Tasowheel Group Oy is strengthening its brand and unifying its corporate image with name changes. The names of the Group’s subsidiaries will change beginning 1 January 2012 as follows: Tasotikka Oy will change its name to Tasowheel Tikka Oy, Tasogears Oy will change its name to Tasowheel Gears Oy, and Tasosystem Oy will change its name to Tasowheel Systems Oy.

In this connection we also make the following value promise to our customers: Tasowheel is an innovative and international family company, specialised in power transmission, motion requiring extreme precision, and components for fine mechanics; its customers are the industry’s leading companies. Tasowheel promises customer-oriented, flexible, and responsible service, as well as a high and consistent quality of products and services to maintain sound partnership relationships with its customers.

Our telephone numbers beginning 1 January 2012:

E-mail: firstname.lastname@tasowheel.fi Internet: www.tasowheel.fi

I will be happy to answer any questions concerning the matter. Happy New Year 2012!

Tasowheel Group Oy

Kari Sorjonen Managing Director

Tasotikka Oy, located in Tikkakoski, has survived the recession well and is now looking confidently towards the future. Tasotikka, a specialist in the design and manufacture of precision parts and assemblies, more than doubled its turnover in 2010 compared with the previous year. At the same time, the company invested more than EUR 1.5 million in production machinery and equipment.

According to Tasotikka Oy’s Vice President, Operations Hemmo Harjunheimo, the Finnish technology industry lost, on average, 40 per cent of its turnover at the onset of the recession, and Tasotikka was no exception. The recovery from a bleak situation began faster than expected, however.

“In terms of turnover, 2009 was very difficult, but last year we again reached EUR 3.5 million, the level we were at when the downturn began. Last November, with 27 employees, we recorded our best turnover in over 30 years of operations. We previously never managed to reach this level, even when the company had 36 employees. We are investing heavily in efficiency and production throughput,” says Harjunheimo.

Tasotikka’s investment decisions indicate that its confidence in better times ahead is strong. During the last couple of years, the company has acquired, for example, two Niigata horizontal machining centres with an automatic pallet system, and a Gildemeister multi-spindle lathe. The total value of the investments is EUR 1.5 million.

According to Harjunheimo, both a resumption of earlier customer relationships and the acquisition of new, significant customers have contributed to the post-recession recovery. Tasotikka’s customers worldwide include manufacturers of special engines, the special vehicle industry, manufacturers of measuring instruments, and the process industry. Of the company’s products, more than 80 per cent go directly for export, and the proportion of direct exports is also recovering.

Although competition is intense, Tasotikka’s customers primarily value the quality and reliability of the products. “Our clientele is very demanding. Fortunately, we have a highly skilled and motivated workforce,” explains Harjunheimo.

In a recently completed personnel survey, conducted by an independent research institute, Tasotikka received a significantly better result than national peer group companies with respect to working environment, well-being in work and workplace atmosphere. “It’s important both for present employees and future recruits that the company’s working atmosphere is good,” says Harjunheimo.

Tasotikka’s production premises in Tikkakoski cover 1,800 square metres, which is sufficient for the time being. If the need for additional building arises, then the present site offers good opportunities for this.

Mr Kiiski has worked previously as Customer Service Manager of Tasosystem Oy.

Mr Syväjärvi has worked previously as Manager of Tasowheel Oy’s Power transmission unit and as Marketing Manager of Tasogears Oy.

Production and Quality Engineer Juha Tuikkanen is appointed as Tasotikka Oy’s Production Manager starting from 1st of October, 2010. Mr. Tuikkanen has previously worked as Tasotikka Oy’s Production Engineer.