“A range of industries under one roof”

EMJ Metals is a Latvia-based company that specializes in advanced metalworking .. Since its establishment in 2010, it has grown to become a leading provider of metal laser cutting, bending, and fabrication services in the Baltic region. The company focuses on custom-ordered metal components, particularly for the defense industry. Agris  Punculs is the Marketing Director, he explains:

– We have been participating as exhibitors at Elmia Subcontractor for the last 7-8 years. It is a good place for us to meet customers, all gathered under one roof. Coming from Latvia it is a great travelling distance, but here we can meet many different companies and customers at once, which makes the travel well worthwhile.

“Navigating change together”

Elmia Subcontractors theme for 2024 is Navigating change together, which emphasize the need of cooperating across borders and companies. This is something essential for EMJ Metals, that operates and exports extensively to European countries, including Germany, Sweden, and  Finland. They are, among other things, a key partner in producing hulls for armoured vehicles, such as the Patria 6x6, following a successful technology transfer and certification by Patria, a Finnish military vehicle manufacturer. This enables EMJ to serve both Latvian and NATO military needs. Agris Punculs elaborates further:

– Our ideal clients to meet at the fair are purchasers or category managers, who is responsible for buying sheet metal parts in the company. Our customer portfolio is quite diverse, we deliver to the military, mining sector, energy sector, shipbuilding to just name a few. And at a fair like this, you could meet that diversity of segments.

“Like vawes in the sea”

Working in the booth at the fair is a task that alternately requires patience as well as energy. Agris Punculs expands: 

– Meeting the customers and visitors here at the fair is like waves in the sea. It is a work-day unlike your average office day, in the sense that you never know who will visit and what it may bring. But we have exhibited here for many years and know how to plan our days at Elmia.

During their years as exhibitors, EMJ Metals have seen different trends and influences. Agris Punculs reflects on this year’s pattern in the exhibitors stands:

– When we, as a foreign company, come to Elmia Subcontractor we see a pattern in what Swedish companies wants to display and talk about. The stands often display sustainable messages, something that is highly relevant on the Swedish market. Another trend that we have noticed is that companies are looking to have some additional services, which you can only get when there are humans involved. The human work, and service, is something we at EMJ provide – and is best explained in person, like on a fair like this.