Purso-Tools Oy, located in Pori on the west coast of Finland, is globally recognized as a manufacturer of heavy-duty camshafts and connecting rods. The company’s customers include engine manufacturers and applications for engines in ships and power plants.
Purso-Tools is the world’s largest producer of camshafts for heavy industry and, in its sector, one of the few of its kind, especially in Europe. “Camshafts and connecting rods are critical engine components, and traditionally engine manufacturers have preferred to produce them in-house. However, things have changed. A lot of factors must be in place, and manufacturers’ trust must be earned in order to become part of their production chains,” commented Mika Aerikkala, Production Manager at the company.
Controlled quality
Purso-Tools Oy has been steadily building its position since the mid-1990s. Today, the company manufactures camshafts for nearly all major engine manufacturers. Its well-known customers include Wärtsilä, MAN, Bergen Engines (Rolls Royce), Bosch, and Caterpillar.
The company’s success in global competition—even against in-house production by engine manufacturers—is built on strong specialization, cost efficiency, and the ability to manage large and complex product portfolios.
Uncompromising quality management is an absolute prerequisite for success. “When we talk about quality management, we are at the very core of our operations. In the production of connecting rods and camshafts, we deal with tolerances measured in thousandths of a millimeter. Not a single defective part can be sent to a customer,” said Aerikkala.
At Purso-Tools, quality management methods have evolved as customer requirements have grown, and the number of inspections has increased year by year. Investment in quality and its continuous maintenance is an ongoing process at the company.
In addition, the company holds customer approvals for supplying components to nuclear power plants.
From a single source
Quality is a necessity—ensured in practice by modern measurement technology. The company’ long-standing technology and service partner in the field of measurement has been Mitutoyo. The collaboration began in the early 2010s.
At that time, Purso-Tools was looking for a new coordinate measuring machine and found the right solution in Mitutoyo, which had recently made significant investments in its Finnish operations. “Purso-Tools was one of the very first customers of our Finnish office, and the purchase was immediately a major one. The Mitutoyo Crysta Apex 163012 was, for a long time, the largest coordinate measuring machine we had delivered to Finland,” said Harri Salmi, Country Manager of Mitutoyo.
This purchase marked the beginning of a partnership that has taken many forms over the years. “Previously, we used technology from several different suppliers. Now, we have practically focused on this one brand,” said Aerikkala.
Purso-Tools currently operates three large Mitutoyo coordinate measuring machines: Crysta Apex 163012, Crysta Apex 122010, and the latest addition, Crysta Apex 574.
“All of these machines use the same measurement head and probe options, making them easily interchangeable in our operations. The larger machines are equipped with the motorized indexing probe head we value highly. It adds dynamic capability and speed to the measurement process. Compared to fixed straight probe heads, the difference in performance is significant—this was a key factor in our investment decision,” Aerikkala explained.
Practical usability
In addition to its three coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), the copmany utilizes a wide range of other Mitutoyo equipment, including surface roughness testers and handheld measuring instruments. More demanding surface roughness measurements—such as waviness analysis—are carried out in the metrology room using a software-driven Mitutoyo Surftest SJ-500P. Data management, collection, and analysis are handled with Mitutoyo’s MeasurLink software. The advanced technology in Mitutoyo machines and instruments is highly valued.
“What we appreciate in Mitutoyo’s machines and software is their practical usability. It makes the everyday work of our operators smooth and enjoyable,” explained Aerikkala. “The consistent accuracy of the machines and instruments is ensured through calibration agreements with the equipment supplier. This way, we always have calibrated machines in use,” Aerikkala added.
