Pump Service: Pioneering Growth in Finland's Water Management Sector
We had the pleasure of speaking with Jani Hämäläinen, MD of Pump Service River Oy, to gain insight into their impressive growth and recent major projects. Since joining the River Group in 2019, Pump Service has leveraged its extensive experience in the water management sector to expand its services and customer base significantly.
A Legacy of Excellence
Founded in 2008, Pump Service has grown from a small company into a pivotal part of River Group’s operations. Jani Hämäläinen shared the journey, “Our expertise lies in fixing and rebuilding pump stations. We are at the core of River Group, aligning perfectly with its vision and mission.”
Comprehensive Services for Diverse Clients
Initially catering to private customers and real estate owners, Pump Service now serves diverse clients, including state and municipal infrastructure projects, large shopping centres, and hotel chains. This evolution reflects the company’s ability to deliver comprehensive water management solutions, encompassing the entire water cycle in and out of infrastructures.
Strategic Business Segments
To manage its expanding services effectively, Pump Service has divided its operations into three distinct segments:
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- Pump Service: The cornerstone of their business, focusing on sewage and drainage water management.
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- Vacuum and High-Pressure Trucks: Initially an adjunct to the pump service, this segment has grown into a standalone business unit. “We bought our first truck about ten years ago to support our core business, allowing us to deliver comprehensive services without relying on subcontractors,” explained Hämäläinen. “This was our first ‘aha-moment’ in expanding our business and ensuring we could handle all aspects of a project ourselves.”
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- Clean Water Division: The company launched this segment last summer, which addresses the need for clean water in buildings. “This new segment allows us to manage the entire water cycle within real estate, providing both sewage and clean water solutions,” Hämäläinen noted.
Our expertise lies in fixing and rebuilding pump stations. We are at the core of River Group, aligning perfectly with its vision and mission.
Growth and Expansion
The clean water segment represents a significant growth opportunity for Pump Service. With an extensive customer base and a seasoned team, they can quickly capture market share.
“Our pump and truck services are growing organically, but the clean water segment is where we see the most potential,” Hämäläinen highlighted. “This addition enables us to offer complete water management solutions, which is highly appealing to our clients.”
Starting the clean water division posed challenges, including finding a new warehouse and understanding customer needs. However, the efforts have paid off. “Last week, our marketing efforts showed amazing results, and our bookings for the summer are almost already full,” Hämäläinen shared.
Future Prospects
Pump Service is already tackling significant projects like sewage management for Finland’s largest hotels and shopping centres. Cross-selling across their segments has proven effective, leveraging existing relationships to offer comprehensive services. “Our customers trust us because of our excellent customer service and swift response time,” Hämäläinen emphasized.
Looking ahead, Pump Service aims to expand its workforce and capabilities. “This summer, we’re increasing our team from two to five full-time employees in the clean water segment,” Hämäläinen revealed. The company also envisions further expansion into dry vacuum trucks, contingent on achieving its goals in the current segments.
Pump Services’ strategic growth, robust expansion plan, and focus on innovation set the company up to continue its impressive trajectory and make significant contributions to the River Group and beyond.
