A very large 1.5-hectare production hall built for ANDRITZ in Varkaus

Keski-Savon Teollisuuskylä Oy built a 1.5-hectare workshop hall for ANDRITZ in Varkaus, Finland. The project was the largest in history for ANDRITZ Warkaus Works, Teollisuuskylä and Granlund. In a welding hall approximately 12 metres high, the work is mainly carried out by robots, and materials are transported on a 40-metre-long line using dozens of bridge cranes.

Supervision of construction work and MEP from the same company

The City of Varkaus’ framework agreement partner, Granlund, was trusted in the supervision of the extensive workshop project.

“This allowed us to have the supervision of both the construction work and the HVAC work from under the same roof,” says Jari Tulikanto, Project Manager for the construction management of Keski-Savon Teollisuuskylä.

This allowed us to have the supervision of both the construction work and the HVAC work from under the same roof.

Jari Tulikanto, Project Manager for the construction management, Keski-Savon Teollisuuskylä Oy

In the project, Granlund already started preparing the electrical work calculation material for a separate earthworks contract and then the turnkey contract. The MEP supervisors joined in after the construction work has begun.

It was important for ANDRITZ Property Manager Antsu Kolari that the project involved experts who were familiar with building regulations.

“We are engineering workshop professionals and needed construction professionals as our partners.”

MEP meetings helped develop plans

To develop the preliminary MEP plans, Granlund’s MEP supervisor Hannu Heikkinen started the weekly electrical design meetings and then the MEP coordination meetings. The matters were systematically reviewed together.

“I wanted to make sure that the needs of the users were heard in good time, so that the right amount of electricity and welding fumes would be available at the completed workstations,” Heikkinen says.

We are engineering workshop professionals and needed construction professionals as our partners.

Antsu Kolari, Property Manager, ANDRITZ Oy

Pre-agreed matters were dealt with and decisions were made quickly within an hour. A smooth meeting practice ensured that everyone knew how the project progressed, and the different stages could also be documented accurately.

“The meetings were really needed, they were organised in style and the reporting was clear,” Tulikanto says.

Kolari also found the meetings very useful, as engineering workshop operations involve many special requirements and production technology. Among others, the facility has a 10-kilovolt electrical connection, which Heikkinen inspected directly and easily thanks to the contracting rights for medium-voltage equipment.

New facilities improve the productivity of engineering workshop operations

Andritz’s new production facilities in Finland allow it to continue manufacturing the world’s largest recovery boilers and even increase the unit size. Product warehousing is now possible on the same plot, which reduces transports round the city. A larger batch of materials can also be shipped to Finland at once.

“It generates cost savings and improves the productivity of our operations,” says Kolari.

We can easily measure and report our consumption of electricity, water and heat.

Antsu Kolari, Property Manager, ANDRITZ Oy

For the employees, the most important things in the new premises are brightness, effective ventilation and high-quality indoor air. The property manager, in turn, appreciates the fact that many things are now in their own hands.

“We can easily measure and report our consumption of electricity, water and heat, for example.”

The new production facilities were taken into use on schedule in early June 2022, and one year later almost all production has moved to the new facilities. According to Tulikanto, the hall project played an important role in view of the city’s economic policy, as it allowed an important operator to remain in the area. ANDRITZ has long traditions in Varkaus and Andritz Warkaus Works will bring 120–130 jobs to the city.

“When users are satisfied, the project is a success!”