|
Electronics and electrotechnics Industry:
Know-how at its best
TELECOMMUNICATIONS LEADS THE WAY
Finland leads the world in telecommunications technology.
The roots of the success lie deep within Finnish know-how.
Finland has been at the forefront in using the electronics
and electrical industry for more than one hundred years.
In the field of telecommunications technology, however, Finland
has achieved a significant position on the global market for
the first time.
The building material on which the success of the electronics
and electrical industry is based is know-how. The cooperation
between companies, research institutes and the education sector
is unique. The know-how that has been created together has
been refined further and spread to the entire corporate field
in national technology programmes. From there the success
products of today and tomorrow spring up.
More features in the pipeline
The success story of the electronics and electrical industry
is sure to continue in the years to come. The development
that will take place in products and production technologies
will be achieved to a great extent by increasing and developing
electronics and software engineering. The potential is great
because this trend applies to all sectors.
A good example is the everyday car: a quarter of its value
is created by the electronics and electrical engineering,
and the information technology solutions relating to them.
And this proportion will increase.
Demand for an increase in technology is genuine: safety and
the environment. Air bags and anti-blocking braking systems
are already almost standard fixtures in new cars; road stability
is an accessory and soon location systems will be too. Solutions
for controlling speed and the input of fuel will reduce fuel
consumption and spare the environment.
Similar examples of increasing the electronics and electrical
engineering can be found everywhere. The machine-room-less
lift is more environment friendly than the traditional one,
because it consumes less energy and does not require servicing
to the same degree. In addition, as it does not need a separate
machine room, it can be installed more easily in old buildings.
The increase in electronics and electrical engineering is
one of the main development trends in all products. Correspondingly
the significance of software in electronics products is on
the increase. Products’ features are developed through
the software. These features can be easily personalized and
customized with embedded software.
Sparing the environment with technology
The aim of developing production technology is to optimize
a process. This also means exploiting the opportunities brought
by electronics and electrical engineering in controlling and
regulating a process. Automation and process regulating equipment
reduces the usage of raw materials and energy consumption
i.e. the principle of more with less.
The objectives are the same for managing a property, which
is again a good example of the exploitation of electronics
and electrical engineering in other fields. Access control
equipment for security and the surveillance of a property
is now a matter of course, although a lot remains to be done
in the sub-areas relating to the availability and energy consumption
of properties. For example, an intelligent control system
for lighting keeps it at an even level in spite of changes
in the daylight, and a presence detector creates light wherever
and whenever it is needed.
Cordless (=mobile) future
The development of telecommunications technology will bring
a new dimension to the entire world described above. Firstly
through fixed networks but then, to an increasing degree,
cordlessly. The openness of the systems is of crucial importance.
It will leave the market open to different products and services
that will operate in a generally approved environment. Even
a small slice of a global market will bring adequate custom
for profitable corporate activity.
Third-generation equipment is just coming onto the market
at the same time as the fourth is being designed. The older
digital product generations will operate for a long time alongside
the new ones, and it will not be necessary to cannibalize
them as was done with analog telephones. This is an evolutionary
process.
The third-generation equipment is ready and the services
offered in them are starting. Here, too, Finland is again
in the lead and the object of others’ attention. And
with good reason.
The Federation of Finnish Electrical and Electronics Industry,
SET, is a branch organization with a membership of about one
hundred industrial companies that manufacture some 80% of
the electronics and electrotechnical products made in Finland.
SET is also a major cooperation forum. Its numerous committees
and branch groups provide a solid basis of expertise in issues
specific to the sector.
The sector’s European organization is ORGLIME. SET is
also a member of the European ICT industry (EICTA), cable
industry (EUROPCABLE), luminaire manufacturers’ (CELMA)
and electrical machinery and power electronics manufacturers’
(CEMEP) cooperation organizations.
Published 2003
|
.
Finnfacts is part of