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Helsinki started its year as World Design Capital 2012 (WDC)
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23
EDITORIAL Design, culture and entertainment
Twenty three years of Business Finland
T
he 1950s and ‘60s were golden decades of Finnish design. Many prestigious designers won awards and received international fame with their products. The success has also continued thereafter. But, it has been learned that not all design need the label “Finnish design”.
EDITORS Klaus Susiluoto Sini Pennanen Piia Vilja Jarkko Repo Nina Garlo Michael Nagler Kalle Heino Mervi Lepojärvi Liisa Leeve LANGUAGE EDITOR Darin Nolan Quingbo Xu DESIGN AND LAYOUT Aivo Blum MARKETING Jorma Leppäniemi Tel. +358 9 42821012
Some Finnish design objects have become symbols of Finnishness.”They are our common cultural heritage and evoke personal memories and images”, as the minister for culture, Paavo Arhinmäki, says in our interview. In January 2012, Helsinki began its year as World Design Capital 2012 (WDC), together with the cities of Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti. The World Design Capital is an initiative of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). The Finnish central government is strongly involved in the project. The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy are providing joint financial support. The World Design Capital 2012 is naturally just one way of increasing the recognition of Finnish design abroad. The WDC also takes local inhabitants into account, wishing to activate them in design issues and in making their everyday environment more comfortable and functional. There is every reason to believe that the Design Capital year will leave a lasting mark on Finnish society and the everyday life of people living in Finland. Design and culture can also create jobs. This is why it is important to support cultural entrepreneurship and the creation of cultural jobs, as well as promote cultural exports.
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Many Finnish companies have also entered other creative branches, in addition to design. The best example might be the Finnish-originated Angry Birds, but there are also other success stories in computer/mobile games, movies, literature and music. Broadly speaking, arts, design and entertainment can also be successfully made in smaller countries like Finland.
B
usiness Finland, the leading international publication on the Finnish economy, has now reached the age of 23. During its two decades of publication it has featured members of the Finnish business elite as well a number of the Republic’s key decision makers.
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PUBLISHER Kustannusosakeyhtiö Perhemediat Oy Purpuripolku 6, 00420 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 42821000 Fax. +358 9 42821030
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jorma Leppäniemi
Jorma Leppäniemi
-p
However, it is of no use underestimating the national aspect. Finnish Design raised our country at the edge of Europe to international awareness, onto the world market, to fairs and museums.
olis
A great deal of modern-day design is not national, but linked to innovative companies, international lifestyle and functionality, rather than visual appearances.
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Airport Cluster Companies
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1/ 2012
25.5.2010 15.39
30.9.2011 10.00 23.11.2010 8.57
19.4.2012 13.45
contents
2 8 14 20 24 28 32 38 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 86 94 100 106 112 118 126 134 140 144 150 158 162 166 172 176 180 186 194 198 200 203 206
WDC – Success from Finland The Dynamic Legacy of Finnish Architecture The Finnish Glass Museum Praises the Story of Finnish Glass Design Newly Emerging Olympic Stadium Spirit The Sports Museum of Finland Finnish Modern Art at EMMA Museum Honkatalot – Traditional or Modern Eco-friendly Living Erlund House – Individual, Warm and Healthy Living Stylish Premises – Essential Part of Corporate Branding Woodnotes – Unique Characteristics of Paper Urban Living by BoConcept Boknäs Builds Classic Finnish Furniture Pohjanmaan Kaluste Manufactures Quality Finnish Furniture Punkalives Innovative Furniture is Gaining Reputation Abroad Vallila Interior – Continuity, Reliability and Constant Renewal Familon Strong Part of Finlayson Concept Cariitti Illuminating the Way to the Future Good-hearted Havi Candles Nanna Susi – Passion and Soul-like Cruelty Reflections of Northern Nature Andiata It’s All About the Family – Ivana Helsinki Annikki Karvinen: Finnish Quality Clothes for People at All Ages Sustainable Jewellery by Ofelia Wood Jewel – Strong Faith in Local Materials and Motifs Pyroll – Flexible, Fair and Forward Leading the Way to International Markets CE Lindgren Found Its Niches Caviar From the Top of the World Oversol – Lighting the Way Novoplastik Oy – Continuous Improvement, Innovative Material Solutions M/S Viking Grace – a Completely New Kind of Experience on the Sea Chain Competence of Sokos Hotels Seinäjoki Leaps Forward Guidance for Becoming an Enterpreneur Frami Provides and Activates South Ostrobothnia – a Province of Uniqueness Entrepreneurship from South Ostrobothnia
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WDC
Success from Finland
Helsinki started its year as World Design Capital 2012 (WDC), together with the cities of Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti. The World Design Capital is an initiative of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID).
Finnish Design has raised our country at the edge of Europe to international awareness, to the world market, to fairs and museums."
T
he Finnish central government is strongly involved in the project. The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy are providing joint financial support. The Minister of Culture and Sport, Mr Paavo Arhinmäki, is responsible for
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: WDC Helsinki
matters relating to culture, sports, youth, copyright and student financial aid. Arhinmäki says that design has played an important role in Finland. “The post-war heroic tale of Finnish Design is virtually a myth already. Finnish Design has raised our country at the edge of Europe to international awareness, to the world market, to fairs and museums.
Some Finnish design objects have become symbols of Finnishness. They are our common cultural heritage and evoke personal memories and images. “The classics are still going strong. Alongside them I would like to see new Finnish design emerge, exert influence more widely and bring income to Finnish designers. A better everyday life has
Business Finland 1/2012
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always been the goal in our design.” In Arhinmäki’s view design is more than beautiful objects. “The designer's input is needed to develop material and immaterial products and services and to solve problems, such as the improvement of hospital services. The methods used in design are fit for many purposes.” It is also important that the objects around us promote sustainable development and responsible culture: “We have to conserve natural resources and therefore produce high-quality, adaptable, durable and easily repaired object made from local and recyclable, preferably renewable, materials.”
Stronger SME efforts Good design helps enterprises and the public sector to take better account of user (consumer) needs. There is much to do, still, says Arhinmäki. “Design should be utilised more broadly, particularly by the SME sector. In the first national design policy pro-
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gramme, which was prepared at the turn of the millennium, it was seen indispensable that SMEs use more designer services. We have excellent designers and producers (businesses), but unfortunately these do not always meet.” The participation of the central government in the World Design Capital project is based on a Government resolution. “The project of the City of Helsinki is important for the Government because it seeks to embed design into the development of people's living conditions, international interaction and economic progress. The aim is to step up the use of design in different walks of life.” Do you think that the Design Capital year will increase the utilisation of design and improve the employment rate and livelihood of artists and other creative professionals? “I have every reason to believe that the Design Capital year will leave a lasting mark on Finnish society and the everyday life of people living in Finland. Design is being used more widely and designers'
employment and income are improving. Finns get better services and products. Culture has a lead role in the construction of society.” The subsidies allocated to culture must focus on helping create and distribute artistic and cultural content. “We need to support cultural entrepreneurship and the creation of cultural jobs and promote cultural exports. The use of design is in everybody's interest, as well as an asset for us in improving Finnish competitiveness.”
Not only Helsinki How has cities' work of 2012 been coordinated? (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Lahti, Kauniainen). What are the highlights in the program? “The Ministry of Education and Culture has worked in close cooperation with the Ministry of Employment and the Economy and other operators in preparing and monitoring the Government resolution on WDC funding. We aim to carry on this cooperation and to review the national design programme during
neighbourhood events have changed the atmosphere in Helsinki. The Restaurant Day, which is a one-day carnival, brings a new sense of belonging to people. I love street art and festivals.” “There is much to do still. Helsinki must become still more cyclist-friendly. In the warm, light summer nights Helsinki has a particular flavour of its own. One of my favourite places is Pohjoisranta by the sea. I often leave my cycle leaning on the park bench and sit marvelling at the sun rising from the east and painting the skies pink behind sailing yachts.” “I like old red-brick industrial buildings. It is a pity that in their efficiency frenzy the decision-makers keep demolishing them to give way to a modern Helsinki. I don't think that every generation has to build Helsinki all over again. Old buildings must be protected and converted to new uses”.
Culture brings tourists Apart from our famous pure nature, what foreign tourist look for in our country is
culture. For many, culture and the Finnish way of life are the primary reason for coming here. Abroad our art and culture are largely known for design and architecture. I have heard Finland praised as a brilliant design destination. Asian tourists are well-informed about our design and architecture and have a special affinity with Alvar Aalto. During the Design Capital year, design will naturally have a stronger role. For example, the New York Times had Helsinki on its list of the most interesting destinations in 2012. This year boasts an exceptionally rich range of events. Design is also a highlight in events outside the capital city. Design tourists coming to Helsinki often have a visit to Lapland in their itinerary. In Lapland, too, design is solidly in evidence. The strong design themes and unique culture in the North interest foreigners, as does the active and functional everyday life in natural conditions that vary from the deep darkness of the Arctic winter to the overabundant lush light of summer.
Business Finland 1/2012
culture & design
this year.” Paavo Arhinmäki believes that the Design Capital year has a wide range of interesting events to offer. “I find it interesting and relaxing to amble around in galleries and museumsI also really like the idea of bringing art – in this case design – to where people live. Arhinmäki appreciates a variety of design objects: “My absolute favourite is Karhu running shoes. Karhu Originals also weaved an interesting story around its history. I was once asked what I would bring to President Obama if I met him. My answer was: an Aalto stool and a Makia jacket.” Design is not only objects. Architecture and public space count also much. “ The World Design Capital (WDC) designation is unique as it aims to focus on the broader essence of design’s impact on urban spaces, economies and citizens. In the Design Capital application, Helsinki used the term Open Helsinki – Embedding Design in Life. “Year by year, Helsinki is getting an ever more open and fun city. Lively
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Good design in not elitist Is design sometimes too elitist? Finnish design has not been elitist. It has always had usability and functionality in mind, which is why it is central to everyday life. Do you think these features will prevail also today? “Alvar Aalto stools and Fiskars axes need no explanation. They are everyday design. I think Finish design has kept its functional character, itis generally quite straightforward and practical. “Two examples of this are the Karhu running shoes and the Makia coats I mentioned earlier. Our northern country needs practical design. Of course, we also have and need the other kind of design. But it is not for a minister to determine what content art has or should have.” “One thing I would like to say is that
Business Finland 1/2012
it would be nice if at least some Finnish design was accessible to all people, also the least affluent. This is why we need to invest in public art. The Government Programme contains a policy line to promote the "one per cent into art" principle in construction.” In Arhinmäki’s view architecture, art and design support each other. “Design and art add the finishing touches to architecture. This is where the oneper-cent principle comes in, both in new construction and in renovation. We have some complete architectural works of art, such as Hvitträsk, the Parliament House and Mäntyniemi, in which architecture, design and art form a superb whole.”
Among the wealth of interesting events in the Design Year 2012 programme, Arhinäki has spottedand recommends the following three: 1. Design Your Own City and Urban Stage is a project conceived by the City of Helsinki Youth Department in which young people shape municipal properties, parks, local neighbourhoods and other places
of interest to them with their own creations using recycled materials. This allows young people in Helsinki to bring their own contribution to the development of their environment and to the planning and execution of plans. 2. Hands that draw the future, which is the centenary exhibition of the Finnish Association of Designers Ornamo, presents contemporary design and designers, as well as looking back at the history of design. At the heart is the designer, his or her skill and work. The objects
and designs are accompanied by interview material, which gives a voice and a face to the artist. There is also a series of events and discussions. The hands that draw the future are seen in the cityscape and as a satellite exhibition at Lasipalatsi square. 3. Shapeshift is a three-part thematic whole. The aim is to generate a critical social dialogue, bring together makers of art and the public, activate Helsinki residents and bring contemporary art to the public space.
culture & design
Arhinmäki’s WDC favourites:
www.wdchelsinki2012.fi
Minister of Culture and Sport Paavo Arhinmäki
Business Finland 1/2012
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Dynamic Legacy Finnish Architecture
The
Text: Kalle Heino Photos: Museum of Finnish Architecture, Antti Luutonen/NRT, Nina Kellokoski
of
The Museum of Finnish Architecture will participate in the World Design Capital Year with the greatest possible scale of design.
A
s Helsinki celebrates the World Design Capital Year, there is one field of design which could too easily be bypassed: architecture. That is the reason why the Museum of Finnish Architecture, situated in the centre of Helsinki, in the Design District of Kaartinkaupunki, is proud to be crucially involved in the WDC year. �We are glad that design is seen in a wider perspective, in which architecture is also included. As you think of the scale of different kinds of design, architecture is the largest possible scale of design,� Juulia Kauste, the director of the Museum of Finnish Architecture says.
The current permanent exhibition takes the visitors on a journey into the Finnish architecture of the 20th century."
culture & design
For Professionals and NonProfessionals The fundamental task of the Museum of Finnish Architecture is to collect and distribute knowledge about architecture and increase its understanding among the general public as well as experts. Kauste explains that the museum wants to have different layers in its activity – the museum has primarily been producing information for professionals, but now it also wants to pay more attention to non-professionals.
Embassy of Finland, Berlin, 1999 / Germany / VIIVA Architects Photo: Jussi Tiainen
”Many people think that architecture is something difficult. But, we live our everyday lives surrounded by it and this fact is easy to forget.” The museum concentrates on Finnish architecture in the 20th century, but also gathers information from the present architecture as well. ”It is positive to see that there are a large number of architects of young generations from Finland who receive lots of international attention. Finnish architecture is known worldwide through the old masters, but it is more about a dynamic legacy that lives on in the architecture,” Kauste says.
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culture & design
Wuxi Grand Opera, 2011 China PES Architects Photo: Yuan Xuqin
Exhibitions Popular Abroad The current permanent exhibition takes the visitors on a journey into the Finnish architecture of the 20th century. The development of the architecture can be seen, from national romanticism to classicism and functionalism. The international fame of Finnish architecture started in particular in the
Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw, 2012, Poland Photo: Lahdelma & Mahlam채ki
1950s, when there was a period of rebuilding after the war. Names such as Alvar Aalto gave a touch to Finnish architecture that still attracts professionals and architecture students from all over the world to make pilgrimages to Finland. This is also one reason why the Museum of Finnish Architecture takes many
Pan Gyo Housing, Seoul 2011 South Korea Photo: Helin & Co
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culture & design Kilden Performing Arts Centre, Kristiansand 2011 / Norway. Photo: ALA Architects
Embassy of Finland, Washington 1994 / USA. Photo: Heikkinen-Komonen Architects KUMU Art Museum, Tallinn 2006 Estonia / Vapaavuori Architects Photo: Jussi Tiainen
exhibitions abroad – and why they are extremely popular outside Finland. ”We have ca. 20 000 visitors annually – but, for example, 300 000 people saw our exhibitions abroad in 2010.”
Rethinking the City At the present time, the two great questions in Finnish architecture are sustainability and the possibilities for the future. An Upcoming exhibition, Transformation: Towards a sustainable future concentrates on sustainability in Finnish smallscale residential building operations. The exhibition is based on the fact that the home that a person chooses may be the most important ecological decision that they ever make. The built environment has been calculated as accounting for up to 60 percent of climate changes. Finland will attempt to achieve a significant reduction in emissions and energy consumption with the new energy-
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Exchange of Ideas in WDC Pavilion The central meeting point and the hub of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 will be a pavilion which will be opened next to the Museum of Finnish Architecture in May. The pavilion will be a venue for diverse programmes, including workshops, presentations, open forums, discussions, film screening, design flee markets and picnic events. The Museum of Finnish Architecture will organize the Archilab Forum in the pavilion. Archilab is a series of workshops, panel discussions and open forums for an exchange of ideas on themes related to sustainability and architecture. Some discussions will be related to Shorelines and Transformation: Towards a sustainable future exhibitions.
culture & design
efficiency requirements that are taking effect this summer. The exhibition provides fresh perspectives and ideas on how a potential negative can be turned into a positive by changing our old ways of thinking. It delves into the changes that are going on in the climate, lifestyle and environment. ”In Helsinki, there is, for example, concern as to how to rethink the usage of old parts of the city, such as the old harbour areas. Architecture gives answers to the questions that are raised by this concern,” Kauste explains. ”We want to show a diverse selection of options and give visitors a chance to make their own conclusions.”
Helsinki from Another Point of View The Museum of Finnish Architecture has a large collection of drawings and photographs, a number of models and an extensive library. ”Reserch is a remarkable part of our museum,” Kauste says. In December, the exhibition Unbuilt Helsinki will show how Helsinki would look like with all the unrealised projects. Unbuilt Helsinki is a research studio and model workshop based on findings from the archive and beyond. Chosen projects include famous landmarks such as Stockmann, unrealised projects such as the planned motorway by Smith-Polvinen, and also projects that are completely unknown to the wider audience.
Merenkulkija Housing, Lauttasaari, Helsinki. NRT Architects 2008. Photo: Antti Luutonen/NRT
Exhibitions 2012 • Permanent: Decades of Finnish Architecture 1900–1970 • 28 Mar – 27 May Shorelines – Urban waterfront living
Museum of Finnish Architecture Kasarmikatu 24, Helsinki Open Tue–Sun 11am–6pm, Wed 11am–8pm www.mfa.fi
• 6 Jun – 22 Jul Finnish Architecture 2010–2011 • 6 Jun – 30 Sep Transformation: Towards a sustainable future • 10 Oct – 25 Nov Snøhetta: architecture – landscape – interior • 4 Dec – 24 Feb 2013 Unbuilt Helsinki
Business Finland 1/2012
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Text: Kalle Heino Photos: The Finnish Glass Museum
The
Finnish Glass Museum
Praises the Story of Finnish Glass Design
”People are interested in stories about glass. The visitors will find something that is connected to their life,” Koivisto says. ”During the 1950s, Finland was recovering from the war and there was space for special design. This started to make Finnish glass design known worldwide.”
