests in parallel with the customers and compare results, says research assistant

Christopher Mills .

A certified quality system for Kiilto Family OyKiilto Family Oy's new quality system (ISO9001:2008) was successfully certified

on 10 September 2015 by Inspecta Oy. The quality system covers the functions

of management, finance, human resources and information management.

The quality system extensively describes the processes, service models and

practices according to which Kiilto Family Oy operates. The purpose has been

clarity and to productise operations so that the customer receives better service

than before.

Kiilto Family Oy is the parent company of the Kiilto Family Group, and is re-

sponsible for the Group's finance, human resources and information manage-

ment services. The chemical plant Kiilto Oy, which belongs to the Group, was al-

ready accredited with the ISO 9001 quality system in 1993, and up to now this

has also covered the functions of Kiilto Family Oy, which are not being segregat-

ed off into their own quality system.

NEWSCompiled by MIIKA KAUKINEN AND MERJA HAVERINEN

PIC

TU

RE

KIIL

TO

In the renovated wood adhesive test facilities, research assistant Christopher Mills and laboratory engineer Kati Salmi.

30

Kiilto-Klei celebrates its 20th anniversaryKiilto's Russian subsidiary, Kiilto-Klei turned 20 in summer 2015. Operations began in a sales office

in St Petersburg, which these days houses the administrative headquarters of the Russian group.

Russia also already has two independent production plants: a dry mix plant in Kaluga and an

adhesive factory in Ramenskoye, which manufactures products for the local market.

– In Russia, Kiilto is renowned for it quality products and reliable partnership. Our responsible

business has enabled the creation of an extensive co-operation and distribution network. Kiilto-Klei

has partners and customers from St Petersburg to the Far East, says Mihail Babayan,

Kiilto-Klei's Managing Director.

The Russian company employs about 150 professionals in the fields of adhesives and dry mix

products.

– We celebrated our 20th anniversary with a light-hearted sports competition, which at the same

time boosted team spirit. After the fun-packed competition, we congratulated each other and the

company with a champagne toast.

Read more about Kiilto's Russian operations

Keeping up-to-date with the CLP regulationThe transition period for chemical classification,

labelling and packaging according to the EU's

CLP regulation ended in June. At Kiilto, the

CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of

Chemicals) change was a project lasting several

years, and considerable work from a point of view

of product safety, product control and packaging

planning.

In connection with the labelling change,

material safety data sheets, safety instruction

noticeboards in production facilities and

documents and programmes,which contain

classification information were updated. As a result

of the CLP regulation, the appearance of warning

labels,among other things, has changed, and their

number has increased from seven to nine.

A smoother surface with a new improved tile groutThis autumn, Kiilto is launching the new improved Kiilto Saumalaasti

tile grout.. The new quality guarantees a smoother joint and a surface

that is ready more quickly. The width of a joint is 1–6 mm.

Saumalaasti's already extensive choice of colour shades is being

increased during the autumn with two new trendy shades - chocolate

brown (no. 33) and grey-brown (no. 38). The colours of sanitary

sanitary silicons will also be increased later in the autumn to match

Saumalaasti shades.

As a result of this development, we are also revamping the look of

both containers and sacks. You will, however, still be able to recognise

our joint mortars by their familiar blue colour. Remember that you

can also conveniently use the containers for mixing!

Kiilto Lattiasaumalaasti replaces Kiilto KlinkkerisaumalaastiThe new dark look of packs of Kiilto Lattiasaumalaasti tile grout

for floor tiles has distinguished it on the shelves of shops and the

product has been well received. The range of colour shades has

expanded to seven and the choice of packaging now covers 3 and

10 kg containers and 20 kg sacks.

Lattiasaumalaasti tile grout for floors, which is suitable for both indoor

and outdoor applications, is very easy to use and washes off quickly.

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Lattiasaumalaasti

Kiilto

www.kiilto.com

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FAST FINISH TILE GROUT

CEMENT-BASED TILE GROUT FOR FLOOR TILES

COLOURSgrey brown

grey

medium grey

light grey

dark grey

coal grey

black

NOW a wider selection

of colours and package sizes!