Changing duties dress Tapio Pullinen
when in suit, when in overalls



Gothenburg, Norway, Malmo, Stockholm, Denmark... Familiar countries and cities to Tapio Pullinen, who has 20 years of experience in the Nordic woodprocessing industry. He returned to Finland from Malmo in 2006. Tapio has worked in sales and customer service for over 25 years and is now responsible for Forchem’s raw material purchases from the cellulose industry.

It is not always a question of raw material quantity and price. Quality, timing and logistics, alongside price stipulate what purchases are made and when. The key is knowing how to optimize. How much to buy? What quality? In what timeframe? A slice in life of a Purchase Manager. Planning and flexibility are important tools in the Purchase Manager’s briefcase. To this ex-orienteer, planning and weighing different routes is second nature.

- We have a small organisation, which means that everyone has an extensive range of responsibilities. I can be at the factory following a test run with my overalls on and the next minute be at a negotiating table with Plant Manager in my suit, Tapio describes the versatility and challenges this provides for him.

Different kind of purchases and other contracts take most of Tapio's time, who has also made completing studies on contract law.

- I enjoy dealing with contracts and over the years I have learned a practical technique in preparing them, Tapio calculates and continues tongue in cheek – Our contracts might even be intelligeble to most people.

From raw material deficiency to demand optimization

- Forchem’s position in the market has shifted. Before we would scrape together all the raw material we could get out hands on to meet growth targets, but now we are faced with a new challenge. We have to be able to predict producers production figures whilst keeping in mind opportunities, new contracts and technological developments bring.

- We have made long-term purchase agreements that on their own secure our raw material deliveries. On the other hand in our new situation, short-term demand is also meaningful, Pullinen points out and carries on – Rising raw material costs are a challenge. However I am sure this is the case in all other industries as well.

Product development and ecological values - the keys to the future

Throughout the company’s existence, product development has been very active. When asked where the innovative spirit comes from, Tapio lists a few things:
- Forchem started practically from scratch, which made it necessary to come up with new solutions. Another important factor is entrepreneuship. People who find their jobs worthwhile have found their way to Forchem. Also as a customer, Forchem is not just a ”raw material buyer” nor is it to its own customers just a ”seller”, proving that involvement with our interest groups’ product development is something we take very seriously indeed.

- Forchem is working among other things, on refining biofuels. Biofuels have great future prospects and many positive arguments are associated with them, most important of them being green values. As always the most challenging task is identifying the right client segment, Tapio identifies Forchem’s future challenges.

Feeling better when surrounded by forest

To counterbalance his work, in his spare time Tapio Pullinen enjoys active hobbies, such as hiking and other forms of exercise as well as spectator sports. Finland’s favorite sport – ice hockey is also at the top of Tapio’s list. However we could not get him to reveal which team he supports.

In addition to sports, also other outdoor activities plays an important role in Tapio’s life. Even outside of work the beauty of Finnish nature and forests entices him amidst the woods.
- The lack of forests was one of the main reasons why I decided to leave Malmo. Now I enjoy the fact that I can reach the woods from my front steps, if I so wish.