Kemira Metalkat's activities and product range have been expanded and therefore the company has changed the present name Kemira Metalkat to ECOCAT OY. Ecocat is a fully owned subsidiary of Kemira Oyj.
"We have been producing catalytic converters since 1989. The product has been based on our own product development and on open foil coating process of metallic foil.This original concept has allowed only the production and sales of complete catalysts", says Reijo Kuvaja, Managing Director of Ecocat.
During the past ten years the supplier structure of car factories has changed considerably. A small number of globally operating system suppliers are now the main responsible suppliers for the automotive industry, and the development and production of complete systems is based on extensive cooperation between several subcontractors.
"We have developed new products and product families as well as production methods for them. Our new production method based on the EcoCat® and EcoXcell® substrates enables us to supply complete metallic catalysts and metallic substrates, both coated and uncoated. The production of substrates, their coating and installation into metallic casing (the so called canning), as well as the production of purification systems are today interdependent. The essential thing is to be able to organize all the partial factors logistically in a way that will give the customer the best possible cost-effective benefit. The versatile and flexible way of action will significantly improve Ecocat's prospects in the global automotive subcontractor business", says Managing Director Reijo Kuvaja.
ECOCAT OY has changed its business idea. The company will now also coat substrates or other catalyst carriers made by other producers, in the customized coating line, using either Ecocat's own washcoat formulations or the customer's formulations. The production range has been expanded, too. Ecocat makes catalysts for passenger cars, trucks, motor bikes, mopeds, chain saws, garden trimmers and industrial applications, regardless of the fuel used; it can be petrol, diesel or an alternative fuel.
ECOCAT OY had net sales of EUR 34 million in 2002 and the company employs 137 people. During the first six months of the current year the company expanded its net sales by more than 30% and the number of employees came up to 169. Product development has been centralized at the plant in Laukaa, near Jyväskylä, and at the chemistry laboratory in Oulu. Ecocat has canning units in Italy, India and Romania, and a production unit in the US. In addition to the countries listed here, sales offices have been set up in the Czech Republic, France, Brazil, Germany and the U.K.
For further information please contact:
ECOCAT OY, Laukaa
Tel.: +358 (0)10 86 1717
Reijo Kuvaja, Managing Director
Tel. +358 (0)10 863 5510,
GSM +358 (0)500 64 6884