Wisematic’s business goals focus on the global market
Minifeeder paves the way for success
Inventing the Wisematic®Minifeeder™, a new kind of feeding equipment for small parts, originated at the Department of Production Engineering. The device separates and detects individual small parts from the material flow during industrial processes.
"The Minifeeder is especially well suited for production processes that include extremely small components, such as clocks. There may also be a market niche in the pharmaceutical industry, since the device is easily disinfected", tells CEO of Wisematic Oy, Henri Viinikainen. The idea to develop the device was formed during the TOMI (Towards Mini and Micro Assembly Factories) project funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes).
Support for commercialisation from TUT and the Foundation for Finnish Inventions
"When we decided to commercialise our invention TUT and the Foundation for Finnish Inventions gave us considerable support. Before patent applications we conducted a novelty search and explored possibilities for commercialisation. The Foundation for Finnish Inventions helped us continue patenting abroad, and by 2005 the venture had evolved into a business", tells Viinikainen. Now the company is already in full swing.
Minifeeder taken abroad along with industrial production
As industrial production diminishes in Finland, plants are increasingly relocated abroad. Keeping production in countries with high labour costs, such as Finland, requires first and foremost flexibility from automatic processes. "The ability for quick change-overs without prolonged downtime or high start-up costs is essential for us to retain our competitive edge. This is exactly what Wisematic is aiming at", tells Viinikainen.
"The main challenge for businesses like Wisematic is to immediately enter the global market", lists Viinikainen. "From our point of view, the best market potential is in Central Europe".
Testimony for continuous research and innovativeness in the company are new inventions. At the moment, a smart robot tool system Wisematic®IRIS™ is undergoing patent application process. "IRIS differs from the Minifeeder in many ways, because it entails more electronics and automation, even senses, and the operating principle is more complex".
A significant growth area for Wisematic are LED-based and machine vision based lights