Space for Special Designs
culture & design
T
he Finnish Glass Museum, situated in Riihimäki, an old glass manufacturing town located 70 kilometres north of Helsinki, captures the entire 300 years of history of Finnish glass design, as well as the history of glass dating back 4 000 years. At the moment, Finnish glass design is going through a change and the museum would like to tell the story behind this change. ”When Finnish glass designers emerged after the Second World War, the field of glass production was protected from exporting. Now, everything is global, the designers are more educated and glass is mass produced. Small operators want to do something special that gives more value to glass designs. This has also provided the designers with an artistic freedom,” says curator Kaisa Koivisto. For the Finnish Glass Museum, living through this change means that it wants to provide every visitor with something that can be thought about.
This year, there will be several exhibitions which will provide this particular feeling of emphasis. For example, the work of Erkkitapio Siiroinen (1944–1996), a young promising name at the past Riihimäki Glassworks, is currently being shown in the museum. Siiroinen began his work with glass as a factory clerk in 1963 and, at the same time, began his studies in industrial design at the Institute of Industrial Art in Helsinki. Alongside his studies, Siiroinen began to design for Riihimäki Glassworks, with a philosophical background for his work.
Nanny Still: Harlekiini, Riihimäen Lasi 1958
The museum collection was then based on 500 objects and artefacts collected by the students of the Häme Province Student Corporation."
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culture & design Riihimäki and the History of Glass As the exhibition of Erkkitapio Siiroinen proves, the Finnish Glass Museum is in Riihimäki for a reason, since Riihimäki has a long tradition of glass production. The old Riihimäki Glassworks began its operation in 1910, but was shut down
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in 1990. The Finnish Glass Museum was established in Riihimäki in 1961. The museum collection was then based on 500 objects and artefacts collected by the students of the Häme Province Student Corporation. At the beginning, the museum operated in a villa in the centre of Riihimäki, but moved into its present building in
1980. The museum facility was originally built as a ground peat mill in 1914, but in 1921, the Riihimäki Glassworks company converted the building into a glassworks. Prior to the museum, the facility also served as a plastics factory and silkscreen-printing plant, and most recently, for the crystal polishing department of the Riihimäki Glassworks.
With 20 000–30 000 annual visitors, the Finnish Glass Museum has its high season in the summer. The typical visitor might be a middle-aged, but retro is one of the keywords today, and this also attracts a large amount of young people to the museum. The other keyword is the question of the environment. During this spring, there has been an exhibition of the glass designer Jukka Isotalo, who makes designs from recycled glass. Isotalo makes his utility objects and works of sculpture by grinding and polishing such foreign glass bottles that are not refilled in Finland. Isotalo wants to contribute in his own small way to mankind still having the opportunity to wonder at its own existence, even in the future.
Tapio Wirkkala: Kantarelli, Iittala 1946
Riihimäki Glass Is Sought After The Finnish Glass Museum is located close to the old Riihimäki Glassworks, which became famous with the production of its high quality glass ornaments. The glassworks were closed in 1990, but the manufacturing of the art glass was already halted in 1976 and after that, the factory made only glass and plastic packaging. This means that Riihimäki glass is now sought after as collectibles, especially. some of their vases. The products are available via some of the collectors’ web sites. The Friends of the Finnish Glass Museum association organizes a Glass Day every year, an annual meeting for collectors of glass, usually held at the end of January at the Finnish Glass Museum. On the Glass Day, the members of the association sell old and new glass and experts identify glass objects. The association also organizes the Collectors’ Event and Glass Market in June. At the event, dozens of sales stands are set outside the museum and mainly filled with Finnish glass. ”Some of the glass items that are sold at the event even end up in the museum collections,” curator of the Finnish Glass Museum, Kaisa Koivisto says.
culture & design
Retro and Environment Considered
The Collectors’ Event and Glass Market, 9 June at 10am–3pm, outside the Finnish Glass Museum
Erkkitapio Siiroinen: Pilvilinna, Riihimäen Lasi 1970-1975
Museum design vitrine, glass from the end of 1950's. Inkeri Toikka, Kaj Franck, Nanny Still, Kaj Franck, Tapio Wirkkala, Helena Tynell
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”The best thing with glass is that it can be recycled again forever. But melting glass takes a huge amount of energy and glass is a heavy material, so to be ecological, glass must be produced close by and long transportations should be avoided. This is the reason why Finnish designers respect that their designs are produced in Finland,” Koivisto says.
A Special World for the Designers There is another interesting detail in Finnish glass design. Many of the most famous designers, including Kaj Franck, Timo Sarpaneva, Nanny Still and Tapio Wirkkala, designed in other areas other than glass, but made large contributions in the glass design. ”Nowadays, there are fewer and fewer designers who specialize in only one material,” Koivisto says. ”But glass is a fascinating material, which makes it a special world for the designers. Though the design process is similar, glass cannot be compared to any other material.”
Alma-Jantunen: Bonsai, 2008
Exhibitions 2012 • 17 Feb – 20 May Gralglas Dürnau – German Glass Design 1930–1981
• 17 Feb – 20 May Erkkitapio Siiroinen – A Young Promising Name at the Riihimäki Glassworks
• 17 Feb – 1 Apr Glass Designer Jukka Isotalo – Design from Recycled Glass
• 4 May – 1 Jul Glass Artist Anu Penttinen • 1 Jun – 23 Sep Glass etc. • 1 Jun – 23 Sep ”Glassism” – Studo Glass Artists from Riihimäki
• 5 Oct – 30 Dec Glass Artist Tuija Sarantila • 2 Nov – 30 Dec Ana Thiel – Mexican Glass Art • 2 Nov – 30 Dec Glass Artist Susanne Koskimäki
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Hyttikortteli is less than a kilometre away from the Finnish Glass Museum. The housing area was built for glass workers in the 1910s. The houses are now private homes, but the area has been sought to create a living district for artists and craftspeople. At the moment, glassblower Pekka Paunila runs his glassblowing studio and shop in Hyttikortteli. Matti Okkolin’s crystal polishing company is also close by. In the old premises of Riihimäki Glassworks, there is now a new generation of entrepreneurs, such as Glassism Coop and Verstakko Coop.
culture & design
Hyttikortteli Keeps Up the Traditions
Johannes Rantasalo: Horn Machina, Balkan offroad
Helena Tynell: Sun bottle, Riihimäen Lasi 1963
Camilla Moberg: Bamboo, 2006
Timo Sarpaneva: i-lasit, Iittala 1956
These famous Finnish designers are presented in the exhibition Glass etc., opening in June. The exhibition focuses on new work in glass, mainly from the period after 1990. The designers have been chosen on the basis of their work in glass, although their other work – including textiles, furniture and ceramics – will also be shown in the exhibition. This exhibition will also be a flavour of the Finnish Glass Museum for the World Design Capital Year, celebrated in Helsinki. The Finnish Glass Museum Tehtaankatu 23, Riihimäki Open Tue–Sun 10am–6pm www.finnishglassmuseum.fi
Business Finland 1/2012
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Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Stadium Foundation
Newly Emerging Olympic Stadium Spirit Maija Innanen, Managing Director of the Stadium Foundation.
There is a strong commitment to renew Helsinki’s functionalist Olympic Stadium. “One of best-known landmarks in Helsinki will be a gorgeous renewed multi-functional mega arena by the year 2018, says Maija Innanen, managing director of the Stadium Foundation.
T
he Olympic Stadium is a national monument. Helsinki Olympic Games were held in this marvelous functionalist style venue in 1952. For decades the “Stadion” – Stadium in Finnish - has been a place to arrange some of Finland’s largest sports events, and more recently, pop and rock concerts. However, at the same time the condition of this large arena does not correspond to future standards.
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“Even to cope with today’s challenges is not easy. It has been estimated that the operating age of Olympic Stadium in recent condition is only 5-10 years,” tells Maija Innanen. “Our mission is that the renewed Olympic Stadium would be Finland’s most important arena for mega-events as well as a meeting point for sports, culture, entertainment and tourism.“ “The stadium could also act as a home base for several sports associations and organizations. A special Olympic coaching center could be built in connections of the stadium. The pleasant Olympic Park would surround the stadium.” Maija Innanen says that at the moment these goals are still visions – no actual decisions on funding have been made – but general plan is made and expenses estimated. Stadium Foundation’s Future Project of Olympic Stadium was launched in spring 2009. Results of the future project were announced in the beginning of February this year. “The large condition survey linked to the future work concretized the situation clearly. The precast concrete structures under spectator seats are quite good, but elsewhere at the stadium there is much to do.”
Several new entrances should be constructed and old structures thus demolished in some parts of the stadium. “Most of the basic structures will remain, and the outer appearance of the stadium does not change.” In all likelihood the stadium’s spectator parts will be covered, but not the actual sports field, as stated in the report. “To cover the whole stadium would require quite advanced and expensive technology. But the roof above stadium’s spectator part would protect to building, and ensure that spectators in large events would not have to suffer from rainy weather.” At the moment 14 000 seat are covered. It would cost about 26 million euros to cover the rest of the seats. The actual field level was renovated in 2010, and is in relatively good condition.
Functionalism prevails Maija Innanen emphasizes that the overall architectural form will change only minimally: “The building was safeguarded in the Building Protection Act in 2006, so visible changes are small. The outer appearance will be almost 100 percent the same.
The northern entrance will be rebuilt, or at least the flow of people will be directed also from the north.” “Today there is too much pressure only from the southern entrance. Also, the site around the stadium is quite small nowadays. With bigger plot it would be easier to handle masses of people entering or leaving the stadium.” “In the future project proposal the site around the stadium would be enlarged. There is even an idea to create an Olympic Park. The Swimming Stadium is just next to the Olympic Stadium and is in use in the summertime.” There could be a separate Sports Institute on the north or south side of the stadium. The gross floor space for the institute was estimated at 3500 m2. The famous Stadion Hostel will move away, but the city of Helsinki has promised that new premises will be found to the hostel.
Underground space In the future project proposal underground construction plays an important role. “When it comes to inner parts and underground construction, this project is not renovation, but a total renewal.”
Our mission is that the renewed Olympic Stadium would be Finland’s most important arena for mega-events as well as a meeting point for sports, culture, entertainment and tourism.“
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To cover the whole stadium would require quite advanced and expensive technology.“
Olympic Stadium premises today are about 20 000 square meters. There will be almost twice as much space measured in gross square meters, if the plan realizes. After renovation and new spaces the stadium could offer 36 160 gross meters. Restaurant, catering, sales and other service spaces would be enlarged. Technical spaces, logistics field and warehouses would be increased by more than 10 000 m2. There could be as much as 6500 m2 of space to be let, envisages the report. Media would get premises 1200 m2. There will be new office and museum space. (See the adjoining article for Sports Museum). Many premises will be built for multipurpose uses. “For example gym rooms can be changed to meeting facilities, or vice versa,” says Maija Innanen. HVAC technology and electric wires should be renewed. New elevators are needed.
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Sound reinforcement system and lighting solutions should be improved. By the year 2017 the main part of the construction would be carried out.
Benchmarking with Berlin The Stadium Foundation has been studying other projects to find new ideas and solutions to be utilized in Helsinki. “The main benchmark stadium has been the Berlin Olympic stadium, which
is from the same period. It became ready in 1936 and the Helsinki stadium was finished in 1938.” In Berlin only the basic structure was saved from the old Olympic stadium. “We have also visited Munich Olympic Park. Of the new arenas, we took ideas from Allianz Arena, but the concept there is different. Football is so big business in Germany, while in Finland it is only national teams that use the Olympic stadium. In Stockholm Swedbank arena is tak-
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ing shape and will be finished in the summer 2012. The arena in Solna, near Stockholm, is a football arena first of all. “Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium does not fulfill all UEFA norms. After the renovation we would not hopefully need some special arrangements for approval.”
Urgent decisions needed Even in Finnish Government Program it is stated that “The nature of the renovation of the Olympic Stadium as a national project will be taken into account in its funding”. The estimated price for the renewal would be 197 million euros (without value-added taxes). The state would be paid half and the city half. Maija Innanen hopes for quick decisions from the City of Helsinki as well as from the Finnish government. “The main purpose of the stadiumfoundation is the development of the stadium building and events in all forms. The City of Helsinki, Ministry of Education and the essential sport organizations are represented in the administration of the foundation.” Olympic Stadium’s attraction arises from the interesting sports activities and inspiring events. The new stadium can house 35 000 spectators. The recent number is 39 000. “There are average 15-20 mega events per year. This summer we will have Bruce Springsteen and Madonna concerts” says Maija Innanen. In June-July European Athletics Championships 2012 will be arranged at
the Olympic Stadium, and two football World Cup qualifications add to sports mega events.
Stadium history The Olympic stadium is administered and managed by the Stadium-foundation. The Stadium-foundation was set up in December 1927. The key role in foundation was played by essential sport organisations, the city of Helsinki and at a later stage the government of Finland. The most important objective of the parties was to have such a stadium built into Helsinki, so that the city could apply for the summer Olympics. The great functionalist style stadium was designed by arhcitects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti.
Finally Helsinki got the 1940 Olympic games, which, however, were cancelled due to the war in Europe. Fundraising was difficult after the World War II, but citizens gave private donations and the state and many companies also participated to finish the stadium and other sports venues. In 1952 the Helsinki Olympic Games were finally arranged. Stadium was a symbol for reconstruction after the Second World War – the games showed also the unity and determination of Finnish people. Let’s us hope that also the government of Finland and the city government now have the “Stadium Spirit so that the great venue would be ready for future challenges! www.stadion.fi Marju Paju, Marketing Director
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I believe that sports museum is exceptional even worldwide. The Sports Museum offers its customers information, experiences and entertainment," says Pekka Honkanen, Director of Sports Museum.
Pekka Honkanen, Director of Sports Museum
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Sports Museum of Finland The
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, Urheilumuseo
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he Sports Museum Foundation of Finland consists of three units: the Sports Museum, the Sports Archives and the Sports Library. The Sports Museum is a national specialized museum dedicated to the preservation, research and putting on display items relating to the history of sports and physical culture in Finland. In addition to museum there is an archive and library under the same roof. “The Sports Library of Finland is a special research library open for everyone. Archives are large. For example, we have some 300 000 photographs. We started digitization process three years ago, and now we can manage 8000-10 000 photos a year. It is not even necessary to digitize all the photos,” says Honkanen. An interesting part of the museum is the object database, which currently contains data and pictures of about 250 objects. These are divided into two main sections: Helsinki 1940 (the original year for Olympics, which were cancelled due to the war) and Helsinki 1952 (when Olympics finally took place). “We belong to Olympic Museums network, which has 13 members. We get ideas in discussions with other museums.”
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Online and other visitors Pekka Honkanen tells that the museum webpage has 50 000 separate visitors every year and the amount is increasing. “Quite many are particularly interested in object database. Most of these web visits are from Sweden, the USA and Russia.” The actual museum building is visited by about 23 000 people each year. “They mostly come in the summer time, especially in May-August. The share of foreigners in the museum is 2025 percent, a figure somewhat higher than an average in Helsinki museums,” notes Pekka Honkanen. The most visible part for sports museum visitors is the permanent exhibition. The texts of the permanent exhibition are available in Finnish, Swedish and English. The permanent exhibition is divided into two parts. The downstairs section concentrates on the history of Finnish sports, while the upstairs area is dedicated to the Olympic Games. The Virtual Virén running simulator is also found on the second floor.( Lasse Virén won four Olympic gold medals in 1972-76) “The museum also produces every year 3-4 special exhibitions. We have educational lectures and programs in the museum premises.”
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The museum publishes several books each year. During 2012 five books will be published. “We get income also from selling our information services, which produces texts and statistics for books, magazines and other publications. For the media the Information Service offers a wide range of historical and up-to-date background.”
New space The Sports Museum of Finland forms a kind of west wing to the stadium. In the future the museum will have some new space, mainly underground, in connection of the Olympic stadium renewal by the year 2018. “The recent premises are 2000 gross square meters. More than 1000 m2 would be added, if the renewal plan is approved,” says Honkanen. The permanent exhibition will remain more or less the same. “We have more than 500 m2 in use. The changing special exhibitions would get more space, about 200 m2 extra space would be built, if the plan realizes.” Enlarged lecture hall as well as new education rooms are also in the initial plan. The new warehousing space would comprise 400 m2. www.urheilumuseo.fi
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Finnish Modern Art at
EMMA Museum
The Espoo Museum of Modern Art, EMMA, is among the largest art museums in Finland. EMMA is the only Finnish museum where a visitor can view a wide range of Finnish and international contemporary and 20th century art.
Text: Nina Garlo Photos: EMMA
The EMMA museum exhibits many types of art forms, from paintings to videos and sculptures."
Pilvi Kalhama, Director
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MMA displays both its own permanent collection and changing exhibits. EMMA’s collection consists of the art collection of the Saastamoinen foundation, which has been deposited to EMMA. In the permanent collection, the galleries are presented decade by decade and by walking through the galleries, a visitor gets a glimpse of how Finnish classical modernism has developed throughout the century. “Our permanent collections are more about the history of modernism and they consist mainly of Finnish art. Our changing exhibits are often international and represent both art forms: modernism and contemporary art. They work together to illustrate to the visitor how art has transformed during the 20th century.” Hannele Savelainen, a researcher in EMMA, tells. The EMMA museum exhibits many
types of art forms, from paintings to videos and sculptures. Inka Laine, exhibitions curator at EMMA, tells that the museum possesses the special equipment and the space needed to accommodate multimedia art. EMMA’s foundation is to manage their collections professionally and they aim to maintain the cultural heritage by making sure that the art is well preserved. “We aim to be ecological when and where we can. We are carrying out extra steps to ensure that the art that we have is well taken care of and that it will last for generations to come. All of the preservation material that we use is environmentally friendly. Our gallery space is very open and we have movable walls where we display our art, we try to use the same walls in different exhibitions and instead of throwing them away, we recycle and shape them to suit the needs for our next exhibition,” informs Hannele Savelainen.
culture & design EMMA’s art collections The art that is displayed in EMMA consists of the Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection. Art from EMMA’s own collection is not displayed in the museum, but it is located in city offices, institutions and outdoor areas. The remainder of EMMA’s collection is stored away. EMMA’s own collection compromises some 2 500 art works. The collection was set in motion during the 1950s, when the Espoo Primary School Board and the national Art for Schools -project began to collect art for schools. Before EMMA was opened in 2006, the art works were on show in the Otso-galleria. The art collection of the Saastamoinen foundation was established by an industrialist family in Kuopio, who at first acquired a few paintings for their home collection. The collection now consists of 2 000 works and presents a broad cross-section of Finnish painting. Although most of the art is Finnish, some of the Saastamoinen collection is international art. “When EMMA was opened five years ago, we received the art collection of the Saastamoinen foundation, in addition to our own. The art collection of the Saastamoinen foundation is one of the most remarkable art collections in Finland and
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it really adds depth to the EMMA-museum. Art foundations usually have more capital to buy art and they can afford to obtain international art,” Hannele Savelainen notes. EMMA displays 400-500 art works from its permanent collection. At the moment, the Saastamoinen collection has its own two changing exhibits: one exhibition is themed Red and the other is an exhibition from the Finnish artist, Juhani Harri. For the Red exhibition, the starting point for the collection has been
colour and it presents the scale of the colour red in selectively shown modern and contemporary sections. Juhani Harri’s exhibit is called the World in a Box, and it displays everyday objects from life and nature that have been transformed and given a new life. Of EMMA’s exhibition space, half is dedicated to changing exhibits. Tiina Penttilä, exhibition assistant, explains that the exhibits are often international and they are borrowed from other museums, private owners or from the artists.
