Jul 12, 2024
Operating next to the Avant loader factory in Finland, the Avant Power battery plant has exceeded its strict targets. Avant Power’s production line has just completed its fifth hundredth high-power battery for an electric loader, and twice as many batteries have been manufactured as originally planned.
"Production started in February this year, so we have made 500 batteries in about five and a half months," says Mikko Piepponen, COO of Avant Power.
The battery plant's manufacturing capacity is even increasing, as a second line is currently being built next to the first production line.
Avant Power, which develops and manufactures batteries for electric loaders, has operated at record speeds since the beginning of the subsidiary's story. The battery manufacturer has developed both a completely new product and production simultaneously in just about two years.
The Avant Group decided to start battery manufacturing itself because there were no batteries perfectly optimized for mini loaders in the world. However, the company had enough creative expertise and a desire to conquer new territory.
Avant Power’s rapid product development and production can be explained by three factors. They are the company’s own top team, excellent subcontractors, and the trust, support, and shoulders of the Avant Group.
“Seamless cooperation with professional, flexible, and responsive subcontractors has made the whole thing possible. We have developed manufacturing methods together with our subcontractors, and they have thrown themselves fully into it, even though they did not know in advance how everything would work out. That spirit of doing things is exactly what we had been looking for. In the end, we managed to manufacture double the number of batteries compared to the original plan,” Piepponen says.
Even a small team can be very strong when it is competent, flexible, and dedicated.
The battery factory’s cooperation with the Avant loader factory has been important.
“The spirit of Avant is that everyone pulls together. Loader design has played a major role, as has the prototype workshop, marketing and sales, and the entire factory. We have all done this together,” Piepponen says.
The COO describes the battery factory’s own team as unique.
“This would not be possible without good team spirit. Even a small team can be very strong when it is competent, flexible, and dedicated."
The dedication and interest in the work can be felt at Avant Power’s production line. Mirja Parikainen, who works as an assembler, praises the team’s work culture.
“I’ve been here for four months, done all kinds of line work and had a great time. We have a close-knit community and a very good team spirit, which can be seen in communication and delegation, for instance. It’s easier to talk about things when you know all the people. Ideas and suggestions are listened to, and no one is just a faceless number on paper but a human being among others,” Parikainen says.
Mika Tuunanen, who also works as an assembler, says that working in the compact team is varied and flexible. Things are done properly, but the team spirit is relaxed.
“The management trusts us, and you can always go and talk about things. The spirit is very good. A great addition to the job is that you get to do something very motivating and exciting at the forefront of battery technology."
Next, however, the factory staff will have a short break, when everyone will recharge their own batteries in the summer pastures.
"Now it's nice for this group to go on well-deserved summer holidays. After that, we will start a second production line, and new products are constantly being developed. We will tell you more about them later," promises Mikko Piepponen.