“Mighty Machines, Powered by Finland” is Finland’s national growth strategy for mobile work machines through 2035. The goal is to create one of the world’s leading industrial environments for future work machines through increased collaboration between industry, universities, research organizations and technology companies.
The strategy includes areas such as:
- smart hydraulics
- electrification
- automation
- autonomous machines
- energy-efficient drivetrains
- AI and software-based control systems
At the same time, the initiative is clearly industry-driven and identifies future mobile machinery as one of Finland’s most important technology sectors.
Target of 45,000 new jobs
According to the strategy, the ambition is to triple the industry’s turnover to approximately EUR 60 billion by 2035 while creating up to 45,000 new jobs.
Organizations behind the initiative include:
- Technology Industries of Finland
- the SIX Mobile Work Machines cluster
- Business Finland
- VTT
- Tampere University
- several major OEMs and technology suppliers
The focus is on strengthening Finland’s position in the development of:
- forestry machines
- construction equipment
- mining machinery
- material handling equipment
- autonomous off-highway vehicles
Smart hydraulics an important part of the development
Hydraulics continues to be identified as a key technology for future work machines, especially in applications where high power density and robustness are required.
At the same time, the strategy describes how future machines will increasingly combine:
- hydraulics
- electrification
- sensors
- automation
- software
- AI-based control systems
The goal is therefore not to replace hydraulics with electrification, but rather to develop more intelligent and energy-efficient systems.
Highlighted technology areas include:
- electrohydraulics
- digital hydraulics
- energy-efficient valve systems
- smart energy management
- condition monitoring
- autonomous machine systems
Collaboration between industry and research
A central part of the initiative is the close cooperation between industry and research.
Finland is now building a larger innovation cluster where machine manufacturers, hydraulic companies, universities and software companies work together on the future of mobile machinery.
SIX Mobile Work Machines acts as a hub for collaboration and brings together companies and organizations within:
- hydraulics
- automation
- electrification
- machine development
- digital control technology
Several major research and development projects are already underway within:
- electrohydraulic systems
- electrified drivetrains
- autonomous work machines
- energy-efficient hydraulic systems
- AI-based machine control
Business Finland supports innovation funding
The development is also supported through public innovation funding via Business Finland, which finances research and industrial projects related to:
- electrification
- smart industry
- automation
- digitalization
- energy-efficient machine systems
This means the initiative is not only a long-term vision, but is also connected to concrete development projects and industrial collaborations already in progress.
Growing demand for technical expertise
The strategy also highlights competence development as a critical factor.
As hydraulics, electrification and software become increasingly integrated, the need for expertise within the following areas is growing:
- electrohydraulics
- automation
- sensor systems
- CAN bus and control technology
- energy efficiency
- AI and data analytics
For suppliers and system integrators within hydraulics, electromechanics and automation, the development points toward a future where technical integration and specialist expertise become increasingly important competitive advantages.
