In motion – the human side of automation – Exhibition content in English

Cimcorp is a Finnish technology company whose story began in Pori in the 1970s with automation projects for the Rosenlew Group. Automation involves managing processes through technology to speed up work, reduce errors, and enhance productivity. Initially, a small team of about twenty people developed solutions for Rosenlew’s own production needs. One of the first robots was a system designed for stacking paper bags. Soon, the technology was introduced to the first customers, such as the chemical industry operator Kemira, the food and confectionery manufacturer Fazer, and Valco, a manufacturer of television picture tubes.

The first projects demonstrated how automation saved working hours and reduced errors in production. Dangerous tasks were outsourced to robots, which improved safety. Speed, precision, and collaboration became the foundation of Cimcorp’s automation solutions.

“Especially in the early years, we often embraced a kind of ‘inventor’s mindset’, particularly in product development. This helped to strengthen the skills and expertise of our staff. Through experimentation and innovation, we discovered new solutions and sustainable ideas.” – Jyrki Anttonen, a Cimcorp employee for 40 years.

In the 1980s, the industry moved from analogue to digital. The rise of software development rapidly influenced business, making it possible to plan production, monitor material flows, and serve customers with greater accuracy. Software was also employed to control robots and their operations.

“If you compare a robotic system to a human, its mechanical parts are the muscles that move it, and the software is the brain that controls and analyses all activity.” – Veli-Matti Hakala, CEO of Cimcorp since 2025.

For example, the modular robotic system developed by Cimcorp in the 1980s allowed customers to expand the system in stages and upgrade components as needed. The system consisted of a library of mechanical robots that could be adapted to the customer’s needs through software updates and customized solutions. One customer project in Spain demonstrated that the modular solution significantly shortened delivery times, enabling fresh products like cucumbers and salads to reach supermarket shelves within a day.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the picture tube industry served as a springboard for Cimcorp’s international growth. Manufacturing television picture tubes was a demanding process, as the glass components were fragile and dangerous to handle. The robots developed by Cimcorp made this process faster, safer, and more precise. The biggest customers included Valco in Imatra and several international factories such as Philips, Thomson, and Samsung.

Cimcorp’s solutions boosted productivity, with one robot capable of processing thousands of components per day, improving quality and reducing production costs.

Although picture tubes are now a thing of the past, the knowledge gained from that period, such as robotic precision, quality assurance, and international know-how, remains central to Cimcorp’s work in modern fields such as tire production and logistics.

In addition to the picture tube industry, Cimcorp has developed automation solutions for 30 different sectors, from paint tinting and ship welding to solar panel assembly and airline service trolley production. While many of these applications remained experiments or small projects, the company has continuously pursued innovation throughout its history.

After its work in picture tube automation, Cimcorp turned its focus to the tire industry. Cimcorp’s Dream Factory provides an end-to-end automation solution for tire plant logistics, developed specifically to meet the demanding material handling needs of the sector. The concept is simple but effective: all production stages, including raw material storage, transport, handling of semi-finished goods, assembly, and storage of finished tires, are managed within a single intelligent system.

Cimcorp’s storage and distribution solutions have been revolutionizing the grocery retail industry’s intralogistics since the 1980s. These solutions optimize processes within logistics centers, with automation ensuring that the right products move to the right place at the right time. When a large shipment of fresh fruit or vegetables arrives at the warehouse, robots receive the boxes and place them in the correct storage locations. When products are needed by stores, the robot retrieves the correct boxes and prepares them for easy dispatch. Everything is fully automated: robots locate and move the boxes according to the instructions given by the software.

Companies such as Fazer, the food manufacturer Valio, and beverage company Olvi were among the first to implement these systems, setting an example for international customers.

Today, in the 2020s, Cimcorp operates worldwide. The customers include, among others, Mercadona in Spain and EDEKA in Germany, who rely on Cimcorp’s solutions for efficient grocery chain operations. Automation in these systems ensures rapid handling while maintaining product freshness.

Every day, 26 million kilos of food and beverages enter grocery stores through Cimcorp’s systems.

Cimcorp’s growth story has taken Finnish expertise to the far corners of the world. International projects and partnerships have shaped both the company’s culture and its staff. The broad customer base in Europe, Asia, and the Americas reflects Cimcorp’s ability to understand multicultural environments and serve demanding industries.

Thanks to its international reach, Cimcorp has become a global player in the automation industry. In 2014, Cimcorp became part of the Japanese family-owned group Murata Machinery, which has contributed to the company’s international growth and the development of its expertise.

As of 2025, Cimcorp operates offices across the globe, including in Finland, Germany, Spain, the UK, India, Australia, the United States, and Canada.

Cimcorp’s success is built on the collaboration of skilled and dedicated staff, comprising software developers, engineers, designers, project managers, product developers, sales professionals, specialists, and installers. Cimcorp currently employs around 500 professionals worldwide, nearly 400 of whom work in Finland. In addition, hundreds of people in the Satakunta region are employed through Cimcorp’s subcontracting network.

“At Cimcorp, we have an inspiring and innovative team spirit. Support is always available from colleagues, and we tackle projects and deliveries together.” – Janne Lauhala, equipment tester at Cimcorp.