Mäkelä Alu has worked with unipro® lighting track systems already for nearly ten years. It all started when Unipro Oy concentrated its track production in Alajärvi. Unipro Oy selected Mäkelä Alu as its partner for aluminium production.
“Our lighting track systems were introduced to the market in 2009–2010, when our cooperation began. We strongly believed that together with Mäkelä Alu, we could improve quality, product reliability and cost efficiency. We worked hard and persistently to execute these ideas, and still do,” says Mikko Heikkinen from Unipro.
A reliable partner is essential at a time of rapid change
Lighting tracks are volume products that are manufactured in large quantities, even with varying demand. Tracks are used, for example, in store display counters, where spotlights are attached to the lighting tracks.
“The field of electricity products is a hectic one, suppliers must be able to react and carry out deliveries rapidly. This could not be achieved without efficient aluminium profile deliveries,” Heikkinen says.
For years, Mäkelä Alu manufactured and stored aluminium profiles in advance for Unipro’s needs, from which the customer was able to order supplies when needed. The system worked well for a long time.
“At some point we wanted to increase automation and improve cost-efficiency even further. At this point, we incorporated the AluCallOff® service into the operation so that automation ensured that our warehouse always had the necessary amount of profiles,” Heikkinen says.
The specified parameters in AluCallOff® take care of orders automatically.
“This reduces the amount of work and requires less monitoring as each batch does not need to be ordered separately. We report consumptions in AluCallOff® on a daily basis and Mäkelä Alu is able to react proactively, if necessary, and plan its own production. It’s a win win situation.”
Quality is perfected together
According to Heikkinen, the competitive advantage of unipro® lighting track systems is high quality. The track design is refined, and quality is visible right at installation.
“We continuously strive for high quality. In addition to automation, close cooperation with Mäkelä Alu has been important to us. We carry out development cooperation, communicate efficiently and tackle areas of improvement. That is how we have managed so far, and surely will in the future.”
