In 1971 Gillberg was selected the General Manager of the
Sisu vehicle producer
Suomen Autoteollisuus to replace the owner-manager
Tor Nessling, who had led the company patriarchally for nearly four decades. The board of SAT wanted to choose a such manager who would modernise the organisation and grow the company. However, the great expectations of the partnership failed
S-series lorries In 1977 SAT started a project for modernising of lorries. The new range, S-series, was launched at the beginning of the 1980s. The first model was SK 150 which entered the market in 1980. A significant feature was modulised cabin that enabled use of the same structure in both conventional and forward control models with minor changes. Despite being a small producer, Sisu could offer a very large selection of lorries for various purposes because of highly modulised construction. The S-series was received well in the market and remained technically competitive over the whole decade.
Markets and facilities The company name was changed
Oy Sisu-Auto Ab in 1981. In the domestic market Sisu was the leading make among the heaviest vehicles, such as earthmoving, road maintenance and logging trucks. Share of exports reached 23% at its best. The major export articles were
terminal tractors, in which Sisu-Auto became the leader in European market, and military vehicles, XA-180 in particular. Terrain capability was one of the core competences of the company. The assembly plants were located in Helsinki, Karis and Hämeenlinna. The company opened a new facility in Mäntyharju for plastic component production
End of Gillberg's era The state, which was the main owner of Sisu-Auto, was not satisfied with Gillberg's work because the renewal of the model range consumed quickly the savings which were reached before. Gillberg was removed from the office at the end of 1983 and replaced by Jorma S. Jerkku, who immediately started a heavy reorganisation programme. == Positions of trust ==