Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Business Forum

SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS 2018

Kaspars Rokens | New global supply chains

Peter Kleinmann | Qualificiency – Quality considering higher efficiency

Dirk Torfs | Robot-Human interaction to achieve flexible assembly in production

Heiti Mering | TIETO’s experiences in metal industry

Petteri Rautaporras | Statistics of the Nordic/Baltic region

Gerhard Ritzmann | The AKG Group – cooling experts around the globe

Kent Petersson | The case of Dinair – development of R&D in Latvia

Ģirts Ančevskis | The case of Lesjofors

Roberts Dlohi | Insights, perspectives and challenges of mechanical engineering in Latvia

Jānis Grīnhofs | The case of MassPortal – Success story

Ilmārs Dukulis | Training of high quality engineers

Aigars Laizāns | Latvia University of Agriculture

Artis Kromanis | Educational support for industries, innovations and new product development in Zemgale

Kaspars Ozols | EDI as an enabler for companies to introduce smart manufacturing

For more information:

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

The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) is pleased to invite you to the second Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Business Forum in Latvia on 22 February 2018. This time the Forum is taking place in the city of Jelgava, well known for its long history of vehicle manufacturing and traditions of engineering industry.

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, robotics and infrastructure projects in Latvia.

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

The programme will include:

Overview of the mechanical engineering sector in Latvia – statistics, insights, perspectives and challenges of today and beyond;
Discussions on the future of education in engineering sector, as well as the financial support by government and co-funding of regional, national and international programs;
The Swedish business success stories in Latvia;
Presentation of the Rail Baltica project, the largest Baltic-region infrastructure project in the last 100 years with a goal to integrate the Baltic States in the European rail network. The new railway will connect Helsinki, Tallinn, Pärnu, Riga, Panevežys, Kaunas, Vilnius, Warsaw.
Networking and matchmaking events for the foreign buyers and local companies.

Please note: The language of the Forum will be English with the simultaneous translation into Latvian and Russian.

Attendance is free of charge.

Before you visit take a virtual journey through Latvia:

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

DAY 1 | Thursday, February 22nd
9:00 - 9:30 Registration

Venue: Jelgava Technical school
9:30 - 10:00 Opening remarks

Moderator:

Mr Ņikita Kazakevičs, Director of LIAA Jelgavas Business Incubator

Speakers:

Mr Arvils Ašeradens, Deputy Prime minister, Minister for Economics of the Republic of Latvia

Mr Andris Ozols, Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia

Mr Andris Rāviņš, Head of the Jelgava City Council
10:00 - 10:30 Yes we can! Next steps for the engineering industry of the Nordic-Baltic region

Mr Henrik Mitelman, Columnist Dagens industri and independent economist (Sweden)
10:30 - 11:00 Formula 1: Driving Innovation in Engineering & Technology Solutions in the Fast Lane

Mr Mark Gallagher, Grand Prix Motor Racing Executive (Ireland)
11:00 - 11:20 New global supply chains – The case of Rail Baltica the future of logistic solutions through Europe

A project with opportunities for Nordic and Baltic companies – Rail Baltica

Mr Kaspars Rokens, COO, Rail Baltica (Latvia)
11:20 - 11:40 Coffee break
11:40 - 13:00 Panel discussion: Production efficiency – IT; automatization and robotics

Qualificiency – Quality considering higher Efficiency

Mr Peter Kleinmann, CEO and Managing partner, Kleinmann Consulatnts (Germany)

Robot-Human interaction to achieve flexible assembly in production

Mr Dirk Torfs, CEO, Flanders Make (Belgium)

TIETO experiences in metal industry – data driven business and efficiency

Mr Heiti Mering, Business Development Manager, TIETO Estonia (Estonia)
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 Panel discussion: Success stories of foreign investors

Statistics of the Nordic/Baltic region from the Mechanical Engineering Point of View

Mr Petteri Rautaporras, Industrial Relations, Technology Industries of Finland (Finland)

The AKG Group – Cooling Experts Around the Globe

Dr Gerhard Ritzmann, Chairman of the Management Board (Germany)

The case of Dinair – Development of R&D in Latvia

Mr Kent Persson, Managing director, Dinair Latvia (Sweden)

The case of Lesjofors

Mr Ģirts Ančevskis, Member of the Board, Lesjofors Gas Springs (Latvia)
15:00 - 16:00 Panel discussion: Supply Chain management

Insights, perspectives and challenges of mechanical engineering in Latvia

Mr Roberts Dlohi, Member of the Board, Peruza (Latvia)

The demands of ANDRITZ to the sub-suppliers

Mr Juha Leinonen, Supplier Development Manager, Andritz Oy (Finland)

LEAX Group

Mr Andris Liniņš, Key Account Manager, LEAX Baltix & LEAX Rezekne (Latvia)

The case of MassPortal – Success story

Mr Jānis Grīnhofs, Partner & CEO, Mass Portal (Latvia)
16:00 - 16:30 Coffee break
16:30 - 17:30 Panel discussion: Educational support for Industries, innovations and new product development in Jelgava region