Funding EMMA receives around 80 percent of its funding from the City of Espoo. The remainder of the funds come from the government, ticket and shop sales and from sponsors. EMMA does not receive any funds from different art foundations, although they are working closely together with the Saastamoinen foundation. EMMA has four sponsors at the moment. EMMA’s sponsors either give them funds or support EMMA’s activities in another way, for example, by giving advertising space. For the sponsors, EMMA offers publicity, tickets, promotional opportunities and events. “We are working this year in exceptionally large cooperation with BMW Finland, which will brings six BMW art cars to Finland and we at EMMA will organise the exhibition. Our collaboration works at every level, from marketing to actual events,” Leena Joutsenniemi, EMMA’s communications manager, tells. The recession has had an impact on government funding. “Sponsors have been less interested in supporting art due to the recession,” Leena Joutsenniemi adds. EMMA’s situation is very stable however. Whereas other museums have been laying off their staff, EMMA has made many jobs permanent.
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“We borrow art from other museums and other museums borrow art from us. The art is moving and we are glad that it does,” Tiina Penttilä mentions. Changing exhibits are often displayed for a period of three months, although it takes years of work to put them together. The EMMA museum has changing exhibits from all over the world and Hannele Savelainen states that it is an important aspect of the museum’s work to maintain good international relations. Foreign museums have been interested in having exhibitions from the EMMA museum, but Hannele Savelainen mentions that the museum does not have the resources at the moment to arrange exhibits abroad.
Helsinki World Design Capital 2012 The EMMA museum and Wee Gee exhibition centre host together three design exhibits relating to the Helsinki World Design Capital 2012 -project. “From July to September, we have an exhibition on Nordic design. The collection comes from the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden. The exhibit contains award winning designs from several Nordic artists and designers. All kinds of art forms are represented. We have a Finnish designer, Harri Koskinen, whose design is part of the Röhsska Museum collection and who will add some more of his works to our exhibit,” EMMA’s exhibitions curator, Inka Laine, informs. The exhibit displays, for example, fashion, furniture, lamps and glass. Through the different objects, the exhibit attempts to study in which way the Nordic design identity is transforming. In addition to Nordic design, the EMMA museum will present a BMW Art Cars exhibition from September to October. BMW has produced completely unique design cars from 1975, which famous artist have been able to use as their canvas. Artists who have added their touch to the unique cars are, for example, Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol. Tiina Penttilä explains that the collection tours around the world are taking part in different design events and will arrives in Finland from the London Olympics. “The WeeGee -centre is the central
location where the WDC activities of the City of Espoo mainly concentrate. In addition to EMMA’s exhibitions, the Futuro –house (acquired by the WeeGee Exhibition Centre) will permanently move to our yard in May and the City of Espoo has opened a space in the centre where Espoo will display its urban development design projects,” Leena Joutsenniemi adds.
WeeGee exhibition centre The EMMA museum is located in the WeeGee exhibition centre in Tapiola, Espoo, on the south coast of Finland. The museum is occupying the old Weilin&Göös printing house, designed by the Finnish architect Aarno Ruusuvuori. “Many visitors come to the museum for purely architectural reasons,” tells Inka Laine. The history of the building can be seen when walking through the museum: the exhibition space is very wide, the windows are large and airy; and large heavy pillars support the roof. EMMA’s exhibition area measures 5 000 square meters and it is one of the largest in Finland. The WeeGee exhibition centre as a whole consists of other museums and galleries, of which EMMA is the biggest. The EMMA museum arranges guided tours and other events. Tickets are 10euros per person, 8 euros when in a group. Free admission for people under 18 and over 70. Additional information can be found from their webpage: www.emma.museum/en.
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Every house is unique and planned and produced in our modern factory in TÜysä, located in Central Finland."
Honkatalot – Traditional or Modern Eco-friendly Living Text: Nina Garlo Photos: Honkatalot
As a family-owned business, Honkatalot has a long tradition in the Finnish wood-processing industry. For over a century, the company has taken pride in offering families environmentally sustainable log houses and wooden homes that are always manufactured with the highest quality of craftsmanship.
Harri Vainionpää, CEO Honkatalot
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he product selection of Honkatalot is the largest in Finland. The company produces log homes, green-built wooden homes as well as post and beam constructions – also known as timber frame structures, especially outside the North American market.
- Honkatalot manufactures both log and frame construction homes – these solutions are interrelated and provide in that way an advantage to the company. Traditionally it is thought that log houses and frame construction houses are different products, but thanks to our existing production technology we are able to
manufacture all models with all constructional solutions, says CEO Honkatalot Harri Vainionpää. With roots of the company laid already in 1907, when the first saw-mill was established and the first log home belonging to the family company was built, Honkatalot has flourished into an inter-
culture & design national company recognized worldwide. In addition to domestic sales, the most extensive markets of Honkatalot are Central Europe and Japan. Furthermore, the company has also entered the sales markets of the United States as well as promising Russia. - Export has always formed an integral part of our business. Currently nearly 75 % of our production is exported. As a company we focus, in particularly, on carrying out architecturally and technically highly demanding individual building projects, says Mr. Vainionpää.
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-Every house is unique and planned and produced in our modern factory in Töysä, located in Central Finland. We use the most modern wood processing technology available which ensures the quality of each house down to every little detail. Although competition can be intense, in particularly, in the export market, Mr. Vainionpää notes that using northern high-quality wood raw material is one key factor that gives the company a clear competitive edge over its many rivals.
Building trend going “green” Recent studies show that log homes and timber frame properties may have the lowest carbon footprint of any other kind of development. A carbon footprint is the measurement of carbon dioxide launched as an end result of employing a certain item or activity. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas released into the environment and a significant contributor to global warming. One report prepared by the Edinburgh Center for Carbon Management
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Using wood as a raw material for building homes is an ecological and environmentally friendly choice."
(ECCM) shows that there could be up to an 88% reduction of greenhouse gases by replacing steel and concreted structural elements with those made out of log or timber. The study also indicates that the power consumed to approach a tree into a finished sawn timber is about a singletenth of steel production. There is a clear, globally recognized upward trend in the use of wood as a building material, says Mr. Vainionp채채. This is not only due to its ecological qualities, but also because wood, as a natural building material, provides a safe environment for
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culture & design families and generations to live in. - Using wood as a raw material for building homes is an ecological and environmentally friendly choice. There is a general trend towards favoring sustainable development and the use of renewable resources, such as wood. Using wood as a building material is becoming increasingly familiar also in many countries where stone construction has prevailed for decades. According to Mr. Vainionpää, wood "breathes", unlike other building materials. A breathable wall structure of a log home provides a healthy indoor climate
that can have a positive influence on various allergy and skin problems. - When you want clean fresh air in your home or if you suffer from allergies or asthma, the best health-conscious option for you is a home built of wood. Central Europe and parts of Scandinavia, home construction has shifted to building homes with no plastic or artificial elements. This is the way to attain a natural and healthy style of living. Mr. Vainionpää estimates that the manufacturing process of a log house binds an average of 150 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A well main-
tained log house may last for centuries and at the end of its long life cycle, wood is still useful as a recyclable material. A stone, brick or concrete house, however, releases an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases already during the manufacturing process. When it comes to future growth expectations, Mr. Vainionpää sees the strongest growth coming from Finland’s Eastern neighbor Russia where green values and energy considerations are continuing to spread among many home buyers.
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- Our growth prospects look good both in the domestic market as well as in our export markets. Russian markets have evolved over the years and there we still see the biggest growth potential for us. Although high customs duties on exports has slowed down some growth in the past, Russia’s fresh membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) will undoubtedly facilitate the future situation. www.honkatalot.fi
When you want clean fresh air in your home or if you suffer from allergies or asthma, the best health-conscious option for you is a home built of wood."
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Erlund House – Individual, Warm and Healthy Living Text: Michael Nagler Photos: Erlund House
Based in Mellilä, southern Finland, Erlund House has manufactured prefabricated log houses with its unique patented wall system since 1993. ”Such a building is three times more energy efficient than an equivalent laminated log house,” says Erlund House's CEO Timo Erlund.
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ince 1978 Erlund House has constructed and exported high quality log houses around the world. Indeed, foreign markets have always been a cornerstone of the company's activity. ”Over 90 per cent of our production is geared towards exports. Half of this goes to Germany, but we also do business with Central Europe, China and Japan, among others,” says Mr. Erlund. Being the company's largest ex-
port market, Germany has always been important for Erlund House. ”We have operated there since 1978. The reunification in 1990 expanded the German market, which was naturally good for us.” In 2005 the company gained prominence in the UK when it was featured in an episode of Grand Designs, a British television series which features unusual and elaborate architectural homebuilding projects. Erlund House is so far the only
Nordic manufacturer of detached houses to have been featured in the series. ”It was a fun experience, seeing professionals working up close. Their camera crew was in Finland for a few days. They were friendly and took great pains to be impartial, going so far as to pay for the petrol at the petrol station. The programme also opened up the British market for us.” All in all, Erlund House has built log houses in over 30 countries. Noteworthy examples include a convent in Belgium, a school in England, several churches and a hospital in Germany, as well as an Erlund log house in West Boldon, England that was nominated the most ecological building in England in 2009.
Unique patented wall system Behind the company's success is its unique patented wall system. In 1993 Erlund House developed a new thermally efficient and natural log wall structure. Although such a technique remains faithful to the old log building traditions of Finland, it also enabled the company to meet Germany's stricter thermal insulation regulations. The new wall system soon became popular. ”An Erlund log house is an incredibly warm building with excellent thermal insulation values. This is thanks to the wall structure, which
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culture & design consists of a tight double tongue and groove log wall, which in turn is protected by an external panelled wall from heart sawn spruce panels. Between them is ekovilla (eco wool) insulation, which is made from recycled paper. This creates a totally natural breathable log wall structure,” says Mr. Erlund. ”As a result less wood is used in construction, which also leads to the building being considerably cheaper. Also, since the structure is very sturdy and can withstand all sorts of weather, the building requires less renovation than usual and has a very long lifespan. All of this combines to contribute to a very small carbon footprint.” Erlund House's wall system has also proven to be healthy for the inhabitants of an Erlund log house. Moisture is unable to form in the structure because the inner wall is thicker and denser than the external panelled wall. Therefore hazardous mold is prevented and the room air stays fresh. In a 2010 customer survey commissioned by Erlund House it was revealed that a significant number of people who had moved into an Erlund log house had experienced a marked improvement to their health. ”Over 20 per cent of all respondents said that their health had improved significantly after moving in. And we didn't ask whether they were ill or healthy, so you can imag-
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ine how many ill people had gotten better,” says Mr. Erlund. In addition to the aforementioned ecological, energy and health factors, it must also be said that log houses in general are visually and aesthetically pleasing. Although the general imagination might think that they are mostly suited for the countryside, such buildings are also very well suited for an urban environment. In that sense log houses also contribute to urban renewal.
Use of private wood Erlund House is dedicated to the customers and their wishes. Because of this the customers can provide input and influence the shape and form of the desired building. Each building is tailor-made according to the customer's needs and wishes. On its website the company provides models of one- and two-story detached buildings, ranging in size from 55m² to 136m². These are not strict limits, however. Rather, they
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are guidelines meant to assist the customer in the design of the desired house. In addition to contributing to the design, the customers can also provide their own wood for the construction. This is common practice for Erlund House, but the great Boxing Day winter storm of 2011 increased demand tremendously. Suddenly forest owners found themselves saddled with an immense amount of fallen trees. ”We were very much affected by the storm. Since Boxing Day we have re-
ceived over 200 orders. In this situation our automated production line gives us an advantage over our competitors,” says Mr. Erlund. According to him, it is more advantageous for private forest owners to provide the wood to Erlund House and have their houses built from that than to sell the wood to a forestry company. ”Even if you make 100,000 euros, you end up paying half of it in taxes, whereas if you subcontract us to manufacture a building from your wood you could save up to 80
per cent. We also benefit by saving storage expenses. In general, if you own forest, you should construct from your own wood.” That Erlund House constructs houses from naturally fallen wood due to the Boxing Day storm episode also showcases a particular trait in Finnish forestry and wood construction. Though the forests have always been an important part of the Finnish economy, or perhaps because of it, the country is free from the bane of excessive logging that plagues many other parts of the world and results in environmental destruction. Great care has always been taken in ensuring that forestry does not spoil the clean and pristine environment for which Finland is renowned around the world. Erlund House contributes to this by purchasing their wood solely from private forest owners.
Future prospects In the end, Tomi Erlund is confident about the future of the log house market. He sees great potential in its ecological aspects. ”A log house is very environmentally friendly. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, and wood is a renewable resource, after all. With rising fuel costs, people will be looking more and more towards ways to save energy and resources. In that regard, the ekovilla insulation in an Erlund log house is like none other,” Mr. Erlund says. www.erlund-house.fi
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Noora Kunttu
Heini Lehto
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Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, Kehrä Interior
We want to offer services that give added value to customers. We sometimes call this a surplus service.”
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ehrä Interior is a Helsinki-based interior decoration office, which has made tens of Finnish and international projects. “When needed, the complete decorating services are available from the same address,” says Heini Lehto, the Managing Director and one of the two founding partners of Kehrä Interior. “Customers are thus served efficiently. When a space needs a new appearance, we draw designs and implement them according to customers’ wishes. We make interior planning for homes, offices and public spaces.” When doing the interior plan, Kehrä takes into account customers’ existing brands. “We can even help them create a new one, or reshape the existing one. With our help, the customer can concentrate on his or her core business. “We want to offer services that give added value to customers. We sometimes call this a surplus service.” “Naturally it is of no use to try to do everything by ourselves. We have a good network of specialists with whom we cooperate.”
Stylish premises and much more
Kehrä Interior helps its customers in the areas from individual interior decoration challenges to large turnkey projects. The small interior decoration office has gained reputation and won both domestic and international customers.
Kehrä Interior has a strong expertise also in graphic designs. “We do these designs by ourselves or in cooperation with an advertising agency. However, we do not do advertising campaigns.” “We have also designed fair booths. It is quite natural to do these kinds of projects, but certainly in these cases we would like customers to be ready to accept some different, high-quality solutions,” says Heini Lehto. “Our focus is still in making interior decoration plans for different premises. More and more, companies in the fields of heavy industry and logistics also want to invest in stylish premises. For the tow truck company Hinaus Sjöberg Oy, we designed not only their new office premises, but also their work uniforms and part of their graphic outlook.” “It is about companies’ brand promises. You will have to fulfill the promises that the brand includes, consciously or unconsciously,” says Lehto. “It is also about ergonomics. Wrong type of chairs and tables can prevent efficient working. As such, lighting solutions naturally affect how you work.”
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culture & design International projects Whatever service the customer wants, the basic issue is the same: “Styling or renewing a home or an office more profoundly is to put a number of key elements together, such as space, proportion, composition, lighting and texture, to create a personal signature and stimulate emotions in a beautiful and functional living environment amongst other things. “In some cases we grow together with the customer. For example, the Finlandia Group today has offices in 10 different Finnish towns, and all are designed by the Kehrä team,” says Heini Lehto. “We have also had some projects outside of Finland, for example, the GoldAdam gold items dealer with offices in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.” As to the question “how does Kehrä Interior get new projects?” Heini Lehto
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says, “The best marketing is to make your work as best as possible. We have even gained new projects by word of mouth.” In addition to homes and offices, Kehrä has made several interiors for golf club houses. “These have included large projects, where we have planned and supervised projects for golf pro shops, restaurants and locker rooms.” One of Finland’s most renowned golf centers Sarfvik has used Kehrä’s services, so do Kultaranta Golf, Master Golf and Peuramaa Golf. “Interior projects linked to golf have been interesting. One has to put much emphasis on durability of decoration materials,” says Heini Lehto. “Another very interesting project was to design the interiors of the Aranda research vessel. Fire requirements are strict, and the materials must have resistance to salted sea water.”
Guardian of the Baltic Sea Heini Lehto and Noora Kunttu have also designed the concept of the Guardian of the Baltic Sea (GBS) jewels. Profits of the GBS go directly to the Baltic Sea Action Group, an environmental organization aiming to decrease pollution in the Baltic Sea. The target is to collect 100 000 euros within one year. In November already 50 000 was handed over to the Baltic Sea Action Group. Necklace is the most popular piece of GBS jewelry, but men’s shirt cuffs have sold pretty well too. All pieces are numbered. Names of the buyers will be published and listed after the numbers of the pieces on the Internet. Roughly half of the products are sold to individuals, half to companies. All jewels are made in Finland. Material is recycled silver. The Guardian of the Baltic Sea (GBS) jewels are sold in Stockmann department stores and on Viking Line ferries, as well as in Finnair shops and airplanes.
