Innovative partnership between AP&T and Meconet sets new standards in press technology and service agreements
When Finnish industrial company Meconet needed a new press line, they turned to AP&T – the partner they had been working closely with for over five decades. This soon became a joint innovation project leading to the development of new technology and an innovative service agreement.
Collaboration between Meconet and AP&T dates back to the 1960s. Over the years, Meconet has invested in a number of AP&T presses. In 2020, they ordered a 1,600-ton servo press – the largest in Finland – not just to acquire a powerful and energy-efficient machine, but also to co-develop a new technology with AP&T. It was a logical investment, and one fully aligned with Meconet’s growth strategy.
– AP&T's technical expertise and ability to solve complex challenges made them our ideal partner for this, says Miikka Riittinen, Business Area Director at Meconet.
The technical solution is known as a pulsating hydraulic die cushion and is a method which, when combined with deep drawing, enables the production of more advanced components with greater precision and improved material utilization. To increase availability in production, a moving bolster was also integrated, allowing faster setup times to enhance flexibility.
– When we started looking at this, servo technology was still relatively new on the market and Meconet's idea with the pulsating hydraulic die cushion opened up new possibilities. We both saw the potential in developing a solution together to meet the new and changing needs of the market, says Krister Pettersson, Key Account Manager at AP&T.
Thanks to a close dialog between engineers, management and development teams from both companies, the development of the project was very effective.
Pulsating hydraulic die cushion – precision and new possibilities
The pulsating hydraulic die cushion is a sophisticated technique in sheet metal forming where the pressure that holds the sheet in place varies over the press cycle. It provides a more controlled and deeper forming of the material while also reducing the need for tool changes, resulting in a more efficient production process. The technology also allows thicker and stronger materials to be formed – a prerequisite for producing larger, high-strength components, which are particularly valuable in segments such as heavy vehicles, energy storage and shipbuilding industry.
– We have been working with deep drawing for over 100 years, and together with AP&T and the expertise they contribute, we have now taken our engineering to the next level. The pulsating hydraulic die cushion makes it possible to form components which are deeper and more complex with lower dimensional variation than previously, says Miikka Riittinen at Meconet.
Jarmo Räisänen, Factory Manager at Meconet, also sees major technical advantages with the new solution.
– For us, it's about being able to press more complex components with high precision and minimal material waste. And this is where AP&T has been invaluable in materializing our idea of the pulsating hydraulic die cushion. It has given us better control over material flow and optimized production in a way not previously possible, he says.
The new fully automized press line, located in Meconet's Äänekoski factory in Finland, produces a wide range and in small and medium volumes for various customers. As they can sometimes produce 10 different parts in a single day, flexibility and quick tool changes are particularly important features to maintain their fast setup time.
– The servo press with this new technology has meant a huge technological leap forward for us, concludes Miikka Riittinen at Meconet.
Innovative service contracts deliver long-term business benefits
In addition to technological developments, the collaboration between AP&T and Meconet also resulted in a new approach to service and maintenance. Together they developed an innovative service agreement – Availability Agreement AP&T 360 – that incentivizes both parties to keep the machine in top condition.
Jan Larsson, Business Development Manager at AP&T, initiated the new service agreement.
– AP&T is number one in lifetime performance. Our equipment is meant to last and run reliably all the time, and this service agreement shows that we are confident in what we promise, he says.
The contract with Meconet includes not only conventional services such as telephone support, response guarantee, and preventive maintenance, but also several innovative elements, such as:
- Spares as a Service – where Meconet subscribes to access to spare parts kept in stock at AP&T. The arrangement eliminates the need for in-house warehouses, ensures that parts are always fresh, and contributes to a more circular use of components.
- Performance guarantee – where pricing is linked to the line's performance, meaning that both Meconet and AP&T benefit from maintaining the highest level of uptime and efficiency.
– This type of agreement naturally requires a customer who systematically monitors operations and availability, and Meconet is a pioneer when it comes to this. So you could say that our model is based on mutual trust and shared responsibility, says Jan Larsson at AP&T.
– This is an agreement that gives us peace of mind and fewer headaches. We can focus entirely on our core business, i.e. developing innovative solutions for our customers, says Jarmo Räisänen.
A partnership for the future
The collaboration between AP&T and Meconet has resulted in a high-tech production line and a sophisticated contract model for service and maintenance. For Meconet, this has resulted in greater stability and higher quality in production. And for AP&T, an opportunity to offer its innovative service concept to more customers.
– Our teamwork has given us many new insights, including an even deeper understanding of our customers' needs, which in turn strengthens our own development, says Krister Pettersson at AP&T.
June 2025
Facts: Meconet
Meconet is a Finnish family-owned company with more than 125 years of experience in manufacturing springs, stamped, and deep-drawn products. With a strong international presence, Meconet offers services in product design, tool design, development, and contract manufacturing. The company employs approximately 450 persons and has six factories – five in Finland and one in Estonia, with plans for continued international growth.