Tauno Hiltunen, Lujatalo: “Reliable Delivery Is a Major Factor”

Kiilax is supplying nearly 1,000 inspection hatches to Lujatalo’s Vuorilahti project. “Because Kiilax is a reliable supplier,” explains foreman Tauno Hiltunen.

Lujatalo Oy is building a development of 17 apartment buildings in Vuorilahti. The City of Helsinki housing production project comprises 204 homes and is substantial even by Lujatalo’s standards. Six people work on the project in the company’s office and 60–70 on site. Following a competitive tender, Kiilax was selected to supply all the inspection and fire-rated inspection hatches. Reliable delivery was a significant factor when choosing suppliers for a project of this size.

Lujatalo’s Site Manager Tauno Hiltunen has focused on the Vuorilahti project for two years. Handover is still about a year away, and with plenty to do, future projects are not yet on his mind.

“In practice, I spend all my time on site. There is always something to do or resolve right now, so there is not much time to think about what comes next.”

“Hatches are ordered to arrive on site one building at a time, on a specified day.”

All materials needed on site are put out to tender at the start of the project. Alongside price, reliable delivery is a key consideration. Kiilax supplies the inspection hatches and fire-rated inspection hatches for Lujatalo’s Vuorilahti development. A project of this size needs close to 1,000 hatches, with precise delivery dates. They are ordered to arrive on site one building at a time, on a specified day.

Precise requirements

Architects specify the hatches during the design stage to meet building regulations. Kiilax inspection and fire-rated inspection hatches meet the specifications: they have EI 30 type approval and a patented quick-installation mechanism. Hiltunen’s trust in Kiilax as a hatch supplier comes from long experience. In his view, reliable delivery is one of the most important factors in choosing a supplier, alongside price.

“Reliable delivery is the other important factor when choosing a supplier.”

“Fortunately, there is healthy competition, which keeps costs under control for the client. Reliable delivery is the other important factor when choosing a supplier.”

“I have known Kiilax for a long time, and that also matters when weighing up dependability and delivery reliability,” Hiltunen reflects.

How has the work with Kiilax gone?

“Some of the hatches have already arrived and been installed on schedule, and more are still on their way. Schedules that work are vital on a project of this size. When the right materials arrive on time, that is always one less thing for the site manager to resolve.”