3rd Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Business Forum

Venue: “Hanzas Perons”

Pulkveža Brieža iela 28a

RIGA, LATVIA

November, 25th – 26th, 2020

The aim of the forum is to introduce the foreign companies with Latvia’s developments in mechanical engineering and to spur their international growth. We are inviting companies to explore the opportunities in the vibrant engineering sector of Latvia by either establishing a business or sourcing new suppliers from Latvia.

The program includes presentations by distinguished foreign and local engineering industry experts on topics like the future of engineering, industry 4.0., robotics and supplier networks in Latvia.

We hope you will join us to exchange ideas and to form new partnerships in Latvia!

The programme will include:

Overview of the present mechanical engineering sector in Latvia – statistics, insights, perspectives and challenges of today;
Discussions on the future of engineering sector, new markets and development of supplier networks in regional, national and international levels;
Networking and matchmaking event for the foreign buyers and local companies.

Please note:

The Forum will take place on-site and participants will also have the opportunity to follow the forum virtually. Participants will also be able to organize meetings both in the virtual environment and in person.
The language of the Forum will be English with the simultaneous translation into Latvian and Russian;
Attendance is free of charge;
All the events will be strictly regulated according to the Convid-19 global situation. The procedure of the Forum might proceed also in a form of webinar or online conference instead of on-site attendance.

For more information:

andris.alksnis@liaa.gov.lv (Latvia)

Before you visit take a virtual journey through Latvia:

Or watch Latvians accomplish the World’s first human jump with the drone:

19:00 November 24th

“Come Together” – networking event

AC Hotel by Marriott Riga, Dzirnavu iela 33, Rīga
Day 1 | November 25th
08:00 - 09:00 Registration, coffee
09:00 - 09:10 Opening remarks

Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia

Minister of the Economics, Republic of Latvia
09:10 - 09:30 Industry 4.0. – “The Big Picture”

Prof. Dr. Dieter Wegener, Vice President, Head of External Cooperation, Siemens Corporate Technology, Germany
09:30 - 09:40 Questions & Answers

Prof. Dr. Dieter Wegener, Vice President, Head of External Cooperation, Siemens Corporate Technology, Germany
09:40 - 10:15 Panel Discussion – Industry 4.0, Case Studies, Latvia Success Stories

Mr Roberts Dlohi

Member of the Management Board

“PERUZA” SIA

Mr Denis Gacicha

Director General

“Schneider Electric Baltics”

Mr Jānis Poruks

CEO

“ROBOEATZ” SIA

Mr Renārs Vītols

Member of the Management Board

“TEMESO” SIA
10:15 - 10:30 Insights, perspectives and challenges of mechanical engineering in Latvia

Mr Toms Grīnfelds, Chairman of the Management Board, Associaton of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia (MASOC)
10:30 - 10:50 Coffee break
10:50 - 11:50 Panel discussion: New markets for the Latvian mechanical engineering Industry

USA & Canada

Mr Peter Lapins

Head of European Operations, “BW Papersystems”

Mr Ģirts Ozoliņš

CEO, “Erica Synths” SIA

Mr Aivars Flemings

Chairman of the Management Board

CEO, “Valpro”SIA

Mr Ēriks Bēdiķis

Chairman of the Management Board, “ISP Optics” SIA

Japan & Far East

Mr Arnis Petrānis

Chairman of the Management Board, “PERUZA” SIA

Mrs Alina Aščepkova,

Head of the the LIAA Office in Japan

Mr Dmitry Serdega

Head of Business Development, “UAV Factory”

Africa, case country Namibia

Mr Dainis Rācenis

International Project Manager

Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia (MASOC)
11:50 - 12:45 Sourcing Issues – Panel discussion: Global Supply Chains and “Covid-19” influence. Is it a chance for Latvia to continue?