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Choosing the service category Kehrä interior has divided its services into different categories. “Kehrä Concept brings into your use the whole Kehrä team: the interior designer, project manager, supervisor of the project, as well as carpenters, decorators and other interior construction specialists at different work stages, and logistics Kunttu the professionals,” says Noora Kunttu, other founding partner of Kehrä Interior. “Kehrä Concept is a service package based on a turnkey solution. Included are drawings, material and product choices, work manuals, logistics supply chain, delivery of furniture – the whole interior is tailor-made and installed, according to an agreed schedule and budget.” “Kehrä Pro” is an interior decoration plan for individual as well as corporate customers. The customer can realize the final stage of the project by him/ herself, or the project can be carried out as a turnkey service. “Kehrä Facelift” service can be defined as decoration or styling without any need for a larger renovation. “The facelift solution focuses on furniture, textiles and lighting solutions. The customer can order only the facelift plan or the whole project on a turnkey basis,” says Noora Kunttu. “We are also ready to help in solving an individual interior decoration challenge. This is called Kehrä Drop In service. Just provide us with the facts like floor plan or a drawing, and we can think over a purposeful solution.”
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Facing the question “are there any different viewpoints from corporate customers on how to carry out the project or how to realize some details?” Kunttu answers, “In small issues to some extent there are. With private (home) customers there can be more different opinions. But not that much as one might expect. Actually we are paid to be honest. If we do not believe that some changes required by the customer will work out, we will tell it straight away. “Being able to make functional schedules is one of the real cornerstones of our approach. We also give guidelines to customers on how to keep interiors in good shape, kind of maintenance tips.”
KEHRÄ IN A NUTSHELL The word Kehrä means “wheel” or “spindle”. The office of Kehrä Interior is located in Lönnrotinkatu 39, in the central business district of Helsinki, also part of the Helsinki Design District. Heini Lehto is an interior designer, graduated from the Lahti Institute of Design. She is one of the two founding partners of Kehrä Interior. The other partner is Noora Kunttu. She was graduated from the Kymenlaakso Institute of Design, located in the city of Kouvola. Lehto and Kunttu have been co-operating for more than seven years.
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Paid to be honest
www.kehra.fi
The best marketing is to make your work as best as possible. We have even gained new projects by word of mouth.”
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Woodnotes -Unique Characteristics of Paper
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, Woodnotes
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Mikko Puotila, Managing Director Business Finland 1/2012
We believe that paper yarn is a valuable material for carpets first of all. But it suits very well panels, chair and bench covers, different blinds, other interior elements as well as bags, purses and even pencil cases."
M
ikko Puotila set up Woodnotes with his mother Ritva Puotila in 1987. “My mother is a textile designer. In 1986 she had an exhibition in Otso Gallery. The idea of Woodnotes began to shape already earlier, but the Otso gallery exhibition gave the final boost.” “We believe that paper yarn is a valuable material for carpets first of all. But it suits very well panels, chair and bench covers, different blinds, other interior elements as well as bags, purses and even pencil cases,” says Mikko Puotila. The Woodnotes collection has thus expanded over the years from carpets to a multitude of products. “However, the original concept behind Woodnotes products has survived. The idea was to combine artistic creativity with Finland’s rugged nature to shape the very Finnish raw materials, wood and paper.”
Strength of paper yarn
Woodnotes is the first company in the world which uses paper yarn in a contemporary way in functional textiles. Today Woodnotes products are recognized around the globe for their elegant design and superior quality.
Mikko Puotila was graduated from the Helsinki School of Economics, but through his mother, there has always been a sense for good design in his life. “I believe in paper yarn, although the beginning was not easy. For the first four years we made losses. There was a suspicion among dealers and customers that products made of paper yarn would not endure. All suspicions proved wrong, and our business has lasted 25 years.” The strength and durability of paper yarn results from wood fibers: thus the name Woodnotes. Ritva Puotila wanted to use paper yarn because of its aesthetic properties – to make the most of its unique characteristics, not as a substitute for other materials. “Paper has qualities that greatly differ from other fibers. Paper is light and pure in its whiteness, without bleaching. Paper’s rustled sound, its opacity and natural qualities count much.”
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“Paper yarn is a very challenging material. It does not stretch so it breaks easily, if not handled in the right way. On the other hand it is a much stronger material. Anyway, paper must be dealt with respect. The machines manufacturing the yarn must be carefully modified.”
Safe and hygienic The paper yarn used by Woodnotes has been spun from durable heavyweight paper that can be recycled or burned to produce energy. “Our products are biodegradable. Woodnotes’s white paper is produced without the use of chlorine gas, and the dyes used to color our yarn contain neither halogen-organic compounds nor heavy metals,” Mikko Puotila says. Woodnotes and its partner companies are continuously searching for new methods to improve its ecological competitiveness. Safety counts too:
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“Our paper material is quite fireresistant. The surface of the products is tight, which means that flames do not get oxygen. In most cases, fire-prevention chemicals are not needed, but these can be an option.” Paper is also both hygienic and easy to maintain. Due to the density of the fibers, paper yarn collects neither dust nor dirt – an important property, especially for those who suffer from allergies.
Design and technology Today Woodnotes employs 11 people. Part of them are sales persons, but designers are also needed. Three persons work in design and Research & Development. “We also use several freelance designers. My mother is still an artistic director in our company and she’s designing the carpets. Fabrics participate in designing to some extent. At the moment we work with six independent designers.
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For example, with Harri Koskinen, we designed the ‘k’ chair.” In addition to design, technological expertise of three partner companies has helped Woodnotes to win new customers. “The production and technological know-how of these partner companies also stand behind Woodnotes quality. Without the mastery of spun paper yarn,
expertise in weaving and sewing, and manufacturing of a unique collection of products through customized industrial production, Woodnotes would not be such a notable company in its niche.” The spinning mill Suomen Paperilanka operates in Lapua, Ostrabothnia. Another partner is Ojalan Kutomo, which is a weaving mill.
Network abroad One cornerstone of success has been an effective partner network abroad. “At the moment about two-thirds of the turnover comes from exports. The main export countries are Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Great Britain, in this order.”
Our paper material is quite fireresistant. The surface of the products is tight, which means that flames do not get oxygen."
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culture & design “We also get revenues through projects. For example, if a new restaurant or a hotel is built, the interior architect may want to use our products. Just recently to the biggest hotel project we delivered 500 pairs of curtains, and to the Metropolitan Hotel in London we supplied 500 chain operated blinds. We have agents in several countries, and have found projects by visiting trade fairs too,” says Mikko Puotila. “Japanese buy our products again, partly thanks to the strong yen and weak euro. “To some extent we have regular exports to the United States and through projects to many other countries. The same concerns China. I do not think we will enter China through interior decoration stores, but trough projects in the near future. We want to follow our own strategy and ensure the quality of projects,” says Puotila. Woodnotes products can also be found in some more exotic places like Dubai, the Saudi-Arabia, Gambia, New Zealand and Argentina. “We have exported to more than 40 countries during 25 years, last year alone to 38 countries.”
Five product groups Today Woodnotes has five main product groups, altogether 70 different products made of paper yarn. “Carpets and rugs form the largest product group in terms of sales. Curtains, shades and panels are important. Paper yarn suits well in making surfaces for pieces of furniture. The fourth product group is small items such as containers, purses and cases. Business gifts belong to this group. “The fifth product group consists of different products that we sometimes call studio objects. These are hand-made artworks, or other objects that require much handcraft. “Interior decoration stores and some department stores like Stockmann sell our products. Of the special stores Artek is wellknown, but Vepsäläinen also sells many products by us. All in all, Woodnotes has resellers in about 40 countries in special interior shops.” www.woodnotes.fi
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Urban Living by The Northern European furniture style has been successful in the global market. IKEA has been taking over for years, but there are also other companies, with different styles. One of these companies is Danish BoConcept, which offers fresh design and high usability. Text: Jarkko Repo Photos: BoConcept
O
ne of the success stories for BoConcept has been in Finland. The country manager, Jesper Ekstrรถm, has a long history within the furniture business. - I have been working in the furniture retail business since I was 15 years old, going through many different steps in a Finnish furniture chain. Starting from warehouse and sales positions, then working
for an agent and finally as a country manager in Finland. I studied the restaurant business for 3 years and also took some courses in other fields, but always ended back in the furniture business. However, it's not just the skilled personnel, it's all about the company philosophy. To gain a status in the current furniture market, a company has to be doing things just right. Keeping the best
workers is important and BoConcept has been able to maintain the interest of the personnel in their business. - I have been working with BoConcept for 11 years, starting as a sales rep. for an agent and when BoConcept offered me a position as a country manager in Finland (2004), it was a natural decision to move on from being an agent and focus only on BoConcept, with the aim of developing
A modern company, in any business, has to see the differences between people. Not just because most customers are individuals, but so are the workers."
the market according to the strategy set from BoConcept A/S. BoConcept hold many seminars in regards to their business and these have been helpful and kept me updated with the current trends and actions within the company. A modern company, in any business, has to see the differences between people. Not just because most customers are individuals, but so are the workers. BoConcept has provided the possibility to enhance the personal interests of their managers. - My interest has always been in interiors and one reason for this is that I have enjoyed the BoConcept working philosophy and the mental freedom of responsibility has kept me here. An additional great motivator is that working with an international expanding brand keeps you up
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dated on important matters and you get to meet a lot of colleagues from around the world. You therefore get to share the best practices around the globe. There are great opportunities in Finland that haven’t been used or tried out. It's very hard to compare us with IKEA, since we both have such different strategies, target groups etc., but the benefits of being a franchise, compared to a totally independent retailer, is that you to experience the benefits of working for a large international chain, but can still run your business as your own.
Personal business BoConcept is a franchise. The company is always searching for new entrepreneurs to grow into new markets. The business plan, however, is not that different from any other franchise (Apple Stores, fast food restaurants etc.). The difference comes from the possibilities that are created through the BoConcept design and philosophy. - We always compare ourselves with our competitors and we are extremely focused on keeping our vision and mission and position in the market, as this is one of our most important competences. We offer customized and coordinated affordable design furniture and accessories to urban minded shoppers.
BoConcept / Concept Customized = You can customize items of furniture to match your taste and needs. Coordinated = The entire collection is coordinated, so you can mix and match as you like Affordable = BoConcept can offer design and high quality at an affordable price
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The country manager, Jesper Ekström, regards competition as a good thing. - I don’t consider competition to be a threat, more an opportunity. Remember when IKEA was established in Finland, all retailers were very scared and worried about their business, but actually, IKEA woke people up to interior design and from this, everybody has benefited. We've had so many new interior design programs on TV and sales of interior design magazines have tripled in Finland. It's not only the competitors on the market who are raising fears. The current economical situation (in Finland and globally) has provided furniture companies with new threats. Once again, the country manager regards this as an opportunity. - Of course, the recession is a threat, but it’s easier to react as
BoConcept offers Urban Danish design since 1952 60 years in the business, with a knowledge of what their customers want •Extensive collections, coordinated collections •BoConcept university training staff, managers and interior decorators •Fantastic catalogue •Customized designs •Affordable prices •3D drawing programs on the Internet, where customers can plan a whole apartment or get help from skilled interior consultants. •BoConcept follows the prevalent trends and updates their collection every year, so the customer can always add more to their home in the same style and price range •It doesn't matter where you live or where you travel, the customer will receive the same service and shopping experience in all of 56 countries where BoConcept is represented.
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a smaller independent franchisee than to turn around a large chain in a short period of time. What is different in the BoConcept is the mentality that negative situations should be seen as opportunities. It's all about the business culture and the people who are working to achieve the goals. The designs of the company arise in part from this culture. People rarely buy more than two houses during their lifetime. Some might buy a new car every now and then - however, a new kitchen or even a sofa may be one of the biggest purchases for a person. It's not uncommon for people to have to search extensively for the design they want. A good design is in part timeless, but also has some twists which can either make it a trendy object or personal in some other way. Northern European minimalistic design has been successful almost everywhere. - In my opinion, the greatest challenges in Finland are that consumers are too price focused, instead of focusing on
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the design and service. You don’t have to buy entire interiors at once if you can’t afford it. Save up and do it in steps to get the optimal result. It is your home, how you live and the most important place in the world. One great thing is that interior decoration services are becoming a standard for almost all retailers and customers are using this service as the understanding of the related challenges and time is becoming more accepted. People, even in Finland, are starting to become more interested in interior design. It's partly due to the new programmes on television, but even more so, it's about changes in lifestyle. It was typical for people to almost only sleep at home, but more and more free time is available in modern times. - I feel that we are slowly transferring back from huge retail parks with big shops to a more personal boutique culture, where people get a personal service and fantastic shopping experience. I also think that we will progress towards a culture where we invite friends over for dinners and people want to show off a personal home, not a copy of a mass-market home. I think that more retailers will have to either close down or change their strategy to be able to compete.
Urban design
Urban Design
Urban is a mind-set, not a question where you actually live. Although you might live in the countryside, your state of mind is still Urban. You love design, modernity, energy in all aspects of your life, including items of furniture and interior design. Urban is about the perception of our brand. Our products. About what the shopper experiences when they visit our Brand stores. It’s about our advertising. Our attitude, our language, our view of the world and the people in it. The Urban state of mind of the shopper and the BoConcept is what makes BoConcept unique.
A picture tells more than a thousand words. Design and lifestyle are such concepts that one should never try to write them down. However, BoConcept does have a way of finding customers by telling us what they are looking for in a new person who walks into one of their stores. It's all about the urban design. In Finland, BoConcept is mostly sold by a partner company, Vepsäläinen. Vepsäläinen is a franchise for BoConcept and they are expanding together, both through studios and stores. The urban customer is also the key within the Vepsäläinen sales channel -. - Many of our sales associates can assist you with your challenges and when you want to make bigger solutions (for example, whole room interiors with wall colours), a consult can help as they have a deeper and wider knowledge of interiors. Our catalogue is an inspirational source of information for customers, from which they can copy
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culture & design Country manager Jesper EkstrÜm also had this to say about design: a whole room set and just get ideas. The urban ideology behind the designs can easily be seen. The items of furniture are designed to be somewhat minimalistic with high functioning. This Northern European design has been the key for a great many furniture companies. However, BoConcept has put even more energy into lifting the items of furniture to a new level. - Since Danish style is well known for its functional design, we can offer fantastic space saving solutions for smaller apartments. Extendable tables, storage compartments in coffee tables and beds, customizing your sofa so that it will fit in best possible way etc. By suggesting and adding accessories that will match your interior, we can update the customer’s space in a efficient and affordable way. One of our competences is functional design. Our items of furniture are supposed to provide you with value for money by functions that make your everyday life easier.
- The word Design is used all over the world in whatever aspects. We however use designers when we sketch new pieces and all surveys show that the customers that are entering a BoConcept store have Design as their greatest interest. For example, we are collaborating right now with one of the best known designers, Karim Rashid, who is designing a high end dining room set for us. This will come out in stores around the world during March 2012. - I also think that BoConcept is designing differently, since we always have to think of the following aspects: design, affordable prices, functionality, comfort and everything must be coordinated to our collection and the needs of the customers. Items of furniture don't need to be boring and only functional. BoConcept offers a new world to those who have never seen anything else than IKEA. Urban design might not be for everyone, but that is the whole idea of design. Some will fall in love with it and some might hate it. BoConcept does not try to be to everyone’s taste and that is the reason why they should be loved by those who are willing to put a little bit extra into their living. Over the last few years, the world has changed and people now desire more personality in their homes. However, at the same time, people need to live in more compact areas and that's where urban design is the best way to go. www.boconcept.fi
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BOKNÄS
Builds Classic Finnish Furniture Boknäs is a well known quality Finnish furniture maker. The family run company has been in operation since 1991 and its Boknäs -bookshelf has already become a well known classic in Finland. Text: Nina Garlo Photos: Sini Pennanen, Boknäs
Bokn채s is well known for its traditional and classic style."
Jokko Salmevaara, Managing Director of Bokn채s.
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Our product is very unique. We think that even internationally, the Boknäs product is the best cabinet on the market."
