"The secrets of efficient maintenance are not only being local and near but also having strong global know-how. If we succeed with these, the markets are limitless," says Nelli Paasikivi, the director with responsibility for the development of Nordic maintenance operations at KCI Konecranes.

KCI Konecranes, which specializes in overhead lifting solutions and maintenance services, has a worldwide crane maintenance network. The machines can run without interruption as the maintenance services are comprehensive.

"Efficient maintenance services enable customers to focus without worry on their own core activities and leave matters relating to the productivity of lifting equipment in our hands," Paasikivi states.

It does not matter how much or how little help is needed. The maintenance programmes are always tailored to the customer's needs. "60 per cent of our customers buy both equipment and maintenance cooperation. For these customers maintenance is always part of the complete package,"

Usable and reliable

Service's share of the turnover is a growing trend. Today about half of KCI Konecranes' turnover consists of maintenance services and half of equipment.

The service products guarantee the benefit that the customer has bought throughout the product's entire life cycle. The key words are usability and reliability.

"We have adopted this principle since the 1960s, when a base for the worldwide success of maintenance was created. The number of cranes in the maintenance portfolio has increased from an initial 700 to 237,000," Paasikivi relates.

Design a crane on the Net

KCI Konecranes' services are a comprehensive package that includes inspections, maintenance, modernization, spare parts, training and consultation. An interesting addition is the interactive "Design your own crane" service, which can be found on the company's website. Here a customer can design quickly and easily an industrial crane that meets his own needs.

"The Web tools help us to communicate with customers and among our own organization more quickly and in a way suited to the spirit of the times. Modern technology helps, although personal contact is most important in all customer relationships," Paasikivi says.

>> www.konecranes.fi

KCI Konecranes, which specializes in overhead lifting solutions and maintenance services, keeps machinery running without interruption.