Mr Christoph Wittwer

Vice President Operations

ANDRITZ Soutec AG (Switzerland)

Mr Flemming Rasmussen

CEO

East Metal A/S (Denmark/Latvia)

Mr Jaakko Ruohoniemi

Sourcing Manager

“Bronto Skylift” Oy (Finland)
12:45 - 13:00 International Logistics

Dr Rolf Neise, Professor at the International School of Management and Consulting (ISM), Germany
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 18:00 Matchmaking event
14:00 - 18:30 Pitch sessions: Invention of New Technologies and Materials

Mitutoyo Metrology Laboratory,

Riga Technical University (RTU),

Mr Jakub Ruszkowski

Vice President

Mitutoyo Polska SP.z.o.o.

Mr Jānis Lungevičs

Head of the RTU Mitutoyo Laboratory

„AB Metal“ SIA

New “OKUMA” machining centre – the first in the Baltics

Mr Arnis Balodis

Member of the Management Board

“Baltic3d.EU” SIA

Mr Didzis Dejus

3D Thinker & Investor

Metals and their coatings – development and Characterisation

Dr.phys.Krišjānis Šmits

Head of Laboratory

Institute of Solid State Physics, UL | Materize

Qimtek – manufacturing connections that matter

Mr Sigitas Brazinskas

Regional representative
19:00 - Evening diner reception hosted by LIAA
Day 2 | November 26th
09:00 - Matchmaking event continues at the premises of the exhibition “Tech Industry 2020”

Visit to the exhibition

Visits to companies in Riga and the Riga region
09:00 - 17:00 November 27th | Virtual matchmaking

Forum lecturers

Toms Grīnfelds

Chairman of the Board of the Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries (MASOC) and Member of the Board of the Mechanical Engineering Competence Centre (MKC) and of Tehnobuss Latvija.

Jaakko Ruohoniemi

Jaakko Ruohoniemi is currently working as a Sourcing Manager for Bronto Skylift Oy in Tampere, Finland.

Arnis Balodis

Arnis Balodis is sales manager ir Metālmeistars. Metālmeistars is family company making various kind of metal parts.

Dainis Rācenis

Dainis Racenis joined MASOC as Manager of International projects in 2018, developing an integrated marketing strategy for Central Baltic ( Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden) companies, entering into the markets of Southern Africa within the framework of EU project SME Aisle.

Flemming Rasmussen

Strategic and commercial Business Executive

Aivars Flemings

Aivars Flemings is the President of the Executive Board at VALPRO, one of the largest metal working companies in the Baltics.

Dmitry Serdega

Dmitry Serdega is Head of Business Development in UAV Factory.

Jānis Poruks

Janis Poruks is the founder and CEO of RoboEatz – a company developing a robotic food service solution for the B2B market, solving labor shortage in the industry and targeting personalized nutrition to the final consumer.

Dieter Wegener

After graduation in Aeronautical and Aerospace Technology Dieter Wegener worked as scientist at „Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)“.

Jānis Lungēvičš

M.Eng. Janis Lungevics is currently working at the Riga Technical University’s (RTU) Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Transport and Aeronautics (FMETA) as a Researcher/lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics (DMEM).

Ēriks Bēdiķis

Erik Bedikis (SIA ISP Optics Latvia, GM & Chairman of the Board).

Arnis Petrānis

Arnis Petranis graduated from Riga Politechnical Institute in1977 as mechanical engineer.

Dr. Rolf Niese

Dr Rolf Neise is currently working as an Associated Professor / lecturer at the International School of Management (ISM) in Hamburg, a private university with a focus on international business.

Peter Lapins

Peter Lapins is currently a Sr. Vice President of BWPapersystems, (BWP) a machinery manufacturer serving the paper industry worldwide.

Ģirts Ozoliņš

Ģirts Ozoliņš is the founder and visionary of the electronic musical instrument development and production company Erica Synths.

Renārs Vītols

Renārs Vītols works in the field of mechanical engineering and mechanics, and applied mechanics.

Roberts Dlohi

Member of the Board, “PERUZA” (Latvia)

Peruza is smart budget equipment specialist for processing. Since beginning until present day we offer great mechanical engineering solutions. For the last 13 years Robert Dlohi has been a member of the board of PERUZA company, which designs and manufactures production equipment.