EDITORIAL

Dear Partners, Why Vahterus?

In this editorial, we look at our company’s background, its recent developments and our future outlook.

A little history

In the late 1980s, we began to develop a completely new type of heat exchanger. This effort was based on the work experience that I had gained from the design and manufacture of gasketed plate heat exchangers. We wanted to see if it was possible to integrate and combine the Shell & Tube heat exchanger’s tolerance of pressure and temperature with the superior heat transfer qualifies of a Plate & Frame heat exchanger. The aim was to create a new-generation heat exchanger construction that would be suitable for a wide range of applications. This development work resulted in the first fully welded Plate & Shell heat exchanger. This key innovation – the fully welded plate pack enclosed in a strong pressure vessel tube – eliminates the need for a gasket and creates a structurally durable heat exchanger that is both compact and safe.

Vahterus Plate & Shell heat exchangers have extensive applications within the chemical and process, energy and refrigeration industries. Our technology has evolved over the years in collaboration with you, and our progress is the fruit of this cooperation. The current year has been one of exceptional growth. Our order books have greatly expanded and we have reached the landmark of 300 employees. We thank you for this, our valued partners.

Our aim

Since the beginning, our mission has been to provide the best heat exchanger solutions for our customers. We have manufactured more than 60,000 Plate & Shell heat exchangers around the world. Only 5% of our products are sold to Finnish clients annually, while 95% go to export. Our strategy to pioneer heat transfer governs everything we do. To achieve this, we need to continue learning about heat transfer and the production of heat exchangers.

We are seeking future growth through investments in new production facilities and machinery. A key development area for us is digital technology, of which we are making use to improve the efficiency of our customer service and order delivery processes. Growth also requires the development of new products and solutions. In this magazine, we present some of our recent product development work, including the new size 12 PSHE.

What’s next?

The world is changing faster than ever and technical sectors are increasingly embracing environmental values. I would like to offer my special thanks to Dave Rule, President of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR), for the article he has written for this issue. He analyses the increasing use of natural refrigerants in refrigeration processes and sheds light on the benefits and significance of this trend in relation to the environment. For those of us working at Vahterus, Rule’s message inspires great belief in the future. To be able to grow, we must ensure that our operations are technically and economically competitive, and that our customers want to use our products for a long time to come. Our work together with you will continue to build a better, more sustainable future for the next generations.

Together we succeed!

Mauri Kontu
Founder and CEO