Professor Eero Ristolainen

Citation

(2005), "Professor Eero Ristolainen", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 17 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ssmt.2005.21917baf.001

Professor Eero Ristolainen

Professor Eero Ristolainen

Professor Eero Ristolainen at Tampere University of Technology passed away aged 57 at his home following a sudden illness on 3 January.

Eero Ristolainen completed his doctorate in technology at Helsinki University of Technology. He worked at Helsinki University of Technology and the Espoo-Vantaa Institute of Technology, among others, and made a long career in tasks related to research and product development. He also had extensive experience from the business world. In 1992-1993, he worked in international tasks at the University of Florida.

Eero Ristolainen began his work at Tampere University of Technology in 1997 as professor at the Institute of Electronics. He started a field of research practically from scratch, but succeeded in quickly expanding it on a significant scale. His early research interest, the use of lead-free solder in consumer electronics, has produced notable results from the perspective of industry. These results are already utilized in the manufacture of items such as mobile phones. Eero Ristolainen’s most recent research interest was electronics packaging technology, particularly stacked devices and new solutions in electronics production. New research results will yield practical benefits for companies in the field in a few years’ time, when they are applied in practice in the mass production of electronics assembly. Eero Ristolainen was a visionary with the ability to see into the future when, for example, applying research results in practice.

Eero Ristolainen was energetic and active as well as a demanding and responsible director of research. Within the research community, Eero Ristolainen was inspiring and encouraging. His enthusiasm was infectious and his optimism an inspiration to solve even seemingly very difficult research problems. In addition to post-doctorate researchers, Eero Ristolainen supervised the work of a notable number of postgraduate students compiling their doctoral dissertations. As a superior he was open to discussion, praised work well done and provided good instructions for others to carry out their tasks. He valued the members of his work community and his jovial sense of humour provided the impetus to overcome many difficult situations.

Eero Ristolainen worked long days in Tampere and commuted regularly between his two hometowns in order to participate in his family’s life in the capital region. He also had the will to acquaint himself with his second hometown and participate in the various development projects in the business community in Tampere. People of influence in the business community valued Eero Ristolainen’s work and he was invited to participate in Rotary activities. His favourite form of exercise was golf, a hobby which he also shared with his wife.