“I
n a way, our company has an interesting history that at first we were an antique shop in Helsinki. We sold all kinds of things: tables, chairs and paintings, but our main selling point was old books and graphics. My father had an idea of a bookshelf that he wanted for a store and asked an Estonian acquaintance of his to make nice bookshelves for the shop and our home. Our friends and customers started to ask about the bookshelves and where they could buy them, and so we came up with the idea to start to produce them for sale and that’s how our story began,” tells Jokko Salmevaara managing director of Boknäs. The basic idea for the bookshelves came from an American company which, during the late 20th century, developed bookshelves that were made from wood frames and glass cabinets. The system allows its user to build their own shelves by stacking the elements either on top of each other or side by side, making it a creative and functional way to decorate a space. Finnish Boknäs-cabinets continue this tradition. Boknäs build their cabinets
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from hardwood, valuing traditional carpentry work. Books and other valuable collections can be showcased in glass cabinets, where they will stay safe from the dust. “Boknäs is well known for its traditional and classic style. For me, design isn’t just something new and unprecedented, design and product development are present in every aspect of our everyday lives. For us, design is more functional. It is not just how the piece looks, but how it works. The bottom line is that a design needs to be practical and make our lives easier.” Although the principle for the cabinet came from America, Boknäs has continued developing the idea. They have created new parts, such as easily adjustable corner- and angle pieces. Jokko Salmevaara tells that when they are creating their items, they listen to their customers, who often provide feedback and request new designs. Thanks to the invaluable customer feedback, the series has expanded and become more versatile. All of the design work is made in house by Jokko Salmevaara, his father Seppo
he would like to branch out into the Finnish market. That is how we began to sell other furniture, in addition to our own cabinets.” Boknäs now makes its own sofas, tables, stands and lamps. They still continue stocking other brands and spend a great deal of time finding good quality brands and products to uphold the standards of the shop. Boknäs values itself on being an ecological brand. At the Finnish Ekoteko-fair in 2002, the lifecycle of the Boknäs –bookshelves’ life cycle was estimated to be 200 years, which means the cabinets last much
longer than normal consumer goods. “Like any other artisan, we don’t want to sell a product that we are not happy with. It seems to me that in modern society, the function of a factory is solely to mass produce and often, the quality of the product suffers. We aim to keep this in mind and ensure that what we do, we do well and that our products last.” Jokko Salmevaara is positive about the future of Boknäs-products. Although books are now making way to electronic readers, he believes that decoration styles will not change rapidly and that many people still value books as an interior
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Salmevaara and Hannu Saarinen. Boknäs stores do not just sell the classic bookshelves, but other high-quality items. “We didn’t just want to have a big shop full of wooden cabinets, since that would look dreary. We had the idea to soften the look by combining a nice reading chair next to the cabinet. We found one that we liked from Germany and when we took part in a design fair in Stockholm, displaying the chair next to our cabinet, an Italian man came and said that it is his chair. It turned out that the chair was made in a factory where the man used to produce his chairs, and that
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design element. “I believe that people will always have books. But, of course, we have to keep up with technology and put into practise the changes that it brings to our products. For example, we have created different television stands over the years to suit the changing size and shape of TV’s.” The standards and values of Boknäs have ensured that its name in Finland is synonymous to a valued piece of furniture. The company makes their furniture in Estonia, where they produce several thousand bookshelf units every year. Boknäs has four of their own stores in Finland: two stores are located in the Helsinki metropolitan area, a third on the southwest coast of Finland in Turku and a fourth in the city of Tampere in inland Finland. Boknäs also sells their products through various stockists around the country. “We are not planning to open more stores in Finland, since we feel that we are able to reach a broad range of customers already. We have many retailers around the country and they are valuable to us,” Jokko Salmevaara describes. However, he predicts that it is more likely that they might open new stores abroad in the future. Boknäs hasn’t acquired the same cult status abroad as it possesses in Finland; only around 17-18 percent of Boknäs’ turnover comes from foreign markets. The main export markets are Russia, Sweden, Germany and France. However, Boknäs products can be bought almost everywhere in Europe from carefully selected merchandisers. Jokko Salmevaara sees that in the future, the demand for Boknäs products will most likely increase abroad more than it will in Finland. “Our product is very unique. We think that even internationally, the Boknäs product is the best cabinet on the market. We make our furniture from hardwood, our glass cabinets are dust-proof, modular and they can be custom made. There is no other product like this and I believe that in the future we will have a strong international market,” Jokko Salmevaara states. He does not feel that bigger and cheaper furniture brands
threaten their market, since they are two totally different types of manufacturers. In fact, he states that they receive visits from their competitors, who take inspiration from their store layout. Jokko Salmevaara identifies that the recent economical downturn has had a minor negative impact on the trade. However, he states that their customer base is usually people who value high standards and are ready to invest in good quality products. “We have less people on average coming into our stores, but the ones who come are more likely to buy than they used to be. I don’t think that the recession has hit Finland too hard and the average person’s income hasn’t changed drastically.” Boknäs provides the classic bookshelf in 12 different colour options. The most interesting colour in the palette is Woodwash, which can be either grey or a slightly green colour shade depending on the lighting. Woodwash is establishing itself as a classic colour, thanks to the soft natural touch it brings to decorations. All the Boknäs cabinets and their different parts can be custom made, enabling the customer to create individual designs. Boknäs will take part in a design fair held in Italy in April and next February in Stockholm. In Finland, Boknäs products will be displayed at the furniture and interior fair Habitare, held 12-16 September. Details for Boknäs stockists and products can be found from their website. www.boknäs.fi
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Timo Viitala, Managing Director
The furniture that Pohjanmaan Kaluste produces is carried out with professional handcraft work and they make high quality products."
Pohjanmaan Manufactures Finnish Kaluste Quality Furniture Text: Piia Vilja Photos: Pohjanmaan Kaluste
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Pohjanmaan Kaluste Oy is a family run company with long roots in furniture manufacturing. Their furniture is handmade and the company has launched the very first organic furniture range in Finland.
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P
ohjanmaan Kaluste, translates as Ostrobothnia (a historical province in Finland) furniture, has been operating in Kurikka, Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland for over 40 years. “Pohjanmaan Kaluste was founded in 1964. Ostrobothnia is a traditional furniture area and it was there where Pentti Viitala saw other men selling their sofas from door to door. He decided to give it a go and began to also sell sofas. It was in 1964 when he started to actually manufacture the sofas and the company was officially launched,� tells Eira Viitala, COO
of sales and marketing in Pohjanmaan Kaluste Oy. At first, Pohjanmaan Kaluste was just a family company which produced and delivered sofas from door to door with a van, but throughout the years, the company has grown steadily. Whereas, Pohjanmaan Kaluste started as a company which employed one person in addition to Pentti Viitala and his wife, today, Pohjanmaan Kaluste employs around 500 workers. Thanks to their hard efforts, in 2000 and 2003 they were awarded the title as a best supplier by the Sotka and Asko-furniture chains.
Pohjanmaan Kaluste-furniture ranges The furniture that Pohjanmaan Kaluste produces is carried out with professional handcraft work and they make high quality products. The company started of as a sofa maker but the product range now includes living room sets, dining groups, coffee tables and storage furniture. When it comes to their design, the leading idea has been structural integrity, as well as timeless designs. Excellent, ergonomic soft seating comfort, unique and diverse solutions, and ecological sustainability
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are the criteria when the company is creating new sofas, recliners or dining room set designs. Their products range is divided into two: Pohjanmaa(Ostrobothnia) and Luonto (Nature). Luonto is a completely unique sofa collection. In 2010, the company released Luonto as the first sustainable sofa range known to the world. Natural products, materials as a result of long development are selected on a basis that their impact to environment is minimized. Today, the Nature-range also includes coffee tables and storage furniture. “We provide an ecological alternative to home decor and
for larger purchases. Despite the demanding materials, we do not want to compromise on the comfort or appearance of the products,” Eira Viitala explains. The Nature collection consists of six different sofa ranges; one of them is designed by a famous Finnish designer, Ristomatti Ratia. The sofa range bears his name and it is consolidated with light wood and other natural materials where possible. The sofas can be either upholstered in Aino-linen fabric or leather. In addition, the sofas and armchairs in the Ristomatti-range consists of a long coffee table and multi-level stand. All of the Na-
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Our aim is to increase our international recognition and to increase our exports."
ture-sofas can be bought in Masku-shops all around Finland and from the factory’s outlet shop in Kurikka. The design for both of the ranges happens in Pohjanmaan Kaluste’s own factory. A team of seven people is working constantly to create new sofas. “Of course, it is hard to re-invent a sofa, it is like re-inventing a wheel. But what we aim to do is to have timely variations of the sofas. We are concentrating on traditional design and we don’t aim to create a sofa which is very different. Design is a great thing and it can be brought forward, but people still need
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Exports “We began to export our sofas to Sweden at the beginning of the 1980s. It was, however, during the 1990s, when Nordic countries were experiencing a recession, when we had the idea to start exporting our furniture to Russia,“ Eira Viitala tells. It was in the nineties that the company actively began to expand the business. The production volume was increased drastically and Pohjanmaan Kaluste received interest from domestic furniture chains. “Throughout the past 20 years, our export operations have developed and our business has expanded. The growth has been strong and it continues that way. Despite our growing size, we are still a family run company” The main export market for Pohjanmaan kaluste is still Russia. Smaller markets exports markets are: Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and the USA. to buy the product and find it useful.” Both of the Pohjanmaa furniture ranges value the Ostrobothnian furniture maker’s traditions and skills. “The frames of the sofas are now mechanically made, but the remainder of the process is through professional handcraft work,” Eira Viitala notes. The sofas are provided with a guarantee of 20 years. 10-15 new models are brought onto the markets every year. Pohjanmaan Kaluste aims to use Finnish materials whenever they can: some of the fabrics for the sofas come from Annala, which produces high-quality Finnish interior fabrics. The rest of the fabrics come from Europe and the leather is from Italy. The metals for the sofas are bought from the Far-East and Europe. “Unfortunately, most of the material that we acquire is not produced in Finland,” Eira Viitala tells. Among experts, Pohjanmaan kaluste is also known as an active developer of furniture mechanisms. For example, a brand new PLAY-sofa is designed by Stefan Lindfors. The sofa is equipped with a bed-mechanism and an exciting electrically adjustable divan.
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to add personal touches to their product. “It is not easy to be a furniture manufacturer in Finland. The production is expensive and labour costs are high. But we have a strong will to carry on. We’ve had some difficult years, but we consistently aim to uphold our standards and remain part of the price competition. We always keep in mind what our consumers want.”
Future Eira Viitala explains that they work towards a set of goals all the time. This is how, for example, the Luonto-range was created: the company wanted to be even more ecological. “We are in a process of setting targets to ourselves all the time; it is a continuous and permanent part of our work.” Due to their ambitions, the company was awarded the international quality and environmental certification ISO 9001
and ISO 14001 in February 2012. Pohjanmaan Kaluste is hoping to expand more abroad. -The company is working towards the American market in particular. “Our aim is to increase our international recognition and to increase our exports. First and foremost, however, the domestic side needs to be well taken care of; our Finnish customers are our foundation.” The company has received a great deal of positive feedback from their customers and it will keep focusing on good customer care, as well as producing good quality furniture.
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“Due to the recession in 2009, our exports drastically declined. Prior to 2009, half of our turnover came from Russia and other countries. Now, 35 percent of our turnover comes from exports, it is growing slowly again. We will have to work hard to get it back to the pre-2009 level,” Eira Viitala discloses. In relation to the declining exports, the domestic market has been growing, since Finnish retailers have began to concentrate on Finnish produce. Eira Viitala explains that many large retailers do not want to bring furniture from further away and have the need to stock it to warehouses, only to realise that the product doesn’t sell well. Pohjanmaan Kaluste products are ordered by the retailers and then made for the customer at their factory in Kurikka. This way, the retailers do not have to keep large stocks of the furniture items and it enables the customer
Internationality Pohjanmaan Kaluste is a well known brand in Finland and among professional decorators internationally. “We are known at different furniture fairs in Europe, but normal international consumers are unaware of our product. Finland is a very small country comparatively and that is why we are not that well known. We know how to bring out our brands abroad.” Pohjanmaan Kaluste is visiting several furniture fairs internationally. They have taken part in fairs in Russia for several years, and in the future, they will also take part in a Stockholm design fair and the largest furniture fair in the world in America. More information about the company and products can be found at www.pohjanmaa.fi and www.luontoliving.com.
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Punkalives
Innovative Furniture is Gaining Reputation Abroad Text: Piia Vilja Photos: Punkalive
Punkalive is a Finnish design company which has achieved national and international recognition for their innovative design and use of laminated veneer spruce in furniture.
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re u t i n r e’s fu v i l a k e n In Pu ils might b eta d r the e t l l u a b , sm bric a f st of i r s o n l o a c met inly a m s uce." t r c p u s d r pro nee e v d e at lamin
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unkalive’s products are designed to bring the Nordic landscapes to the consumers reach. The furniture combines fluently warm wood and sturdy appearance. The material used in the products is untouched and both, the design and production methods, emphasize the principle of ecology and sustainable production. The design is timeless and the natural look of Punkalive’s products makes it suitable to all interior styles. In addition to chairs, tables and shelves Punkalive also manufactures handy storage units.
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In Punkalive’s furniture smaller details might be metal or fabric, but the products mainly consist of laminated veneer spruce. The material is better known in construction industry and Punkalive is a first known brand to use it in their furniture. “It was in 2008 when we were doing another project and I had a need to have certain types of boxes made. The factory I went to had experience on using laminated veneer spruce. Although my intention was to use normal laminate, the factory recommended I would use laminated veneer spruce, a material which would suit my needs better. That is how the whole in-
novations chain started,” tells Jukka Rissanen,, managing director of Punkalive. Punkalive owns a patent to their products in many continents. Jukka Rissanen explains that they way the furniture is made, the product is hard to plagiarise. That is why they have been very unique for so long.
Marketing and branding “From the beginning we chose as our strategy to aim to the international market,” Jukka Rissanen explains. It was in 2009, when the company was two months
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old, when they launched their collection in a design fair in Milano. “We presented our odd looking furniture in the fair. We had normal everyday stuff, but it just looked weird because of the design and material,” Jukka Rissanen remembers. Since that Punkalive has been in many international design fairs; three years in a row in Milano and in Köln. In Finland they have taken part to Habitare-fair. “We have done our marketing through these design fairs and brought our brand and the material to public knowledge.
Because of we use laminated veneer spruce in our furniture, we had to first explain our material and tell how it is collected and prove that it is safe.” Punkalive previously concentrated on the marketing and branding side and has now started to emphasise production and sales. Punkalive has opened pop up store in Helsinki Eteläesplanaadi. Jukka Rissanen tells that via the shop they have been able to connect to the consumers, designers and decorators in a very different way since people can see the whole ensemble of products and values. Punkalive started to sell their prod-
ucts to masses at the beginning of the year. They are hoping that the year’s turnover would be around million Euros. Jukka Rissanen is positive that they will hit their target. Punkalive has united production. Production means and know-how is located in Punkaharju, in Punkaharjun Puutaito Oy. It is a family run company which makes Punkalive products. The product development, marketing and international relations are concentrated in Helsinki. “We have a good working relation. Both production and marketing side have invested to the company in their own way,
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culture & design with money and time,” Jukka Rissanen enlightens. Internationally Punkalive has small office in Munchen, Germany. The office manages eight different agents who are representing and selling Punkalive products around Europe. “Our European section started to operate in February 2012. We have now started to take advantage of the marketing work we did before and we have lessen our marketing efforts and increase our production size. We also need to have retailers and agents who sell our products. Part of our work now is to learn how to provide good customer service.”
Ecological values Punkalive products are developed in Punkaharju, an area after which the company has been named after. Punkaharju is beautiful area in Eastern Finland and it is well known for its river landscape and a ridge. Nine kilometres long ridge was
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formed during the ice-age and it is rare natural phenomenon. “We want to tell people that Punkalive has a home where we come from. We want to be associated with a clean nature in Punkaharju and it enables us to have a rich story behind our products. It is important to have a meaning when it comes to design, shapes, colours and materials. We also get our inspiration from the nature in Punkaharju.” Punkalive’s carbon footprint is very small. Wood is naturally renewable resource and all the wood comes within 100km from the factory in Punkaharju. In the factory the design is computer based and no material is wasted. Even the smallest pieces can be used.
Laminated veneer lumber All Punkalive products are solemnly made from laminated veneer spruce. “We have aimed to that our furniture does not have separate legs, back rest or seats. Eve-
rything is one big piece. That is one of the stigmatizing aspects of our design,” Jukka Rissanen explains. Laminated veneer spruce was invented 30 years ago to meet the needs of construction industry. One veneer lumber plate is 23 meters long and 2.5 meters wide. Today CNC-milling machines have developed further and it has become possible to create free forms and work thicker material. “Thanks to the development of milling technology, the idea was born to use laminated veneer lumber in furniture and design.” To create the furniture the laminated veneer spruce plate is milled to suitable shape and then different components are glued together. This way enables the material to be used in different shapes and forms. Punkalive produces chairs, boxes, tables and even walls using this technique. “Of course we are constantly developing our products and design. This tech-
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nique allows us to be very creative in our design and create many objects; you could say that at the moment we feel like we are Alice in the Wonderland. There are possibilities we aren’t yet even aware of.” The products surface is a living material and Punkalive does not treat the wood, because they do not want to suppress woods natural appear. Every item has an individual touch in them.
Designers Punkalive has five designers. Three of them, Jukka Lommi, Jukka T Tapio and Raimo Räsänen, are Finnish and have been with the company since beginning. Later on, the company has acquired two foreign designers; Russian Kristina Magnitskaya, and a world-famous industrial designer Egyptian Karim Rashid. “At the beginning an architect Jukka Lommi designed the modular system and he has also created furniture. With a further the help from Jukka T Tapio and
Raimo Räsänen we have familiarised ourselves with the design and tried different things,” Jukka Rissanen tells. Foreign designers have come along to bring international touch to the Punkalive design. “We want to create different products to different markets. We don’t want to be necessarily tied to Scandinavian functionalism. That’s why we have for example Kristina Magnitskaya, who is from St.Petersburg, designing products to Russian market. We see this as a ground work we have laid: we are prepared for our future in the Russian market.” In 2009 Punkalive started collaboration with well known designer Karim Rashid. He has agreed to create a whole range of new products for the Punkalive collection. “We met Karim Rashid in international design fair and he was really fascinated by our products. He is now designing products for us and we are going to see where this collaboration takes us,” Jukka Rissanen informs. Jukka Rissanen tells that the problem
with Finnish designers is that although they might be well known in Finland and very talented; internationally Finnish designers are still relatively unknown. Karim Rashid in the other hand is worldfamous industrial designer who has successfully managed to translate his own style to Punkalive products. With his influence and celebrity status Punkalive hopes to gain even more international recognition. Punkalive have many partners with whom they design partner products with. “The way it works is that we provide the design and our partner technology. This way we can expand our product range without needing to invest in technology, and it works the other way to our partners too,” Jukka Rissanen tells. Punkalive has partner collaborations with PowerKiss, a wirless phone charger they have created Avanto PowerTray for; Innojoki-lamp makers, and Amphionloudspeakers. www.punkalive.fi
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Vallila Interior
- Continuity, Reliability and Constant Renewal
Anne Berner, the Managing Director of Oy Vallila Interior Ab
Vallila’s collections are mainly designed and created by its two in-house designers, Tanja Orsjoki and Matleena Issakainen. In addition to these two, Vallilla uses 3-8 guest designers from different branches of expertise."
Oy Vallila Interior Ab has steadily grown into one of the best-known interior decoration brands in the Nordic countries. The company has combined profound interior design experience with the know-how in materials to its fullest.
