The American technology company Honeywell, which landed in Finland in 1950, set up a new sensor-development unit in the country at the beginning of 2003. The task of the unit, which is part of the Center of Excellence Finland, is to develop new types of optic sensors that measure a paper web's qualities.

The Center, which is located at Varkaus, Kuopio and Jyväskylä, plays an important role in the development and global marketing of the company's systems, sensors and applications for the pulp, paper and graphics industries. The Center is one element of Honeywell Industry Solutions and part of the company's worldwide development network.

Finland attracted Honeywell for three reasons: "In Finland there is a strong focus on the paper sector, which guarantees the continuation of good conditions for operations; the country's research and development infrastructure makes it possible to obtain the country's best abilities for the research; and the earlier success of the Finnish unit as an international operator made a contribution to the location decision," says Timo Saarelainen, the Center's director.