Cargotec's Technology and Competence Centre in Tampere, Finland is now officially open.

About 100 people attended the opening ceremony of Cargotec's Technology and Competence Centre in Tampere, Finland last Tuesday (Forkliftaction.com News #534).

Prominent attendees included Cargotec board chairman Ilkka Herlin, Cargotec president and CEO Mika Vehviläinen, president of the Tampere University of Technology Markku Kivikoski; and director of the City of Tampere Kari Kankaala.

In his inaugural address, Herlin emphasised the increasing role of automation in the functioning of ports, "In Tampere, the focus is on the advancement of automation. Automated solutions can enhance port and terminal functions and promote their sustainable development. We see great potential in automation for our customers around the world."

In 2011-2013, Cargotec invested about EUR35 million (USD46.6 million) in the construction of the Technology and Competence Centre in Tampere. In the centre, Cargotec's Kalmar business area focuses on the development of energy-efficient, safe and intelligent machinery and automation solutions.

Vehviläinen says: "The functioning of ports is simulated in the laboratory and testing range, based on real data provided by our customers. In this respect, the centre is unique in the world."

Previously, Cargotec operated in the Härmälä district of Tampere. The guests of the inaugural ceremony were presented with the recently completed history of Cargotec's time in Härmälä. The book sheds light on the 75-year history of the area.

The company's chief technology officer, Matti Sommarberg, says that the state aircraft factory was moved from Suomenlinna to Härmälä in 1936. "In addition to Cargotec, many other major Finnish companies have significant business operations today that originate from the aircraft factory. You might say that one of the first Finnish business incubators operated in Härmälä."

In March, the centre, built on a 10 ha (6 ac) industrial site in the vicinity of Tampere University of Technology, was awarded the international BREEAM environmental certificate (Forkliftaction.com News #611). The six-storied office building covers 13,000 sqm (140,000 sqft.) and there is a 7,000 sqm (75,000 sqft.) building with eight laboratories and a prototype shop onsite. Also, a 5 ha (12 ac.) test area contains automation infrastructure for unmanned equipment and navigation system testing.

Cargotec spokeswoman Anne Westersund says the energy efficiency of the new office building is "currently roughly 26% above average Finnish legislative requirements". Some of its features include solar panels to produce electricity and heating, building lifts equipped with energy-efficient features like standby and regenerative energy technologies, and heating and cooling that are monitored separately for energy-use evaluation.

Finnish company Arkjaatiset Ltd was responsible for the architectural design and the head architect was Mikko Jaatinen.