Trafomic Walle electric vehicle charging devices

Walle charging devices are Key Flag products and are manufactured at Trafomic’s factory in Raisio. Trafomic is a Finnish family-owned company founded in 1983, supplying electrical devices and components to both domestic and international companies.

"The story of Walle is rooted in our family business history. Traditionally, we have supplied electrical components to manufacturing industries, but we have also dreamed of entering the consumer market. When electric mobility started to gain traction, we decided to join in," says Tomi Mäkinen, Product Manager at Trafomic.

The history of modern electric mobility is not long, so very few companies operating in this field have extensive experience. Trafomic also entered the charging device business almost from scratch in 2019.

"We had certain foundations in place and good starting points for the charging device business, as our staff had a strong interest in electric cars and charging solutions. Today, we are already a significant player in the Finnish market," Mäkinen explains.

The first Walle charging devices were designed for detached houses, but today Trafomic also supplies charging systems for housing cooperatives and public sectors, where systems require more advanced functionalities.

A high-quality charging cable completes the charging device

LAPP Automaatio and Trafomic began their cooperation last year, making LAPP Automaatio now Trafomic’s sole supplier of charging cables.

"The cable supplied by LAPP Automaatio gave a strong impression of quality. For example, there are differences in connectors between manufacturers. Even the cable itself feels premium," says Tomi Kivilä, Procurement Manager at Trafomic.

Charging cables are often exposed to the elements, and in Finland that means everything from sunshine to freezing temperatures. In low-quality cables, the sheath easily changes color, and the connector material can deteriorate under varying weather conditions.

"Our charging cables are manufactured at LAPP Mobility’s factory in Germany. They have excellent customer references, which helped convince us that they were the right choice for Walle charging devices," says Juha Hakanen, Regional Sales Manager at LAPP Automaatio.

LAPP Automaatio and Trafomic agreed on buffer storage for charging cables in Finland. The cables arrive from Germany to LAPP Automaatio’s warehouse in Hyvinkää, from where they are delivered to Trafomic’s factory as needed.

The charging cables are delivered to Trafomic fully ready for installation. The cable includes a few customized details, such as length, which for Walle charging devices is either 5 or 8 meters.

"Cooperation with Trafomic has gone smoothly from the very beginning. Technical and commercial matters have been resolved together, and agreements have been honored. Some minor details have been fine-tuned along the way, but everything has progressed efficiently," Hakanen says.

Strong belief in electric mobility

Finland is not a pioneer in electric mobility, but confidence in its success here remains strong. Finland has an excellent national grid and domestic electricity production, which helps predict future driving costs.

"Battery technology is developing faster than ever before. More environmentally friendly, safer, and cheaper solutions are constantly being created. So much money is being invested in research that I firmly believe in the future of electric mobility," says Mäkinen.

"An electric car may not suit every purpose, but for example, heavy-duty vehicles can be electrified. That will be a major shift," Mäkinen continues.

In the charging device market, Finnish quality products face competition from low-cost solutions imported from abroad.

"The market is challenging because electricity is the same everywhere, and it doesn’t provide a competitive edge. Everything revolves around the quality and features of the device, and that’s where we want to focus. We cannot compete on price, because in that game, Finns cannot win," Mäkinen assesses.

For LAPP Automaatio, Walle charging devices have been an important addition to charging cable sales in Finland. Hakanen also finds the charging device industry personally rewarding.

"I think it’s great that we can support the production of domestic Walle charging devices and supply them with charging cables. Electric mobility is the thing of today," Hakanen concludes.