Rautaruukki’s tube plant in Hämeenlinna revamped its production line for manufacturing thin wall tubing. Etteplan’s Oulu office was chosen as the manager and main and detailed planner of the modernization project.

The plant, which mainly supplies steel wholesalers and the furniture, domestic appliance and building industries, increased the speed of its tube manufacturing line by designing and procuring new machines and refurbishing its old ones.

Etteplan’s commission was to carry out preliminary and implementation plans to raise the capacity of the line and to plan changes to layout, machines, buildings, HEPAC, piping, electrical distribution and automation. The commission also included drawing up commercial agreements with different suppliers and subcontractors, preparing technical specifications, and supervising the design work and manufacturing performed by equipment suppliers. At the end of the project, Etteplan drew up the final documentation and conducted performance tests on the machines that had been procured. The project was carried out from 2002 to 2003. The demanding nature of design and managing the project were further underlined by the fact that the modifications had to be carried out within the framework of a tight schedule, during the plant’s summer stoppage.

Overall mastery of design the project was one of Etteplan’s strengths in modernizing the plant. Etteplan’s long experience in the technique of making an agreement and its mastery of costs and general project management all contributed to seeing the project through to a successful conclusion.