VR FleetCare is a manufacturer-independent provider of rolling stock maintenance and life-cycle management services as well as technical consultancy. Millog is VR FleetCare’s subcontractor for the maintenance of components such as diesel engine transmissions.
VR FleetCare is a subsidiary of the Finnish railway operator VR Group, which operates throughout the Nordic and Baltic regions. VR FleetCare employs more than 1,000 people and has an annual turnover of around EUR 200 million. Its job is to ensure that the rolling stock on Finland’s railways is safe and complies with customers’ specifications. VR FleetCare has outsourced the maintenance of mechanical diesel engine components and electrical systems of Sr2 engines to Millog.
“Our partnership started in 2018, when we began to outsource certain parts of our business after our workshop in Hyvinkää was closed down. Millog was awarded the contract for components and transmissions largely thanks to its high standard of service”, says VR FleetCare’s CEO Kimmo Soini.
“Millog was awarded the contract for components and transmissions largely thanks to its high standard of service.”
Kimmo Soini, CEO
Compatible maintenance philosophies
Most of the work under the partnership is carried out in two locations: Tervola in Lapland and Riihimäki in southern Finland. The team in Tervola takes care of various components of electric Sr2 engines, and the team in Riihimäki services diesel engine transmissions. All levels of the organisation are in constant contact with each other.
“We have our daily routines, and then we get together every six months to review the main principles of the partnership. We talk to each other about how the works are progressing and discuss the need for changes. One of the things I appreciate the most about Millog is how easy they are to reach and how actively they communicate with us. Millog makes us feel that we are important to them, and they are always happy to listen to our wishes and understand our needs and objectives well”, says VR FleetCare’s Head of Procurement and Buying Ilari Laakso.
“Another aspect of our partnership that I like is the fact that Millog has the ability to see things from the customer’s perspective and come up with solutions quickly if something does not go to plan”, Soini adds.
Collaboration between VR FleetCare and Millog works particularly well thanks to the compatibility of the organisations’ maintenance mentalities. Both take pride in their work and want to keep Finland’s rolling stock in good shape and extend its life through sensible maintenance solutions.
“VR FleetCare has a somewhat unconventional production philosophy. We want to promote responsibility in everything that we do and renovate old rolling stock rather than retire it whenever we can. Millog is on the same page with us in this respect. We are a part of the circular economy, and we are in this together”, Soini says.
“Millog makes us feel that we are important to them, and they are always happy to listen to our wishes and understand our needs and objectives well.”
Ilari Laakso, Head of Procurement and Buying
From reliability comes stability
VR FleetCare relies on Millog’s expertise in servicing rolling stock at different stages of its life cycle. Millog’s versatile expertise can be seen in its ability to service both mechanical equipment and more modern electrical technology. Reliability is another key element of the partnership.
“Millog is a safe and reliable partner that delivers on its promises. I am also pleased to see that Millog has not jumped on the bandwagon of aggressive stock level optimisation but has instead always focused on reliability”, Laakso says.
Reliable partners are a vehicle for growth
VR FleetCare is also hoping to grow beyond the VR Group and is looking for new potential customers outside of Finland and on the open market. According to Soini, a reliable network of partners is crucial for achieving the company’s international aspirations.
“We are basing more and more of our servicing and maintenance business on partnership networks and network management. Millog is one of our biggest partners, and having a competitive network is important to us. Millog makes our operations more efficient, and they are easy to communicate with.”