Full acquisition of Lekatech presents electrifying possibilities

A cultural and strategic fit

“Ever since we began our collaboration with Normet we have known that our companies are a close fit culturally and strategically,” says Anttila from Lekatech headquarters in Iitti. “Over the past couple of years our work has progressed in tandem, and we are now able to make the most out of our relationship.”

The relationship is mutually beneficial. For Normet, the acquisition sets them firmly at the forefront of electric hammering research and development. For a startup company like Lekatech, their acquisition by a global giant like Normet provides many opportunities for growth and development.

“Normet enables us to expand and speed up the adoption of electric hammering technology across industries on a global scale,” says Anttila. “We still exist as an independent company as part of the Normet Group, but we now have the chance to take advantage of the wider company’s experience and in particular research possibilities.”

Testing in challenging conditions

The focus on research is particularly important. Since Normet first acquired part of Lekatech, many tests have been carried out by the two companies, such as putting the latter company’s electric hammers through their paces at the Pyhäsalmi research mine in Finland.

The mine presents challenging conditions at depths up to 1.5 km which present the perfect opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the fully electric hammer in real-world environments. These means examining how well the hammer can withstand continuous use, ease of use for operators, operational cost, and energy consumption. It was paired with Normet’s Scamec LC Thor scaling machine.

“It has been very exciting to see our hammer in action in Pyhäsalmi,” Anttila explains, “where it performed extremely well. The conditions in the mine showed what the technology is truly capable of with its reduced energy consumption and environmental impact.”

The tests also showed the advantages to Normet and Lekatech of having the electric hammer technology as part of Normet’s suite of offerings. Integrating the hammer with other electrically powered offerings such as the SmartDrive® battery-electric architecture and XRock® breaker and boom systems widens the possibilities for the companies and customers in relation to improving environmental and economic performance.

“The Pyhäsalmi tests are just one example of how we are continuing our product development,” says Anttila. “We are in an industry where endurance is essential, so we do extensive testing in different customer working environments and with various booms, excavators, and so on.”

Making the most of growth opportunities

Overall, Anttila believes the future is bright for Lekatech. With Normet’s support, the company can continue with their growth plans. With tests proving the superior performance of the electric hammer, the possibilities to revolutionise the industry have only increased.

“We have a lot of growth ambitions. Normet has a multitude of organisational elements and capabilities that we can make use of in the short and long term. Although our focus is mainly on the European market, global growth is possible in the future,” he concludes.