UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION
Source: Länsi-Suomi newspaper / 16 March 2017
Dewaco is contemplating an expansion in Laitila
Consider Malaysia, a country that gives out carrots, a hint given by the Ambassador
Photo caption: Dewaco CEO Matti Leppäniemi (left), Laitila city director Jukka Alkio, Ambassador of Malaysia Blanche Olbery and Sales Director Siri Dahayaneke at the Dewaco factory.
Laitila-based company Dewaco received an exceptional guest yesterday when Malaysian Ambassador Blanche Olbery came to familiarise herself with the cleantech company.
The Ambassador wanted to see where the waste water purification equipment for Kuala Lumpur, the capital of her home country, is made.
Large deal to Kuala Lumpur
Dewaco sold a large system for the compaction, drying and removal of sludge. Half of the equipment has been delivered and the rest will be sent along the spring.
- This deal is big and very important for us, said CEO of Dewaco and Econet Matti Leppäniemi.
Limit of 10 million euros will be broken
As we told before (LS 23 February 2017), due to the large orders from Malaysia and Vietnam, Dewaco is likely to double its turnover this year.
- We will surpass the limit of 10 million euros. We are approaching the limits of our capacity. Now we need to find out possibilities for expanding our activities, told Leppäniemi.
The city director of Laitila, Jukka Alkio of course stated immediately that Dewaco has space to expand on its plot.
Leppäniemi said there are also other options. Slamex in Lahti, a company part of the same concern, makes part of the work of the Dewa products. Utilising subcontractors is also possible.
Ambassador Olbery gave a hint to find out options in Malaysia.
- Our government gives many incentives to investors. You could for example get a five year tax-free period, she said.
Dewa installed already in 90 countries
Dewaco was established in 1986 under the name DWT Engineering. The company was attached to the Econet concern in 2013.
In the past 30 years Dewaco systems have been delivered and installed in already 90 countries.
Dewaco employs some 20 people in Laitila.
VIEWPOINT
IN THE TOP FIVE OF EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS
Dewaco has delivered sludge processing equipment already to Malaysia for a couple of decades.
- Our Dewa brand is quite known in the water circles of Malaysia, praises Far East Sales Director of Dewaco, Siri Dahanayake.
According to him, there are not very many competing equipment suppliers.
- We are among the top five, he said.
Dahanayake was in Malaysia for three years marketing the Dewa-brand and building a partner network into Asia.
- Malaysia is an excellent place to expand to the Far East. There are many large projects in the way there, tells Dahanayake.