Do you know who made the exhaust system for your car? Most likely it was Universal Industries in Estonia. The company has greatly expanded in recent years and currently supplies exhaust systems for a host of different car brands. And the parts are manufactured with the help of presses and automation equipment from AP&T.
Universal Industries is something of a success story. The company began manufacturing exhaust systems on a small scale in 1987. Today, they have 140 employees, two factories and an international customer base. Over 98 percent of their production is for export. Originally they only manufactured exhaust systems as spare parts for the aftermarket, but now they are a so-called OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for several automobile brands. This means that they supply original systems in large volumes directly for factory installation.
Tough demands from the car industry
In order to meet
the car industry's high demands in terms of product quality and reliable
delivery, Universal Industries is continuously developing their products
and production. This is where AP&T comes into the picture.
Dependability and flexibility
"The equipment we use
for production must be dependable and flexible," says Jüri Vellerand,
President of Universal Industries. The presses and associated automation
systems that AP&T offers, allow us to manufacture many different parts
with the same machines. The ability to increase automation gradually, means
that we can adjust production based on demand, and achieve a higher and
more consistent level of quality in the finished products.
New business
The relationship between Universal Industries and AP&T goes back
decades.
"We have had contact since the end of the 1990s," explains Jan Jonasson at
AP&T. "We delivered the first press in 2004. It is 800 tons and is used
for clipping and drawing. Since then we have delivered an additional two
presses that are 200 and 800 tons respectively and can be used for various
tasks, including deep drawing. We have also installed automation equipment
to streamline production.
In light of the rapidly rising labor costs in Estonia, it is an investment
that will pay for itself in a short time.
Estonia is an interesting market
For AP&T, Estonia is a highly interesting market and Jan Jonasson sees
great potential for increased sales.
"Sweden is already Estonia's largest trading partner and Swedish companies
have a good reputation in Estonia. As Estonian industry grows and expands,
we obviously want to be a part of that. By delivering products with high
quality and keeping our promises, we build trust, which paves the way for
new business. Universal Industries is a good example of this."