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, Vallila
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he company’s selections include soft furnishing fabrics, ready-made curtains, cushion covers, wallpaper and rugs. The collection is renewed twice a year, in spring and autumn, and it has an average of 300 products. “We want to offer more inspiring spaces in which people live or work,” says Anne Berner, the Managing Director of Oy Vallila Interior Ab. “We are absolutely and genuinely passionate about spaces, making them more beautiful. We work in a manner which
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every time draws closer to perfection. I believe we are able to refine our services according to customers’ needs.” The company operates in Helsinki in its own premises, which cover around 4 500 square meters. Showrooms of Vallila Interior are amongst the most stylish in the business. There is an aura of professionalism from the very first lobby and reception space onwards. The company has been operating in the same premises since 1939 – for more than 70 years. Naturally there have been enlargements and renovations, and the
culture & design q Helsinki Black by Riina Kuikka stylish premises reflect what is behind Vallila’s success. “We believe in continuity, reliability and constant renewal,” says Anne Berner. “Continuity and constant renewal do not exclude each other. Having a pioneer role, with reformation and innovation, is our value. In addition, reliability is a key to long clientele relations and an extremely valuable reference to get new customers. “We are committed to what we do, that is, being a responsible and reliable partner.”
Design from Finland Vallila has been awarded the “Design from Finland” – a label of origin. “The ‘Design from Finland’ label indicates that Finnish design, innovation, research and product development is of high importance to the company. As a label of origin, it also indicates that product planning and design take place in Finland. Vallila was one of the first companies that receive this label of origin for their in-house designed patterns. Vallila’s collections are mainly designed and created by its two in-house designers, Tanja Orsjoki and Matleena Issakainen. In addition to these two, Vallilla uses 3-8 guest designers from different branches of expertise. “For example, in our spring 2012 collection freelance designers Elizabeth Salonen, Erik Bruun, Caj Bremer, Markku Piri, Zoltan Popovits, Howard Smith, and for the first time, Saara Eklund and Riina Kuikka participated,” lists Anne Berner.
q Helsinki by Riina Kuikka
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culture & design For the year 2012, Riina Kuikku designed Helsinki ready-made curtains to honor the World Design Capital year 2012.
A turn-key provider Vallila designs are available as metergoods and ready-made products, such as curtains, cushions and rugs. Anne Berner says that the company is ready to expand further internationally: “We started exports to Sweden, Switzerland and England in January 2011. Re-
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sults have been rather satisfying.� In addition to its own fabrics, in Finland (and in Russia and Ukraine) Vallila represents some strong interior decoration brands like Designers Guild, Sacho and Ralph Lauren. Besides selling its textiles and other products via re-sellers, the company lives through projects. Vallila has provided hundreds of premises in both Finland and abroad with a new life. “In fact, two-thirds of our turnover comes from projects. The company has hundreds of mid-scale and large interior
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q Jaffa by Erik Bruun decoration references,” says Anne Berner. Just to name a few of the recent ones, Vallila was involved in Saimaa Gardens resort project, which, according to Anne Berner, was a marvelous success for everyone. “We have decorated hospitals, ship interiors, hotels, restaurants, concert halls, public spaces, etc. In Moscow we participated in Sheraton Palace project, finishing the rooms mainly with our products. To Helsinki Music Centre we delivered acoustic textiles.” Another reference is Hotel Glo in Helsinki. Restaurant Alia Långvik in Congress Wellness Hotel Långvik is another domestic example. “Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky and Sokos Hotel Olympic Garden and Reval Hotel, which today is Radission Sonya in St. Petersburg, were interesting procurement projects,” recalls Berner. One of the largest cruise ships in the world, Allure of the Seas, was partly decorated with Vallila fabrics. “We strive to pursue larger concepts by our customers. This benefits us, since we know how to carry on turn-key projects, or turn-key subprojects. Our decoration and building teams are very competent, but naturally we use other companies to some extent, for example, in electricity issues. “We also have expertise in fire-resistant fabrics, which are more common today. What we call biotechnical fabrics is also popular. These can even include catalyst fabrics, which can, for example, essentially decrease the smell of cigarette smoke.”
q Kaisaniemi by Tanja Orsjoki
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culture & design p Top 10 by Matleena Issakainen t Rakkaus by Saara Eklund u Sydänkäpy by Saara Eklund
A trend-setter and listener
q Kattoterassi Tanja Orsjoki
Vallilla is a trend-oriented company. “We keenly observe what changes are going on in housing, people’s preferences, and their attitudes to environment and ecology. We will have to be a trend-settler and a good listener as well, so that we can know what customer preferences are in the near future – and in the longer run.” Anne Berner reminds that being trendy is not the only way to success. “There are always classics, which are and will be popular. Sometimes small modifications can be done to these, but the basic patterns remain.” For example, in the newest collection there is Erik Bruun’s old-time Jaffa soft drink print as curtains (Drink Jaffa originally was a poster. Erik Bruun is already 85 years old but still works. He made new designs of Apaja for this collection!). In the same collection, another classic, the very popular “Kelohonka” pattern by Tanja Orsjoki, has got a new colorway with lime green. www.vallilainterior.fi
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q Mandariini by Tanja Orsjoki
culture & design We started exports to Sweden, Switzerland and England in January 2011. Results have been rather satisfying.” Family traditions Vallilla Interior was established by Swiss-born Otto Berner. The name of the company was Suomen Silkkituote Ltd. (Finnish Silk Product) in the beginning, but soon became Vallilan Silkkitehdas and later Vallila Interior. Otto Berner studied weaving in his home country of Switzerland. After visiting Finland, he noted that there was a market in his new home country for linings, under garment materials and other fabrics. Otto’s son Rudolf expanded the businesses, and Rudolf’s daughter, Anne Berner, joined Vallila in 1986 and started to develop the interior decorating of public spaces and project operations. Already in the 1970s the American artist and designer,
Howard Smith, joined the company. His bold, large and colorful designs gave the collection an exciting new look and were a big success. This cooperation continued through the 1970s and the Vallila brand was established. Designs like Makeba and Miriam, named after the singer Miriam Makeba, are still in today’s collections, as are many other retro designs. In November 1989 the company’s name was changed to Oy Vallila Interior Ab, better reflecting the company’s operations. Howard Smith designed the Vallila company logo, which, with small alterations, is still in use today. In the 1990s, attention has been turned towards the opening markets of the Baltic countries and Russia. Oy Interia International Ltd. was founded as an export
company to focus on contract and retail business opportunities. Interia’s name was changed into Oy Valilla Interior International Ltd. in January 2011. The first Vallila’s “shop-in-shop” in Finland was launched in 1995 with good success. The company also grew by some acquisitions. As Keha and Deco House were acquired, the company grew and expanded to include wallpaper, furniture, lighting and carpets. In the spring of 2010, Deco House, Keha and Vallila Interior Contracting merged into one concern. In recent years the company has reached a turnover of 35-40 million euros and has over 20 shop-in-shops throughout Finland. It is, in the Nordic scale, a rather big interior design company, with almost 140 employees.
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Something soft between you and the world
Familon Finlayson
Strong Part of
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, Finlayson
Finlayson is one of the oldest garment and textile brands in Finland. Today the company mainly focuses on home textiles, but the company’s products comprises also contract textiles.
Jouko Salakka, CEO of Finlayson & Co Oy
Concept
Health and wellness are key words in the Familon approach. Long-term cooperation with the Allergy and Asthma Federation of Finland guarantees our products are ideal for allergy sufferers."
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EO of Finlayson & Co Oy, Jouko Salakka, says that the company has two business branches. “One can be called sleeping or bed business; the other is linked to traditional home decoration. Both categories count for about half of the revenue.” Originally Finlayson was a textile factory in Tampere, and it was established as early as in 1820. Since 2004, Finlayson range has been complemented with Familon duvets, pillows and mattresses. Today the company’s product design, sales and administration units are located in Helsinki. Textile manufacturing of Finlayson has been consolidated in the town of Forssa. “Our duvets, pillows and bedspreads are made in Kankaanpää where the annual output is about one million pillows and hundreds of thousands of quilted products.” Heinola is the place of manufacturing of Familon sprung beds, mattresses and mattress pads. Annual output comes to some 250,000 items.
Familon Ultra
Familon has several sub brands such as Familon Ultra, Familon Ultra Thisulate, Familon Ultra Outlast, Familon Hiphop, Familon Princess, Familon Family with Eco-Logic concept and Familon Futurex.
Allergy-tested products Health and wellness are key words in the Familon approach,” says Jouko Salakka. “Long-term cooperation with the Allergy and Asthma Federation of Finland guarantees our products are ideal for allergy sufferers,” says Jouko Salakka “We ensure beforehand the suitability of the general use of various materials. We have innovative options for particularly sensitive consumers.” Finlayson’s bed linens – Familon duvets, pillows, special padding mattresses and many mattress pads – have been granted the right to use the Allergy and Asthma Federation of Finland’s cooperation label. “Mattresses, pillows, duvets and bed linens affect their users for an average of eight hours a day. This is why thorough research and testing constitute an important part of Finlayson’s operations. Through our bed products, Familon is in direct contact with people from dawn till dusk, and from dusk till dawn. “What is more, Finlayson Oy textiles and Familon bed products add a touch of luxury to private homes and public premises,” says Salakka.
culture & design Finlayson Terry towels Finlayson products contain no substances that are harmful to the human skin. The pH level is skin-friendly. “Finlayson products have been proved to be free of harmful substances. For example, the dyes used are non-toxic. In addition, our modern production technology saves energy and water.” “Fair Trade recyclable cotton is used in Finlayson products. The Terry (cotton) towel production is outsourced to Belgium, but designs are our own. We naturally observe that also this part of production is sustainable.”
Familon Ultra Outlast
Oeko-Tex standard Finlayson Oy has been awarded the ISO9001 quality management certificate, the ISO14001 environmental management certificate and the OHSAS18001 certificate for occupational health and safety managements systems. Most Finlayson and Familon products use fabrics that comply with the international Oeko-Tex standard. “This label ensures that products are safe for consumers. To achieve the acknowledgment, the textiles must be tested by an independent research institute recognized by Oeko-Tex,” says Jouko Salakka.
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Finlayson Pro Petaus
Familon Futurex
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©Moomin Characters™
Varied sales channels Finlayson has 15 stores in Finland. Ten are in the city centers or malls; the other five are factory outlets. “The number could increase to 30, but possibly not over it, at least not in Finland,” says Jouko Salakka. The flagship store is in Pohjois-Esplanadi, the very city center of Helsinki. The location of the Helsinki store is one of the best in the city, and many tourists also visit the store. Previously Marimekko was in the same premises. “Own shops are important, but we also have good resellers in Finland, like some large retail chains and department stores. Finlayson also has a web store. “Abroad we are present in the Baltic countries as well as in Russia. We have our own store in Stockmann’s premises in St. Petersburg. Some Finlayson products are sold through other special stores. One curiosity is that the UK’s first Moomin shop was opened in London’s popular Covent Garden retail area. Lovely Moomin textiles by Finlayson form one part of the Moomin shop’s selection.”
Projects and business gifts In addition to retail, Finlayson also has Project Sales. “This is a service for professionals who are responsible for the comfort and safety of their clients. In the Finlayson Pro textile collection you will find a comprehensive selection of quality textiles for many uses.” The Finlayson Pro bed products offer solutions for all accommodation types, including individually tailored packages. Jouko Salakka reminds that highly valued Finlayson and Familon home textiles make perfect business gifts: “Our people at B-to-B Sales serve you when you are thinking of gimmicks and collect-and-get product, PR and business gifts, seasonal and incentive gifts for personnel, prizes and premiums, gift vouchers or resale of business gifts.”
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Mailis Linnola is the Design Director at Finlayson. She tells that design plays a very important role in Finlayson collections, and that the Design from Finland label is an honor for the company. “This label indicates that there is a unique Finnish and Scandinavian design competence. Finnish design is appreciated both inside and outside of Finland. The label is also a sign that Finnish designers are well-employed and appreciated.” New designs are done in the spirit of the Design from Finland label. To some extent Finlayson uses freelance designers. “They can bring fresh winds, and for their own part they can get a good reference when working for us – even in a short project or just one fabric. “For this year we have designed, to honor the World Design Capital (WDC) title, a special Helsinki collection, which describes Helsinki from a bird-eye perspective.” These include Jaana Reinikainen’s the “Coast”. “Töölö” by Suvi Kankkonen is dedicated to this town part’s peculiar architecture. “At Home” by Anu Kanervo uses floor plans of Töölö apartments as an important source of inspiration. A new pattern
Taimi
Coast
Coronna
The Optic Apple 90
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culture & design Mailis Linnola
of “Puuvilla” (Cotton) for duvet covers is designed by Kanervo as well. Visually strong “Emperor” is by Sami Vulli. He has been designing also quilt covers, like humorous “Aappa”, which refers to apes. Sami Vulli and Anu Kanervo are Finlayson’s in-house designers.
“We aim to improve the wellbeing of people, by means of producing good quality bed products as well as by creating visually pleasant products. Our inhouse designers keep pace with the times and seek for new trends. Every season we have a new contemporary collection. And
every year Finlayson publishes some 20 new fabrics, and leave out others. “Classics still have a central role, and those are an indicator of continuity, all the way from the 1950s. What sometimes are called retro fabrics include, for example, “Coronna” (1958) and “Taimi” (1961)
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culture & design At Home
Aappa
Anu Kanervo
by Aini Vaari. “The Optic Apple” by Pirkko Hammarberg got influence from the Op Art of the 1960s and was especially popular in the 1970s. “Another evergreen retro fabric is the “Elephant”, which was part of the collection in the 1970s and now again, in a little bit different color offerings,” concludes Linnola. www.familon.fi www.finlayson.fi
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culture & design
Sami Vulli
Emperor
Finlayson history Finlayson has a rich heritage of manufacturing quality textiles since 1820. The company has been technologically advanced. The first electric bulb light in the Nordic countries was switched on at Finlayson premises in 1882. At its peak, the factory employed more than 3000 people. The factory area even had its own schools, church, shops and currency. There has been a Finlayson shop in the same place for more than 100 years.
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Cariitti Illuminating the Way to the Future Cariitti Oy, a Finnish company which designs and manufactures lighting, is on it's way to a better tomorrow. New technologies can not only enhance living conditions, but also reduce energy consumption levels.
Text: Jarkko Repo Photos: Johanna Kannasmaa
Peter Ruokonen, Managing Director
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he company was originally established almost forty years ago under a different name. The company was bought by the Ruokonen family in 1998, after which the name was also changed to Cariitti. The current Managing Director, Peter Ruokonen, is taking care of the company and looking towards the future of light. Cariitti has a showroom in Vantaa, Finland. The first thing that everyone sees is the minimalistic Nordic design and some lamps that give away the true nature of the showroom. The overall feel of the showroom is Nordic in design, also when it comes to the illumination of the area. However, when the controllers are used, one can easily change the feel of the showroom from the somewhat cold Nordic style to even a warm Mediterranean feel. − We are placing our efforts in LED -technology. In our opinion, the reduction of energy consumption levels, together with new possibilities, is the only way to go. It's not just a short whim for the company. Over the last decade, Cariitti has been pushing the boundaries of light fixtures. − We not only place a great deal of effort into the design of the fixtures, but also want to have the technology involved, however the technology is kept under wraps.
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We aim to have lighting which might be visible, but can also be hidden. As an example, we have designed a new way of lighting kitchens, in which the indirect light shines into the drawers and into the dishwasher – this aids the viewing without the user being dazzled by direct light."
Something can be said about the research carried out by Cariitti Oy. They were the first to have sauna -illumination by fibre-optics. It is currently the most common way of illuminating sauna environments. Cariitti has changed the world of illumination once – they are now doing it again.
The future of light Over the last years, the legislation for lighting has been changing, for example, in the EU and Australia. The objective of the new laws aims to lessen the overall impact of light sources on nature. The laws have been criticized in colder regions, however, new findings have begun to ensure that being distanced from tra-
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ditional light sources is good for the environment in all markets. The solution has been, is and will be LED -technology. Invented in 1962, the potential of the technology is extensive. It does not however just concern the energy consumption levels – the future is in lighting that enhances the mood. − It has been used in marketing for so long now that I personally refuse to say anything concerning health and light fixtures. Peter Ruokonen has an inside view into the world of illumination. Global companies have been pushing for health aspects in lighting for years and even when the positive results are there – it's still not that simple. Within markets where the hours of
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ABOUT LED -TECHNOLOGY LED - light-emitting diode • a semiconductor light source • invented in 1962 • 25 000 to 100 000 hours of lifetime • more efficient in comparison to other lighting technologies
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Cariitti has been pushing new ideas into the market on a yearly basis, however, the attitude is the key here." daylight are short for half of the year, it's important to gain ”natural” light from fixtures. No one is denying that. However, the usage and simplicity is more important than having light fixtures beside you when you are sleeping. − We aim to have lighting which might be visible, but can also be hidden. As an example, we have designed a new way of lighting kitchens, in which the indirect light shines into the drawers and into the dishwasher – this aids the viewing without the user being dazzled by direct light. The mood of the area depends on several factors – light being one of the most important players. Just imagine having a bedroom with light that can illuminate the room by either white, blue or red light. Different feels for different situations. The future of illumination lies in its variety.
Taking light abroad Cariitti has been active in exporting design and knowledge into different markets. They have also been active in larger projects and have taken care of lighting for cruisers, museums, concert halls, hotels and night clubs etc. Cariitti exports it's products into several markets (approx. 30 countries), Russian is the largest volume wise, for distributors. The same business plan is active in Finland and the objective of Cariitti's own showroom is primarily to give the idea of what they can offer instead of direct sales. After previously changing the world with the fibre-optic lighting in saunas – it's time to take the next step. The company is placing a great deal of effort in the design process. − I was told that a company needs to have a new model every year in our market. I was amazed – we will have something new ready, when we have
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Here are only a few examples of what can be done with Cariitti products. More information can be found on www.cariitti.com
something new ready. We do not aim to have new models if there are no new ideas. Cariitti has been pushing new ideas into the market on a yearly basis, however, the attitude is the key here. They are not trying to push something into the market, just to have a new product – Cariitti is pushing new ideas. That has been the reason for the growth of the company. With the best possible credit ratings, Cariitti is taking light abroad and into the daylight. www.cariitti.fi
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Havi got its brand name from Viipuri’s town part Havi, where production mainly occurred in the 19th century."
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Good-hearted
Havi
Candles
Havi candles were exported from Finland already in the 19th century. The producer of goodhearted candles aims to increase the share of exports in its operations.
