Company

Our story

Novatron officially opened for business on 13 February 1991, as a sole trader. Established by Jukka Tervahauta, the company began operating from humble premises of 15 m2 in central Tampere. It later became a limited company. Novatron’s first product was the TM-10, an inclinometer for grader blades, which entered the market in the company’s first year. Equipped with an analogue display, this simple gauge replaced spirit levels on the bodies of graders.

However, the markets for grader inclinometers were not exactly huge. The next product was a depth gauge for excavators, whose sensor technology was patented in the Nordic countries, Germany and the USA. The gauge was simple to manufacture and use, being based on analogue technology, which was considered highly conventional at the time. No software meant no software bugs. An upgraded version of the initial excavator gauge included two buttons instead of one. However, according to at least one customer, the additional button made the product less intuitive: “Too many buttons, I don’t know which one to press.” The world has changed dramatically since then.

Novatron began to use a GPS system for the positioning of construction machinery in the late 1990s. The first tests on a GPS system for excavators were performed in Norway in 1999. At that time, few people can have been aware of how important satellite positioning would become for the control of heavy machinery. A migration to PC technology and the Windows operating system occurred in the early 2000s. Since then, Novatron has invested heavily in the development of 3D measurement applications for construction machinery.

In 2011, 20 years after its establishment, Novatron entered a key partnership with the German company MOBA AG. MOBA has more than 45 years of experience in the automation of mobile heavy machinery. The companies have complementary expertise and their collaboration has opened new doors for Novatron in market segments and technology. MOBA AG has a minority stake in Novatron Oy.

Today Novatron is major international supplier of machine control systems for earthmoving machinery, with 30 years of experience under its belt. Close cooperation with universities and research institutions is a key source of support in product development – continuous product development is vital to success against international competition. What was once a one-man company now employs over 130 staff and is a pioneer in the development of the machine control industry.

MOBA – MOBILE AUTOMATION SINCE 1972

MOBA Mobile Automation AG has been an established name in Mobile Automation for more than 40 years. Our know-how and years of experience in automation technology, distinguish us globally as recognized by experts in the development and production of machine control systems, identification, mobile weighing technology, and flexible software solutions.

Founded in 1972 as an engineering office, we have developed into a global player with the market-leading MOBA-leveling technology MOBA-matic II and innovation systems, such as PAVE-IR. Thanks to those years of experience, we know what is important on the construction site. We have always been known for precise, robust and state-of-the-art technologies with a focus on good usability. In the waste disposal industry, we have been a recognized expert for 25 years. In-depth knowledge and innovative strength have made MOBA Group a pioneer in identification and mobile weighing technology. Some of our well-known customers are Caterpillar, Volvo, Dynapac, Bomag, Vögele, Ammann, Ruthmann, and many more.

The first choice in mobile automation – that’s us. More than 100 development experts and 600 employees worldwide work on a common goal every day: to sustainably change the mobile automation sector. Close collaborations between the headquarter in Limburg an der Lahn and subsidiaries all over Europe, Asia, North and South America create new perspectives for recent and future developments. Our international dealer network helps us to be present all over the world to drive innovation globally.

More about MOBA: moba-automation.com

Novatron’s Quality Commitment

We want to help our end customers succeed by improving the productivity and quality of infrastructure construction. We work closely with our partners globally to find the best solutions for the automation of mobile machines.

Novatron’s management is committed to continuously improving its quality management system and operations.

In our daily operation, this means that:
• Everyone works with entrepreneurial spirit which includes comprehensive insight from a business and customer perspective
• We aim to provide cutting-edge technology, and the best know-how of automated mobile machinery and the open digitalisation of infrastructure construction
• We lead in a target-orient manner through open dialogue where various perspectives and opinions are taken into consideration
• We work as a team and develop processes and ways of working better together
• Everyone is responsible for the results and development of their own work

Certificates

DNV GL Business Assurance Finland Oy Ab has granted an ISO 9001:2015 certificate to Novatron Oy.

The certificate is valid for the following scope:
Development, manufacturing, installation, maintenance and support of machine control systems as well as training services for digitalized earthmoving.