The importance of machine building, metalworking and electronics (engineering industry) both in Estonian exports as well as imports has increased remarkably during recent years.
Today this branch of industry with its long-lasting traditions is one of the leading branches of the Estonian economy (output over 1920 Mill. EUR in 2008. The number of employees in the industry exceeds 27 000.
Most of the 460 enterprises in the engineering industry are situated in Tallinn and its nearby regions while the main part of vacant production capacity is located farther from Tallinn. Taking into account the relatively well-developed network of roads, railways and ports all enterprises wherever in Estonia they are located, are potentially suitable partners for foreign firms.
The Tallinn University of Technology, University of Applied Sciences and high level vocational schools specializing in the field of engineering ensure qualified engineers and workforce for Estonian enterprises.
More than half of the turover of the Estonian machine building and metalworking industry derives from subcontracting and has proven to be fast way for the industry to grow. The combination of low costs and geographical proximity to Scandinavia and Western Europe makes the Estonian companies ideal sub-contracting partners. In recent years also the internal demand from the construction sector has been important for the metal processing industry.
An important part of the metal processing sector are special tooling companies relying on a highly skilled workforce and modern technology using CNC machine tool park and CAD/CAM technology enabling enterprises to produce plastic injection moulds, die-casting moulds and sheet metal press tools of high quality and to respond to their clients needs quickly
The enterprises of the estonian engineering industry can be divided by main groups of production as follows:
Manufacturing of:
Metal goods
Containers, tanks, steel constructions, machine parts, subcontracting. Moulds for plastic parts, blanking dies etc.
Machines, equipment
Hoisting and conveying equipment, woodworkong machines, special industrial equipment agriculture and forestry machinery, etc.
Car and truck parts, trailers
Safety belts, cartrailers, light tractors, car and truck parts, subcontracting etc.
Ships, ship sections and repair
Shipbuilding and repair,ship sections, special lighters, etc.
Electromotors and equipment
Electromotors and transformers, electrical distributing and control equipment, cables, etc.
Instruments, telecomm.equipment
Measuring and process control equipment, lighting equipment and subcontracting etc.