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, Havi
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avi candles and Tuikku tea lights are produced in the Riihimäki plant, located about 80 kilometers from Helsinki. The Product Manager Salla Kivinen tells that households appreciate tradition-rich Havi candles. “Few people know that Havi is one of the oldest chemical companies in Finland. Havi was established in the city of Viipuri in 1829, so we have more than 180 years’ experiences in making candles,” tells Kivinen. Havi got its brand name from Viipuri’s town part Havi, where production mainly occurred in the 19th century. Candles were exported even to St. Petersburg, Lübeck and Stockholm. In the World War II Finland lost the city of Vyborg to the Soviet Union. Production of Havi was moved to Riihimäki.
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culture & design New modifications Today Riihimäki production facilities are modern and automated, although semihandmade candles are also made in a limited scale. The automated production line makes, for example, Tuikku® tea lights. Raw materials are paraffin and the cup is made from aluminum. “We try to find ways to make even better tea light candles, and there are several different raw material possibilities to produce tea lights,” says Kivinen. The basic raw materials are the same, but even small modifications may improve the quality of paraffin or stearin. The latter in Havi’s production is made of animal-based stearin. “Plant-based stearin, often made of palm wax, is not regarded as sustainable raw material as animal-based stearin,” says Salla Kivinen. Crown candles and antique tapers are the main stearin candles made by Havi. “In what we call stearin candles our market share is even 90 percent. In pillar candles (table candles) the share is about 30-40 percent.”
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Partly handmade candles Many candles are still partly handmade, made in traditional semi-automated molding machines. Birthday cake candles, Independence Day candles and partly antique tapers belong to this group, as do Christmas tree candles. “We call these molding machines carusell. Antique carusell, for example, has about 1800 molds. First you have to warm up the molds, then cast the stearin inside the mold and lastly cool down the molds and then pick up the candles.” Outdoor flares have increased popularity in the 2000s, and this can be seen also in Havi’s production.
Accurate deliveries In Finland about 90 % of all candles are consumed in the last three months of the year. “This brings some challenges for logistics, but we have a good warehousing facility, which all in all includes 10 000 palette places.” One of Havi’s strengths is almost immediate availability.
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“We have short lead time in our warehouse. Domestic customers get candles he or she ordered with almost 100 percent accuracy and within 1-2 days,” says Salla Kivinen. “We have approximately 45 employees. It is quite natural that in the more hectic time of a year we employ more people than in the quiet summer months.” Havi candels are exported to Sweden, Norway and to some extent to the Central Europe. “Estonia is also a quite big market from our perspective. Altogether, exports are about 10 percent of Havi’s turnover. We have strong faith in increased exports.” Salla Kivinen tells that the demand for candles remains good, but price pressures have occurred from time to time. “Within a couple of years, prices of raw materials have increased tens of percent. On the other hand we still have unused capacity, so we could export even more. There is still much import from East Asia, which makes price pressures on the market. Anti-dumping duty has helped and now the situation is better.” Havi is not only a brand for candles. Havi napkins have been manufactured since the late 1990s. These are designed by Finnish designers such as Hannele Kiviniemi, Tarja Senne, Anni Paunila, Merja Palin and Liina Blom. www.havi.fi www.hyvasydan.fi
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Havi belongs to Suomen Kerta Oy, a Finnish family-owned company. Suomen Kerta Oy manufactures and markets products both for households and professional customers in the segments of HoReCa and foodstuff. Havi has been part of Suomen Kerta since 2004. The Kotka factory’s range consists of printed napkins and table setting items, branded under the labels Havi and Marimekko. Customers can also order tissues with their own designs or logos. The Imatra factory’s product range includes disposable cardboard plates and cups, cutlery and fast food packaging, branded under the labels Freetime and Ecotime. Ecotime product range is basically from pure pulp. Imatra plant re-uses the raw material from paper cups and plates that are residue materials from the production. Products are biodegradable. Today Suomen Kerta Oy employs around 200 people in three production units in Imatra, Kotka and Riihimäki, and in the Espoo office. The budgeted sales for 2012 are 30 million euros, of which about 30 percent could be exports.
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Nanna Susi – Passion and Soul-like Cruelty In Nanna Susi’s opinion, it is important for an artist to be ready to throw oneself off, to take chances, to try to find something new, even at the expense of one’s own comfort. Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, Nanna Susi
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rtist Nanna Susi has sometimes named her paintings “landscapes – explorations” – explorations into her existence and her fantasy. Italian art critic, Lorella Scacco, has said: “An essential characteristic of the paintings (of Nanna Susi) is the absence of a clear-cut distinction between internal and external space: rather, they are marked by a chaotic visionary permeation. It is difficult to distinguish the horizon in the landscapes. Cognition, intuition, sensation – all of these come together and intermingle, in an undulating manner, in the fluent brush of the artist.” Nanna Susi often uses brilliant mixtures of colours. Sometimes her colour scale is more limited, but in most cases, a thick layer of colours create a certain vague but interesting three-dimensionality. “I use only oil colours, which change according to the lighting. It can blaze, it can form shadows, it transforms quite a lot, even in a short period of time, when one watches the painting.” “I often like to work on large paintings. But, it does not matter how big the painting is. It might be 30 x 50 centimetres or even 30 x 50 metres – what is important is the intensity of the painting.”
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Can suffering be avoided? Even the best artists are influenced by others. “I was greatly impressed by Danish artist Per Kirkeby, when I saw his exhibition in Finland in 1989.” Another strong experience came when Susi saw Mark Rothko’s exhibition in Paris. “I’m not an overly supersensitive woman, but back then I cried in front of Rothko’s paintings. I may not have actually been influenced by him a great deal, but I liked the simplicity and horizontal solutions in his paintings.” However, the real artistic soul mate has been Susan Rothenberg, an American artist whose painterly rich style won recognition from the 1970s onwards with her iconic horse paintings. Later, Rothenberg shifted to a more abstract style, yet human figures remained in focus in an original way. Nanna Susi’s painterly style resembles Rothenberg’s, but her approach is different. There is no need to refer to any “ism”.
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Critic Altti Kuusamo used the term “Oceanic” regarding Nanna Susi’s paintings: “Oceanic expression seizes and synthesizes: I is omnipotence, where kitsch has been subordinated to higher levels of emotional filters.” This means, says Kuusamo, that details melt in the cosmic colour wax of the landscape. It is about the universal feel of it all. It is about the inner self: “For a long time, I only painted sceneries and landscapes, often reflecting the inner self. Nowadays, there are more and more human figures in my paintings, especially faces. I sometimes even talk of a landscape of faces.” One series is called A Man in Deep Water. But it is not about diving. Rather, the man is walking in water, a little lost and insecure about his future. Another series in her studio, called Underneath the Eyes, depicts women. “The women in my paintings are those who have experienced life, who are jagged or rough by their appearance. There
is something of a soul-like cruelty in this series.” Nanna Susi’s words of “soul-like cruelty” have an impact on my mind. There is something contradictory about that, if we see a soul-like positive term, refined or so, but maybe cruelty, on the other hand, should not be taken too literally? Perhaps she just seems to say that cruelty and suffering cannot be avoided in this world? But this suffering is possibly cruelty against oneself? There are no readymade answers in Nanna Susi’s paintings.
Achieving a lot through simplicity In 2000, Nanna Susi won the Young Artist of the Year Award. This gave her an opportunity to have a large exhibition at Tampere Art Museum. The paintings in this exhibition were truly colourful and full of energy. Good examples of these were the paintings And the Heart Beats and A Thousand Loves.
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During the autumn of 2012, Nanna Susi is going to have another large exhibition at the Helsinki Art Museum Tennispalatsi. The retrospective exhibition will open in September and will last for three months. “I will put paintings from the beginning of 2000 on display, but I primarily want to concentrate on more recent works. I will also paint some new works during this spring and summer.” When visiting her studio in Kaapelitehdas, a lively art and design centre, new paintings are taking shape. Nanna Susi says, however, that she does not know yet, if some of these large paintings will be displayed. For sure, Nanna Susi’s exhibition at Helsinki Art Museum Tennispalatsi will present a broad selection of her paintings in the light of different periods and themes. The museum info pages state that “the expressive works sweep the viewer along to an exciting adventure, to stories about lives, both big and small.” “Susi's extremely acute sensitivity is full of power and the colours propel the spectator along from one mood to the next. The rich symbolism in Nanna Susi's paintings provides endless possibilities for interpretation.” On the other hand, complicated interpretations should not be exaggerated. Nanna strives for simplicity, to achieve a great deal with relatively scarce symbolism.
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Holy art school In 1997, Nanna Susi graduated as Master of Arts from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, often known as “Ateneum” or “Atski”. “The art school Ateneum was a holy place for me. The teachers were professional. But, I also received some tips on how to live my life. One advice was to fully enjoy life. Go and eat in a very fancy restaurant, if you get a larger sum of money. Do not worry about tomorrow too much.” The Art school Ateneum was important to Nanna’s future, but the real passion has been Italy. Nanna Susi has spent years in Rome and her son Raffaello is half-Italian. “At one time, I was in Rome every month, perhaps every 5-6 weeks. Only God knows how much money I have spent for these trips. I was in Italy permanently from 1999-2006. Today, Nanna Susi lives in Helsinki in a gorgeous Art Nouveau building, which she has decorated in an eccentric but stylish way. The floor that is made of planks is black, there are large mirrors and unique items of wooden furniture – but just one painting of her own on the wall! “At an earlier time, I had a studio in connection to my home, but there were too many people coming and going around. It was not easy to concentrate on painting. My working day is actually quite regular, from nine AM to three PM. I sometimes work 10-12 hours a day, if the painting is at a crucial phase. At that time, you just forget how time passes.”
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Nanna Susi loves Finnish nature and Finnish people. “One thing however bothers me. It is a little bit of a hypocritical attitude towards money and art. Many Finnish artists state that they are against commercial art. But no one actually survives without some kind of commercial attitude. Everyone needs his or her living.” “So, the stigma of a commercial artist can be strong. If you are considered to be too commercial in art circles, you will be easily downplayed by other art-
ists. It is not only that you would have commercial themes in your art. Even being too productive can result in a label of commercialism. Well, I am not that productive, and since my paintings are large, I only paint 20-25 artworks a year.” However, Nanna Susi also says that it is good to draw some line: “Naturally, it is good to be wary that you do not repeat yourself too much just because this and this kind of painting sells well. It is extremely important to have something new in your art.”
Nanna Susi’s exhibition in Helsinki at the Art museum Tennispalatsi lasts from 22.9. until the end of December 2012.
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The dilemma of commercial art
www.nannasusi.fi
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Reflections of
Northern Nature
Text: Mervi Lepoj채rvi Photos: Mervi Lepoj채rvi, Helena Laakso, Hanna Kanto
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The magic of realism One of the most prominent features in the works of Hanna Kanto is her ostensible bare use of colours. Times, places and occasions seem to come into action behind a dense flurry of snow, accomplishing the impression of hiding matters, more than revealing them. There are, however, some visual elements that connect her paintings to the continuation of the northern course of life and its traditions, so that one can sense the anxiety of reindeers galloping during their roundup, the chilliness of the wind and the growling of snowmobiles bouncing between the fells. These works, that critics have praised to have simultaneously succeeded in captivating the fierce realism of Lapland, as well as representing the magic of its nature, have also received the interest and admiration of a large audience. – The presence of snow and the meagre, sometimes even desolate nature, balances with my tender way of painting, describes Hanna Kanto. – I use colours instinctively, even infinitesimally, and try to be both aware and precise with the nuances of each colour. Even snow has a vast range, ENDLESS in its variations, it may differ, for instance, according to the shade of sky or the weather, Hanna says and reminds us that Eskimos also have several words resembling snow.
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A light breeze of an winter afternoon in Tornioriver valley gathers piles of snow on the steps of a studio where Hanna Kanto, 30, brings her own visions and thoughts about Lapland, its nature and spirit into life. Here, in the region of Tornio-Haaparanta, one the most unique border zones in the world, where snow and the most captivating light mould the landscape, are the roots of an young artist who is said to be one of the most promising describers of the Lappish way of life.
Love at first sight
My paintings now include several layers that also reflect my feelings, experiences and thoughts."
Although born in Tornio, Hanna Kanto was not enchanted by the true Lapland until she was finishing her studies at the University of Lapland. – In 2007, I decided to experience something totally different and moved to Kilpisjärvi to work on my master's thesis and to collect material for my future works. It was then that my eyes were truly opened and I understood that all that I came across was something I wished to flesh out through my own art. – I was touched by the minimalistic
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culture & design October landscape, the ability to see so far, the incredible nature, living without any haste, the conversations and shared thoughts with the locals, and all the long kilometres that I skied, taking photos and collecting moments and visions. – I even felt that it was essential to take part in all the traditional tasks, including ice fishing with a net and rein-
deer roundups and experienced deep joy when being able to provide for myself, Hanna depicts. The grip that Lapland has on Hanna's soul has not loosened its hold ever since. She still takes part in reindeer roundups each winter. – The urge is so powerful, I just need to step on the gas and drive hundreds of kilometres to get invigorated. It is therefore no surprise that Hanna Kanto eagerly defends the rights of the native. – I do fear the short-sightedness and indifference of people and it's affects on the most delicate and sensitive flora of the fells. By heavily exploiting the nature, we'll only end up with environmental disadvantages. –I, however, do not want to romanticize Lapland out of proportion, nor do I want to ignore the reality. Development takes place in natural courses, she ponders.
Room for interpretations Development has also taken place in Hanna Kanto's expression. The Lappish themes have altered to become more universal, an even the visual elements are no longer
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HANNA KANTO Master of Arts, b.1981 www.hannakanto.com, kantohanna@gmail.com, +35844 049 3697 Teaches and makes art in Haparanda, Sweden
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CURRICULUM VITAE
STUDIES 2007 University of Lapland, Master of Fine Arts, Finland 2004 Bellas Artes, Universidad de Granada, Spain 2001 School of Art in Liminka, Finland SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2011 tm•gallery, Helsinki, Finland 2009 ArtBabylon, Kirkkonummi, Finland 2009 Gallery Voima, Kemi, Finland 2009 Gallery Napa, Rovaniemi, Finland 2008 Skierri, Hetta, Finland 2007 University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland 2006 Library of Haparanda, Sweden 2006 Gallery of Gellary, Rovaniemi, Finland 2002 Town Hall, Tornio, Finland JOINT AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND WORKSHOPS (selected)
Red skiing dress only related the subsistence from reindeers. – Lapland still exists in my works, as an anchor of the foundation, but not as an entirety. To me, my paintings now include several layers that also reflect my feelings, expeCovers
riences and thoughts. I feel that the content has become more comprehensive, more personal and, therefore, gives more room for the interpretation of each partaker. Although introspection has taken its po-
2011 University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland 2011 International Plein-air Painting Nierbylec, Poland 2011 Lappia!, Kemi Art Museum, Finland 2010 SkjL 10, Järvenpää Art Museum, Finland 2010 Elektrohaus, Hamburg, Germany 2010 NYT, Fine Art Association of Lapland, Kaaelintehdas- is this correct? DN, Helsinki, Finland 2010 Mänttä XV Art Festival, Finland 2010 Artists`Association of Lapland – NOW -20 years, Rovaniemi Art Museum, Finland 2009 Group exhibition of Fine Art Association of Lapland, Äkäslompolo, Finland 2009 SkjL 09, Kouvola Art Museum, Finland 2009 Nattfestival, Korpilombolo, Sweden 2009 Uuden karvan kuu, Kilpisjärvi, Finland
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culture & design Winternight sition, Hanna's working method has remained the same; she paints several works simultaneously. – In this process, I strive to create a unity for each exhibition. However, this aim is not
controversial with the individuality of each work. On the contrary, every painting has its own story to tell. Hanna Kanto's works of art will be involved in exhibitions several times in the
Ravens
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2009 Gellary gallery, Kotka, Finland 2009 Art Basware, Helsinki, Finland 2009 Neljän tuulen pesä, Kilpisjärvi, Finland 2008 Natfestival, Korpilombolo, Sweden 2008 Library of Oulu, Finland 2008 Konstvisit, Kalix Sweden 2004 Forestdance performans, Aurikokalliot, Rovaniemi, Finland 2004 Christmas, Rovaniemi Art Museum, Finland 2004 Sculptures in Galleria Pommisuoja, Rovaniemi, Finland 2003 Jokivalkeat, fire sculpture event, Rovaniemi, Finland 2003 Photographs in Galleria Tuubi, Rovaniemi, Finland
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SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRIZES 2011 Travel Grant, Arts Council of Lapland 2011 1/2-year grant, Arts Council of Lapland 2010 Arts Council of Lapland 2010 The Paulo Foundation 2010 Travel Grant, Arts Council of Lapland 2009 Arts Council of Lapland 2009 Finnish Cultural Foundation, Regional Foundation 2003 Association of the University of Lapland WORKS IN COLLECTIONS City of Tornio City of Rovaniemi MEMBERSHIPS
Suopunki forthcoming two years, both in Finland and abroad. Most young artists find it difficult to gain visibility, but Hanna considers herself lucky. – As well as being well aware of the financial difficulties that a young artist may encounter, I'm quite relieved, since I'm a qualified art teacher. My diploma provides financial security and gives me the possibility to dedicate half of my year to my own artistic means of expression. – Naturally, it's also the feedback, recommendations and the criticism that may ease or complicate one's path. Success tends to breed more success, Hanna believes and assumes that she has also benefited from the size of her works; they fit into an ordinary living room. www.hannakanto.com
Finnish Painters’ Union, aspirant membership Fine Art Association of Lapland Fine Art Association of Tornio RESIDENCIES
The presence of snow and the meagre, sometimes even desolate nature, balances with my tender way of painting."
2011 International Plein-air Painting Nierbylec 2011, Poland 2010 Lassagammi, Skibotten, Norway 2010 Residence of Arts Council of Lapland, Berlin, Germany OTHER WORK ASSIGNMENTS 2010 - Art teacher in a Folk High School, Haparanda, Sweden UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS 2012 Yliluonto – Supernature, Äkäslompolo, Finland 2012 BELA biennal, Portugal 2012 BE 12, Kuopio, Finland 2012 Men of the Forest, Salo Art Museum, Finland
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Text: Jarkko Repo Photos: Andiata
Andiata is a Finnish fashion company offering top quality for business wear. Andiata offers a wide selection of clothes, all which are designed for a modern business woman. The story of Andiata began over 25 years ago when designer Tarja Rantanen established the business.
