Mika Siitonen Appointed Head of Design
Mika Siitonen (55) joined NewPaakkola as Head of Design in July. We asked Mika a few questions at the beginning of his new career chapter.
Tell us about your education and previous career.
“I graduated from Oulu Technical Institute in 2000 with a degree in Mechanical Automation Engineering, after which I began my career at Erkki Heinonen Ky. I worked there for many years in various engineering and design roles until Oucons Oy acquired the company at the end of 2016. Following the acquisition, I transferred to Oucons, which later became part of Comatec.”
“Throughout my career, I have mainly designed bulk material conveyors and the related equipment and steel structures used for handling various stone, powder, and wood chip materials. I have gained extensive experience throughout the entire engineering process, from the tender phase and layout design to detailed engineering, manufacturing drawings, and as-built documentation.”
“Leading mechanical engineering teams has been a significant part of my role. I have been responsible for managing project teams of various sizes, ranging from two to as many as 30 people, depending on the project.”
What is your first impression of NewPaakkola?
“NewPaakkola is already a familiar company to me through our previous collaboration. For several years, I worked on engineering projects for the company as a subcontractor, so I have become very familiar with its ways of working and its company culture.”
“I especially appreciate NewPaakkola’s practical approach and strong commitment to continuous development. It is a growing and dynamic company that has the courage to look confidently toward the future.”
What will your role include?
“The role of Head of Design is broad and diverse. I am responsible for coordinating engineering resources and supporting our design teams. An important part of my work is also the development of engineering processes, which requires actively following developments in the industry and evaluating new ways of working.”
“In addition, I participate in resource planning and recruitment, and I serve as the line manager for my own team. During the project preparation phase, I support tender calculations, participate in budgeting and scheduling, and evaluate technical implementation alternatives.”
“My role also involves close cooperation with customers. The objective is to identify challenges in their operations and develop practical, cost-effective solutions together with them.”
What do you expect from your new role?
“Above all, I expect new and interesting challenges from this role. I believe my extensive experience in engineering and project management will bring added value to both our engineering practices and project execution.”
“The work will certainly be varied and will provide continuous opportunities for learning. I also see artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies as an important direction for future development, and I believe they should be leveraged to support business operations and engineering wherever they provide genuine value.”