Wärtsilä is building its Smart Technology Hub, a new centre of research, product development and production, in Vaskiluoto, Vaasa.
As of 2020, all of Wärtsilä's functions and personnel in central Vaasa will transfer to the new hub, along with the logistics and maintenance workshop operations from Runsor. The Vaasa unit will be Wärtsilä's largest location with some 3000 employees. The company also has approximately 400 employees in Turku and almost 500 in Helsinki.
EUR 200 Million Investment
As a part of the project, Wärtsilä will invest EUR 83 million in modern testing and production technology for the hub. The total investment in the Smart Technology Hub will be in the region of EUR 200 million, consisting of office and factory buildings, logistics and infrastructure.
Testing and Product Development
The Smart Technology Hub is part of Wärtsilä's Smart Marine and Smart Energy visions. The hub will enable more agile, more efficient testing and product development of solutions for the maritime, oil and gas industries, as well as new energy systems.
The Smart Technology Hub will invite other operators in the sectors and researchers to collaborate. The vision is to create a partners' campus where research and product development take place together with Wärtsilä's customers and suppliers, start-ups in the sector and universities.
Company Transformation
The Group's transformation into a technology services company has necessitated property investments in smart technology, new working methods and sustainable development throughout the organisation. Alongside the Smart Technology Hub, the most visible renewal projects have included the new business premises in Runsor, Vaasa, and the Wärtsilä Helsinki Campus in Salmisaari, Helsinki, due for completion in the late autumn. The value of these investments is just under EUR 20 million.
