Global top for 30 years, still evolving

An electronic forestry measurement device invented by a Rovaniemi-based entrepreneur 30 years ago still dominates the world market for measuring timber.

The company, Masser Oy, was established by Kari-Pekka Uurtamo, who said the company’s turnover is now about one million euros.

Based on the diameters of the trees to be felled,the electronic device measures the accumulated harvest in cubic metres.

Uurtamo founded Masser Oy together with a partner in 1987 after inventing the device that can be used in more than 300 different software applications.

“I graduated in computer science and had to study in many countries’ forestry science programmes courtesy of my [product] development work,”Uurtamo, also the managing director of the company, told the Daily Finland in an interview.

Uurtamo’s product development direction is highly visible, since new features have been being added to the device all the time. Now is the turn for the sixth-generation device.

“Development work is carried out all the time, even though currently there is no competition in the world. It is not easy to make a precise mechanical measuring device,”Uurtamo added.

He said he has stopped patenting, since it is difficult to prevent copying. Even so, it demands litigation which cannot be afforded by a small business.

Masser Oy is a private company focused on developing and manufacturing data collection and measurement systems for foresters. The systems are manufactured for domestic needs as well as for exports.

Masser Oy devices cover the entire forestry sector -- from forest seedling stands, data collection, to the industry’s end products.The company has produced data collection systems for forest inventory, pre-harvest measurement, log scaling, pile volume calculation, harvester calibration and control measurements.

Masser-calipers, data collectors, inclinometers, basal area calculators and distance measurement devices are designed as user-friendly to use in the tough forest environment. Thanks to their rugged design, these instruments will work for years in the rain, dust, cold, heat, and other demanding conditions.

Masseroffers ready-made software packages for the most common applications, but also provides customised systems as well as software that the customer can make their own applications from.

Uurtamo said eight employees are now working in his company Masser and he has also developed another company,Noreca.

Noreca’s turnover is about two million euros, where 16 employees are working at this moment.

Noreca produces CNC-precision milled products for highly demanding customers. Its services also include form pressing of aluminium, welding and heat treating. Noreca is also situated in Rovaniemi.