Highlights for 2003

New facilities inaugurated in Boulder, Colorado

In February, Vaisala inaugurated new facilities in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Vaisala has concentrated its U.S. manufacturing operations to Boulder in order to enhance productivity and improve efficiency. The area is the location for several important meteorological research institutes and laboratories with whom Vaisala works in close cooperation with. The investment totaled EUR 5.5 million.

Rationalization negotiations in Vantaa, Finland

Poor economic growth in Vaisala’s main market areas has necessitated measures to improve profitability. Proceedings with the representatives of all personnel groups according to the Act on Co-operation within Undertakings began in April. The changes in business unit structures agreed upon resulted in a reduction of 50 man years and 15 employees in the Vantaa office, enabling Vaisala to achieve an improvement of approximately EUR 4 million in its results.

First wind profiler delivered to German Weather Service

In September, the first wind profiler of an order made by the German Weather Service in 2002 was delivered. It is part of a network of three wind profilers. The others will be delivered in 2004 and 2005. Vaisala anticipates that wind profilers will also be taken into operational use elsewhere in Europe. The contract is valued at more than EUR 5 million.

Vaisala HUMICAP® relative humidity sensor celebrates 30 years

October marked the passage of 30 years since Vaisala first introduced its HUMICAP® relative humidity measurement technology. In 1973, Vaisala was the first company in the world to launch a thin-film capacitive humidity sensor. Today, Vaisala is the world market leader in the measurement of relative humidity.

A new contact point opened in Shanghai, China

In November, Vaisala opened a contact point in Shanghai, China. The new contact point will strengthen Vaisala Instruments ability to serve the growing markets of the region. Vaisala has had a representative office in Beijing since 1994.

New cleanroom facility goes into operation in 2004

The construction of the new cleanroom at Vaisala’s Vantaa headquarters will be completed in early 2004. The first cleanroom was built in 1980 and has been in service for over 20 years. The sensor manufacturing processes that are part of Vaisala’s core technology require increasingly accurate control over temperature and humidity conditions. The new cleanroom fulfils these requirements.