In the front row, right before the stage, sat a nervous man. The curtain opened, and the premiere of the play became reality. The lights dimmed, and the audience fell silent. The man followed the first scene closely, hoping for a miracle.

The man was Karel Čapek, a Czech writer. It was the year 1920, and the world was recovering from the horrors of the First World War. As the cannons fell silent and weapons were laid down, people reached toward a new future.

That same future was what Čapek’s play aspired to capture. In it, Rossum’s factories created human-like robots capable of working just like any of us. The idea was revolutionary, bringing a glimpse of tomorrow to a stunned audience.

The play became a success. The word “robot,” used for the first time, became established, and in many ways the play was astonishingly ahead of its time. Its influence can still be seen across the world today—including in our software company here in Lahti.

The kind of future technology envisioned by Čapek is still being developed within Rossum’s walls. For nearly two decades, we have been delivering efficient, easy, and secure solutions to people. Originally, our business idea was tied to robotics, but it has since evolved toward managing work and subcontracting chains.

The beginning of the name Rossum sometimes gives people a Russian impression, as there are several companies in Russia that begin with “Ros,” such as Rosatom, one of the world’s leading producers of nuclear fuel.

More accurately, however, “Ros” refers to robotics—or to a rose.

Rossum is also a surname, most commonly found in the Netherlands and the United States. Some actors and well-known family lines bear the name Rossum, which occasionally leads to amusing misunderstandings.

Harri Koskinen, Senior Advisor