Training of high quality engineers at the Faculty of Engineering of Latvia University of Agriculture

Mr Ilmārs Dukulis, Dr.sc.ing., Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU)

Latvia University of Agriculture – the centre for the engineers development for life sciences and bioeconomy

Mr Aigars Laizāns, Vice-rector of Studies, Professor, Dr.sc.ing., MBA

Educational support for Industries, innovations and new product development in Zemgale

Mr Artis Kromanis, Head of department of material processing, Riga Technical University

EDI as an enabler for companies to introduce smart manufacturing

Mr Kaspars Ozols, Researcher, Institute of Electronics and Computer Science

Future of technical education in Latvia

Mr Artūrs Žipris, Founder, Mechanika Engineering Ltd
16:20 - 19:00 B2B Meetings

The Matchmaking Event covering interests of foreign buyers with the local Latvian companies will be organized with the framework of the Enterprise Europe Network Latvia project.
17.30 Tour of Jelgavas Tehnikums
19:00 - 21:30 Dinner reception and networking
9:00 - 19:00 Visit at TehnoBuss

The Venue at Jelgavas Tehnikums located in Pulkveža O. Kalpaka street 37, Jelgava.

“Tehnobuss” – educational engineering project by MASOC. A specially equipped traveling training laboratory that gives young people an opportunity to gain insights into the mechanical engineering and metalworking industry. “TehnoBuss” is up to 18 m bus base and is equipped with modern metal, automation and other technologies.
DAY 2 | Friday, February 23rd
10:00 Leave for the visits to companies in Jelgava

The timing will be about 40 min. per company. The duration of the trip for one group will be max 3 hours.

Full programme

Speakers

Andris Ozols

Director, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (Latvia)

With over 20 years of experience in the attraction of foreign direct investment to Latvia and promotion of foreign trade, the Agency has worked constantly

Andris Ravins

Head of the Jelgava City Council (Latvia)

We dedicate our mind and soul for the development of the City, aiming to establish our role as a European heart for education, culture and sports

Mark Gallagher

Grand Prix Motor Racing Executive (Ireland)

Has held senior management roles within Formula One motor racing over the last 30 years. Founder and CEO

Henrik Mitelman

Columnist Dagens industri and independent economist (Sweden)

Independent economist/advisor at his own consultancy firm, member of investment committees for institutional asset managers and a senior columnist

Kaspars Rokens

Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Management Board, Rail Baltica (Latvia)

Experienced manager in power distribution and generation, retail, building automation and industrial applications’ business.

Aigars Laizans

Vice-rector of Studies, Latvia University of Agriculture (Latvia)

The profesor in energy related area, with particular attention to renewable energy and process control. He is not only the teacher and scientist with extensive experience

Artis Kromanis

Head of department of material processing in RTU (Latvia)

Head of department of material processing in RTU and lecturer for courses about manufacturing engineering and lean manufacturing.

Heiti Mering

Business Development Manager, TIETO Estonia (Estonia)

Has been closely associated with IT business since y.2000 and having the experiences from both the customer and supplier side.

Kaspars Ozols

Researcher at Institute of Electronics and Computer Science (Latvia)

A researcher who leads a team of engineers and researchers. He holds a Ph.D. in Electronics from Riga Technical University.

Gerhard Ritzmann

Member of the Board, AKG Thermotechnik Lettland (Germany)

The Latvian subsidiary AKG Thermotechnik Lettland SIA in 2005 built its first production plant.

Dirk Torfs

CEO at Flanders Make (Belgium)

Dirk Torfs will guide the forces of the Flemish research centres FMTC and Flanders’ DRIVE and laboratories of the 5 Flemish universities in Flanders Make

Ilmars Dukulis

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Latvia University of Agriculture (Latvia)

Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering with an engineer’s diploma in agricultural mechanization, two master’s degrees(engineering and pedagogy)

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

Peter Kleinmann

Founder at “Kleinmann&Consultants” (Germany)

Founder and managing partner, previously held a number of senior management positions in the automotive tier 1 market as well as

Janis Grinhofs

Co-founder and CEO of Mass Portal (Latvia)

Co-founder and CEO of Mass Portal, a privately held Latvian vendor of 3D printing technology and solutions. His career started as a graphic designer and creative in a company he co-founded before the age of 18.

Petteri Rautaporras

Economist, Technology Industries of Finland (Finland)

Economist at the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries. Economic analysis and labour market economics.

Girts Ancevskis

Member of the board, Lesjofors Gas Springs (Latvia)

Born in 1964 in Riga. Education: Electrical engineer and industrial equipment automation engineer (RTU, 1989), Master of Business Administration (RBI, 2001).

Arturs Zipris

Founder at Mechanika Engineering (Latvia)

Inventor, programmer and director at his own engineering company since 2011. Mechanika Engineering is the only one KUKA official system partner in Latvia

Juha Leinonen

Supplier Development Manager, Andritz Oy (Finland)

Former experience is from Raute Oy about 17,5 years and now in Andritz Oy 10 years. Responsible of supplier sourcing globally for Pulp and Paper division, which locates in Finland.