Story

THE KEYSTONE OF THE STORY LEAD TO AN INNOVATION

The idea of a modular food plant was born at the turn of the 90´s, when field slaughtering was banned in Finland. The winter that year was mild, and reindeer carcasses were rotting in the field slaughterhouses. Kometos developed a mobile unit in which slaughtering, meat processing and transportation could be carried out within the same walls, on wheels. The reindeer grazing associations were excited about the idea, but the state threw spanners in the works by supporting fixed plants significantly more than mobile ones. Niemi had to come up with a solution, and started to think of the slice houses he had seen in his home town Kauhajoki. “Why couldn’t one use the same module concept to make food plants?” Niemi recalls his moment of genius.

A WORLD FULL OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Kometos resolves existing problems regardless of whether they concern the industry in general, or a certain customer in particular. The other main product of the company, the defrosting system, was inspired by frozen Christmas hams. Niemi knew a person who worked in a meat factory and was looking for a solution to the problem of salty liquid escaping the hams already in the store in which the products were bought. The solution was offered by nature: the sun in itself does not melt snow, but sunshine and wind together remove the traces of winter in an instant. The controlled use of these elements saves several percent of the meat’s weight and guarantees its quality. “One must live eyes and ears wide open”, Niemi cites his adopted motto. Innovations do not arise in offices; ideas come to you while moving around in the world and wondering about it.

Sometimes one does not have to go far for an idea – they can come to you also literally. A Norwegian oil company contacted Kometos, as car wash buildings in Oslo were rotting and new construction permits were denied. The only solution that remained was to cover the existing brick walls with elements provided by Kometos. Niemi realized the niche and started extensive testing. “In total, I and a few friends had our cars washed 300 times in various parts of Finland. The metal started to show some signs of wear”, he adds, smiling.

Each scratch was worth its value, however. Niemi found a suitable supplier for the brushes and machines, and Neviso, a company partly owned by him, programmed the necessary systems. From the start, the objective was a 24/7 self-service wash station. The concept proved such a success that competitors wanted to copy it. That was easier said than done. “One of the copycats actually called and asked me how we had arranged ventilation and heating. I provided advice, of course, and told that the missing machine can be purchased from us.” Niemi sent the man an offer, though without discounts. The deal was never completed.

AHEAD WITH PRIDE

As can be inferred from the vision, Kometos has a huge urge to grow. The next goal is to have a turnover of over 10 million euros.  “We are proud of being the best in the world.”

Money is an important motivator, but it also offers the possibility to help others. Niemi especially cherishes the story of how Kometos was able to contribute to the development of the livelihood of the indigenous Nenets people in Siberia. When Niemi visited Nenetsia for the first time in 1995, a whole slaughtered reindeer cost one dollar.

Together with the Sámi education institute, the reindeer herding unions, the reindeer herders and the regional administrations, the company trained hundreds of veterinarians and other people working with reindeer to handle meat at a Nordic level of hygiene. The training goes on. “Now the Nenets people receive 7.5 euros per kilogram for reindeer. Their standard of living has improved a lot, and we are proud of the help we provided.”