To kick off our project with Valmet Automotive we visited their car factory at Uusikaupunki, an hour drive west of Turku. There we met with two Valmet representatives who described the detail of our project and the company as a whole. After we finished the meeting they took us on a tour of the body shop in the factory, where body panels are assembled into the structure of the car. This was the area of the factory that our work was focussed on so provided great context to the work.
The processes in the body shop are heavily automated, with robots doing almost all of the moving and joining. We saw the physical outcome of the design work that we had been shown during the meeting, which really helped us appreciate the importance of the project.
After our tour we went to the Valmet Automotive canteen for lunch. Our visit happened to be on a Thursday, so the traditional Finish meal of pea soup, followed by meatballs and roasted veg and pancakes with jam for desert was served. It was potentially the best lunch we have had in Finland so far.
Comments