Increased Automation has Created New Jobs at Alucar

By investing in automation, Alucar aims to improve the production process and further improve delivery reliability. At the same time, the need for new employees in various areas of production is growing.

Alucar has recently conducted several new recruitments. The headcount has increased significantly due to the new facility in Rovaniemi, but there have also been major recruitment efforts in Maxmo. During 2023 and 2024, the company has hired dozens of new employees.

– Our order volume has increased throughout the company, and the operations in Rovaniemi support our growth. On an annual basis, we have built more trucks than before for both new and existing customers, so the new recruitments have been very helpful, says Alucar’s production manager Jyrki Hirviniemi.

Jyrki mentions Alucar’s investments in automation as a key reason for the recruitments: Utilizing the aluminum welding robot introduced at the factory in January 2023 requires the skills of multiple people.

– Christian Stenberg, foreman of the welding workshop, has played a key role regarding the robot. He was involved in its acquisition, commissioning, and at the start of production. We have operators responsible for programming, monitoring, and maintenance of the robot. Higher production volumes also mean an increased need for personnel in areas such as material management, post-processing, and development of manufacturing methods.

The Welding Robot Boosts Production

Although Alucar has long used a drilling robot in the production of subframes, the new welding robot is the company’s first actual robot. The acquisition aimed not only to increase the company’s automation level and boost production but also to enhance Alucar’s control over production stages.

– By using the latest technology, we are developing our operations and creating new top talent within the company. Technology helps us strengthen our young team, and this development is evident in different stages of production. Our customers also strive to increase their efficiency by updating their equipment with the latest technology.

The primary strength of the welding robot lies in its flexibility. With the robot’s help, Alucar can produce various solutions and quickly meet customers’ needs. At the same time, it offers exciting challenges to the staff.

Further, Jyrki highlights the sustainability perspective.

– The robot also promotes sustainability. With proper programming, even the most difficult seams can be welded evenly and smoothly. This not only improves quality but also helps us use our resources more wisely than before, Jyrki adds.

Investments in Automation Continue

Alucar aims to invest even more in automation in the future. These development steps create new paths and move the company towards more sustainable operations.

With future investments, the need for personnel will continue to increase. -So far, the positions have filled up fairly quickly, and several former employees have returned to Alucar. Besides a multilingual and pleasant work environment, we for instance offer our employees flexible working hours, says Jyrki, adding that he himself returned to Alucar after almost 30 years away.