Master of Automaatio – Jaakko Koskialho: “Automated efficiency with uncompromising reliability”
Automation keeps paper reels moving without manual intervention. At Raumaster Paper, Chief Engineer Automation Jaakko Koskialho oversees complex systems that deliver long‑lasting, dependable and predictable performance.
Jaakko works in Raumaster Paper’s Electricity and Automation Department as one of five chief automation engineers. True to its name, the department is responsible for all electrical and automation engineering across the company’s deliveries. The role is central since electricity is present in every project, and automation in almost all of them.
“Most of our deliveries are complete systems where every function is integrated. Our task is to design the automation and electrification of production lines, and to develop the programs, controls and user interfaces. In an optimal setup, paper reels travel from the slitter rewinder to the packaging line, into storage and finally onto the lorry – without any manual steps,” Koskialho explains.
Automation specialists bring their own expertise in projects already in the layout phase, so that they will have a clear understanding of what is coming and how it will be executed. Each project has a chief engineer responsible for the whole process. Jaakko is specialised in saws and reject slitters.
“Sometimes we support the sales team already in the tendering phase. Once the layout is ready, we first review it internally and then together with the customer. This way we align their expectations with our expertise and create functionalities that meet even the most demanding requirements.”
“With our extensive automation expertise, we meet high quality demands and fulfil our customers’ expectations,” says Jaakko Koskialho.
Clear and dependable user interfaces
A graduate in automation engineering, Koskialho began at Raumaster Paper as an automation designer in 2015, later working for nearly a year as an automation specialist at HKScan’s Rauma facility. He returned to Raumaster Paper in 2020 to take up his current role.
“The work of a chief engineer is highly versatile. Beyond programming skills, it requires the ability to organise processes and schedules, and to maintain oversight of broad systems,” he summarises.
His responsibilities include pre‑engineering, component selection and reviewing the system as a whole before detailed design begins. This includes, for example, PLC programming, functional descriptions and system documentation. He also occasionally participates in commissioning and supports engineers while serving as a key contact for customers.
“Our work starts by going through the line device by device: what sensors are needed, what controls must be implemented and how everything interacts. Today, lines are increasingly connected to networks, allowing far more data to be collected. This brings its own requirements, especially from an IT standpoint.”
Raumaster Paper’s automation team is tight‑knit and highly experienced, making their expertise widely applicable across different types of projects. In addition to new systems, the department handles upgrades and modifications to equipment already in operation.
“Often, existing programmes can be adapted for different needs. We’ve developed highly reliable user interfaces where the machine automatically tells the operator why something isn’t working. This makes it easy to locate a fault quickly, which minimises the length of downtime.”
The role of Raumaster Paper’s Electricity and Automation Department is central since electricity is present in every project, and automation in almost all of them.
Master of Automation, so how is automation mastered?
Jaakko Koskialho, Raumaster Paper: “Automation keeps equipment running, enhancing production efficiently, reliably and without manual steps. Robust user interfaces reduce downtime and help anticipate maintenance needs. With our extensive automation expertise, we meet high quality demands and fulfil our customers’ expectations.”