Tarja Rantanen, CEO of Andiata
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" igh quality has been the fundamental base on which our operations have been built ever since the beginning."
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enjoy working in the garment industry tremendously; I just couldn’t imagine doing any other type of work. Of course, as an entrepreneur, it is important to have perseverance, faith in your own abilities and the ability to solve future problems that may present themselves. I however feel that I can best express myself and my view of things when working in a creative field, and I have been delighted to receive confirmation that my way of seeing things has been appreciated by our customers, and, through this, our business has become profitable. High quality has been the fundamental base on which our operations have been built ever since the beginning. The guiding principle of our actions rests on a fashionable collection that is constantly being renewed, as well as first class products and services. Quality levels can be continually developed and refined better and better, but they will never be perfect. At the product level, the choice of materials and the methods of work are important.
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What kind of impression does a customer gain of our quality when they buy an Andiata product, or what kind of experience does the customer have when they call our centre or when they visit our store- how are they treated and are their wishes listened to.. Every employee of the company can influence the quality of service that is on offer. We have also been loyal to our own line and style; we haven’t chased after cheap prices or had to fundamentally change our concept in the changing economic situations. Good products also sell during the worst times. Another aspect of our success is our focus on the customer; our products are made purely for a commercial purpose, not for our own entertainment, or to realize our own artistic visions. The basic customer is difficult to define. The role of women is very different than it was 25 years ago. This also applies to their dressing styles. The role of women in working life and representation tasks has increased and expanded. I believe that regardless of where in the world live we live, certain types of women have the same hopes and dreams and the women's tastes towards clothing are similar. The key words for the world of Andiata
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" e have also been loyal to our own line and style; we haven’t chased after cheap prices or had to fundamentally change our concept in the changing economic situations."
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women are high-quality materials, a good fit and stylish appearance. They do not slavishly follow trends, but control their own destiny. A woman can be daring, without losing her credibility at work
Export As the managing director, I have a strong desire and ambition to develop the company and increase business operations. The growth will most likely come from outside Finland, as the Finnish markets
Young business woman • Get a well-fitting high-quality three-piece trouser suit: Jacket, trousers, skirt. • Material wool / Spandex • Black or dark blue in colour. • White well fitting cotton / spandex, or, alternatively, a silk-satin blouse.
are in every case limited for Anidiata’s target group, although an increase may also be experienced in Finland. Growth is sought in the export market and at potential "Flagship stores" in carefully selected locations. One of the main export countries is Russia, for which large investments have been made recently. We have participated in the Moscow Fashion Fair more than once and Andiata has recently opened a sales office in Moscow, in conjunction with a local agent. I believe that a local agent/professional is an essential prerequisite to successful exports. Extensive knowledge of the local markets and the ability to reach the right people at the early stages lays the foundation for longer-term cooperation and export developments. Andiata’s products are also sold, all the way from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Cooperation with the Russian customers has been ongoing for 20 years, which is proof of the mutual satisfaction in the quality of both the products and the services provided. "The Russians are a pleasure to work with, they have a good sense of style and a clear vision of fashion, and they are very international and demanding in their fashion-knowledge." Each collection always originates from different sources of inspiration, from which the ideas are drawn. I, myself,
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have always been fascinated by feminine women, no matter in what year and decade they have lived. Thin silk chiffon dresses and sheer tops or silk satin blouses are intuitively consistent with masculine pinstripe suits, white shirts and wide-cut loose fitting turned up trousers, even men’s waistcoats. A necklace can be selected from the Andiata jewellery collection. The significance of different accessories has increased dramatically in recent collections; our range of jewellery is very extensive, as well our selection of scarves and belts. Success in the fashion industry requires constant vigilance and a presence of being “alert”. Keeping track of the times or a preference to always be one step ahead of the times.
The atmosphere of Paris is inspiring The sources of inspiration can be found over and over again in Paris. When wandering the streets and sitting in the cafes, I am 100% a fashion designer
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" he sources of inspiration can be found over and over again in Paris. When wandering the streets and sitting in the cafes."
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Awards • • •
Fashion Gloria 1998 Golden Hanger 2002 Veuve Clicque Business Woman Award 2011
The findings of the jury / Elvi Rangell "Tarja Rantanen brilliantly meets the terms and conditions set for the Veuve Clicque prize winner. As the owner and managing director, she is responsible for both the company's line of products and the company’s financial results. Rantanen has shown innovation by continually reforming the Andiata product line, as well as keeping their products at the forefront of the developments of the field. He has shown courage by working in an industry in which the competition is extremely fierce. Survival in this competitive environment requires creativity and the grit to keep hold of your own line. "
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whose aesthetic eye is drawing influences from the pulse of the entire city. The most important private placements of a designer's work are the Premiere Vision fabric trade fairs that are organized twice a year. These are the largest of their kind in the world. This is where the greatest and most important decisions regarding the new upcoming season are made.
Success in more than one area The use of power is a responsibility of the company and its employees. Of course, in my position as the managing director, I require, both from myself and my subordinates, a general commitment towards achieving the objectives of our company. My style of leadership is based on Goal-orientation & Results. Transparency and teamwork is important in everything that we do,
Quality It seems that nowadays, the images created for brands are more important than the product itself. In my opinion, this is not the right direction to go. The brand only preserves its identity, through its products. At Andiata, the product is number one, attempts are made to put them together as well as possible and to correspond to the quality standards of the most critical consumers. Suits that have well-fitting cuts and
Andiata was the most successful clothing company in Southern Finland in 2010. This was according to the Success list of the Kauppalehti business journal.
high-quality materials can be worn just about anywhere and, most importantly, they will not grow old as fashions change. Ecological thinking is important to Andiata, and by buying high quality, you also save the natural environment.
Business style Dressing in the business world has been liberated, we no longer wish to separately emphasize business dressing, the clothes can still be stylish without having to be a trouser suit.
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whether it’s a question of the tasks of a designer or the managing director. The roles are difficult to isolate, I would rather say that I am 100% an entrepreneur, who carries out their work with their whole heart, both at work and during their free time. Andiata’s products are prepared in a subcontracted manner in Europe. The fabrics are primarily supplied by top mills in Italy.
For this, Andiata has a wide range of options on offer. Of course, there are areas in which specific dress codes are followed. Good customer service is the fact that a customer can find a pleasant and suitable outfit for different situations. We encourage each customer to find their own style and to emphasize the good points of their body. Our capable sales employees/ dressing advisors will be happy to help in all clothing-related matters, including the, so-called, ethical dressing. www.andiata.fi
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Text: Jarkko Repo Photos: Kim Ă–hrling, Ivana Helsinki
Ivana Helsinki is a globally known Finnish fashion and design brand. The BRAND was established in 1998 by three members of the Suhonen family (sisters Paola and Pirjo, together with their father Pentti). The workload has been shared, to ensure that everyone gets to do what is closest to their heart.
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n, Art Directo
Paola Suhone
It's All About the Family –
Ivana Helsinki
Ivana Helsinki releases a new collection twice a year. This has been the tradition in the world of fashion for years."
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aola Suhonen is the ART DIRECTOR for the company, taking care of all DESIGNS IN GENERAL. Clothes have been the way forward for Ivana Helsinki, as they were the first Scandinavian company to get into the main show CALENDAR of the Paris fashion week. These days, the collections are sold worldwide. − We have customers everywhere. It's not about the location, age or anything like that. Our customers are members of our IVANA HELSINKI FAMILY. Those who share our views AND VALUES will most likely also love our style. Commented Pirjo Suhonen, director of marketing. Her sister Paola Suhonen, the artist of the family, has free hands to design products and Pirjo takes care of other aspects concerning the business.
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Customers as family Ivana Helsinki regards everyone as potential customers to their world. Pirjo Suhonen talked enthusiastically about the possibilities. − Even males can be members of our IVANA HELSINKI family, even though we do not even have clothes for men. Ivana Helsinki is about taking care of others, sharing things and KNOWING WHO YOU
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− Paola can freely do whatever she wants. It's not our job to limit her designs in any way. Ivana Helsinki is a family company which has not only succeeded in design, but also in business. This has been due to both sisters being able to do their own work without trying to interfere into what others are doing. − Of course, we do have disagreements every now and then. As sisters, we can be rather direct with each other. But it's not to underestimate the work of others – instead, it's more about getting the best possible outcome.
ARE.
Ivana Helsinki releases a new collection twice a year. This has been the tradition in the
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culture & design world of fashion for years. Still, everyone should understand what Paola Suhonen has said about fashion: ”Fashion is for idiots, style is for everyone”. That comment has been widely published, but somehow, it's still more important than anything else that the members of the Suhonen family might say. Global fashion brands, such as Ivana Helsinki, need to have new designs available. Instead of using that as a tool for business – Paola has free hands to design clothes according to her own current life situation, moods, MEM-
ORIES; HOW SHE INTERPRETS THE WORLD AROUND HER.
− It can somehow easily be seen, from our past collections, where my sister began and what she has gone through. Her designs are always from the heart, instead of thinking what could be easily sold. And that's how it should be. Fashion is more about style than sales. This has been seen over the last few years when hipster culture has received wide attention and new
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members. But even now, when Ivana Helsinki could cash in with their style which is rather similar to hipster culture – they are not doing it. What can then be said concerning the current style that Ivana Helsinki offers? Real fashion, true design, so to say, is art. Should art be a target for criticism? It's about opinions and different views. One can easily find many extremely positive reviews concerning the current collection of Ivana Helsinki. But most likely, the Suhonen family would prefer you to have your own opinion instead of listening to anyone else. - Some will love our style, some will hate it. We are not for everyone. However, everyone is welcome to join our IVANA HELSINKI family, EVEN WHEN
THEY MAY NOT WANT TO WEAR THE CLOTHES, BUT MAY FEEL THAT THE COMMON VALUES ARE SHARED. IVANA HELSINKI MAY ALSO BE REGARDED AS A STATE OF MIND.
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Ivana Helsinki is a family company which has not only succeeded in design, but also in business."
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culture & design Business as family Ivana Helsinki has also completed designs for different companies. They began carrying out this co-branding with Coca Cola some years ago. After that, they've made designs for various projects – the latest being Subway in Finland. − Helsinki is one of the design capitals for 2012 and this has provided us with many possibilities with different kinds of companies to work together to achieve something new AND CREATE INNOVATIVE
CONCEPTS AND PRODUCTS.
It is not easy to design something for another company. The designer must understand the views and the world of the company and then try to find a design which gives something new, whilst also remaining true to the customer. This requires something from the customer, but even more so from the designer. Cobranding cannot be done unless the designer is open to discussion. Ivana Helsinki has been successful in such projects. This provides another example of the company philosophy. It's all about doing things together and taking care of others. AND LISTENING TO WHAT
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.
And there are even more stories behind this. Pirjo Suhonen talked about a new concept store which opened in New York during February 2012. − We can organize different theme evenings/nights there. It's about getting together, giving something back to our customers and making new worlds available (to the customers and artists from different fields).
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We've been networking for years in both NYC and Finland. One of our goals is to put these two worlds together."
Paola Suhonen moved to New York four years ago to study film arts. Ivana Helsinki has been active at New York fashion weeks and the company has just opened their first concept store in the heart of fashion. The store is located close to a few other North-European brands, but also to many other niche brands which offer a wide selection of different styles and worlds. − The opening of the store in New York was a logical step for us. My sister has been living there for some years now and we've received a great deal of positive press concerning our shows during the fashion weeks there. The store provides customers with the possibility to see the world of Ivana Helsinki. The store has a somewhat melancholy feel with a twist of positive energy of waiting for something great to happen right about now. The concept store will also enhance the world of Ivana Helsinki. Pirjo Suhonen explains the possibilities. − We are carrying out a lot of measures to give something new to our customers. We've been networking for years in both NYC and Finland. One of our goals is to put these two worlds together. It's a goal due to the fact that Ivana Helsinki started in Finland. The collections might have Finnish names and the true stories behind the collections arise from Finnish culture – however, Ivana Helsinki is not a Finnish brand anymore. It's a brand that is owned and taken care of by everyone who is a member of the Ivana Helsinki family – even its customers.
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New York, New York
www.ivanahelsinki.com
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Annikki Karvinen: Finnish Quality Clothes for People at All Ages
Text: Piia Vilja Photos: Annikki Karvinen
Annikki’s innovation is producing hand-woven material, which has brought her to the global stage as a brave and distinctive designer." Annikki Karvinen has become famous for her unique designs and the use of strong colours. She was the first person to use handwoven material in clothes design and by using this technique, she is able to create interesting structures on fabrics.
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nnikki’s clothes philosophy is to design and produce Finnish clothes for people of all ages and sizes. High-quality, natural materials, individuality and timeless designs are the basic principles when making the clothes. “We make short series products and we don’t mass produce. Our products consist of handmade, hand-woven and factory-made fabrics. It is important to us that everything we sell is made in Finland”, explains Annikki’s son and the company’s vice president, Aapo Karvinen. Annikki Karvinen is known for her skill at fluently combining different colours together. Many of Annikki’s handmade coats and blazers have become classics since the company was founded in 1968. “From our collection, we mostly sell coats and blazers, and, in particular, our hand-woven blazers have become a hit product. All in all, our purpose is to design and produce ensembles. We have planned our collection in a way that the colours and cuts complement each other, enabling the customer to effortlessly combine different garments together.” Annikki Karvinen is a family run establishment, of which, Annikki Karvinen is still the artistic director.
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Hand-woven innovations Annikki’s innovation is producing hand-woven material, which has brought her to the global stage as a brave and distinctive designer. “Annikki already created this technique at the turn of the 60’s and 70’s and she is the first designer who took this technique into particular use when making and designing clothes. She has been a pioneer in the development of this fabric; in fact, we are in a constant process of developing the fabric even more. What used to be called Poppana is very different today,” Aapo Karvinen explains. Poppana is an older form of hand-weaving, where wefts were used instead of thread. Modern hand-woven fabrics are made from different kinds of threads to create different structures and thickness to textiles. Aapo Karvinen informs that they mostly use velvet and cotton threads, and in the winter, they tend to use heavier materials, such as wool. “Annikki and the whole team in our factory in Jyväskylä are very skilful in employing this technique and developing it further. They are able to create different bindings to make the fabric’s structure look interesting. This is definitely our expertise.” Annikki creates exciting different structures to handmade fabrics, by combining cotton and viscose. In addition to this, different kinds of bindings are used in pockets and collars in her handmade clothes.
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Annikki Karvinen Oy employs around 20 people and their factory and head office is located in the Seppälä industrial area of Jyväskylä, a city in the lake district of Central Finland. Annikki Karvinen’s turnover is 1. 5 million Euros a year, half of which comes from exports to other countries. The main export markets are Germany, Japan, United States and Holland. “On top of this, we sell smaller quantities to countries such as South-Korea and other European countries like Switzerland and Austria”, Aapo Karvinen notes. Annikki Karvinen has two stores in Finland: an outlet shop next to their factory in Jyväskylä and flagship store in central Helsinki’s Pohjoisesplanaadi. In addition to their shops, they have around a dozen stockists located around Finland. Annikki Karvinen currently has no plans for expansion in the Finnish market, but the company is hoping to gain a bigger market share abroad.
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Strong exports
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The impact of cheaper goods on the luxury market does not worry Aapo Karvinen. He perceives that people would like to combine together more expensive quality brands and cheaper mass produced clothes. In recent years, the trend has changed and it has become fashionable to support ecological and ethical values. Companies have begun
“We are interested in increasing our exports in Asia, Europe and United States. In Asia, our newest market is South-Korea, where we expanded a year ago. The market is strong in Japan, where we have been selling our products for a very long time. We are hoping to expand into China, in so far as we can find a suitable importer. We’ve recently had some interest from Chile. The economy is growing rapidly in South-America and there has been increased interest towards high-quality products.” The recession and euro problems have lowered Annikki Karvinen’s demand, but not significantly. Aapo Karvinen states that their usual customers are not affected and they still purchase the same way they used to. He notes that Annikki Karvinen’s garments are luxury products and because the media has magnified the recession, it has become harder to obtain new customers.
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to manufacture their clothes in Europe again, instead of third-world countries. Aapo Karvinen is very positive about the future of Finnish design. “Values that highlight individuality, ethics, ecology and quality are increasing and Finland has a good reputation in that aspect. In addition to that, we also have some very talented designers in this country.”
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is desired. This service is often very good for tourists, who are usually not spending more than one day in Finland and need the product altered quickly.” Internationally, Annikki Karvinen’s clothes can be bought from the Takashimaya and Mitsukoshi department stores in Japan. In Europe and the United States of America, Annikki Karvinen products can be found from smaller boutiques that sell more individual, quality products or specialise in Nordic design. Annikki Karvinen’s daughter has two of the brand’s own stores in Germany, one in Hamburg’s Neuer Wall and another one in the Island of Sylt. The prices of the products range from 100 Euros to 1 500 Euros. www.annikkikarvinen.fi
Spring/summer collection True to the Annikki Karvinen style, the Summer/Spring collection 2012 is full of vibrant colours. Her clothing philosophy can be seen throughout her collection, the style is classic and transparent, and the clothes are designed to fit all body types, regardless of their age. Different kinds of stripes are playing a major part in factory sewn fabrics and they are being used in whole garments, as well as in the details. The fabrics are mainly cotton, linen and 100% silk. This season, the dresses have womanly hems that are highlighted by fine, well descending, fabrics.. Annikki Karvinen has customers from all around the world who visit their flagship store in Helsinki. The busiest time is from May to September, when the shop sells more products to tourists than it does to Finnish customers. “We have a dressmaker in the store here in Helsinki. We can custom-make our products for customers and shorten hemlines or sleeves if that
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Sustainable Jewellery by
Ofelia Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Ofelia
Looking at the variety of the artistic output of goldsmith Kari Hirvonen, it is clear that he has a sharp eye for possible inspirations from any source. The Ofelia workshop of Mr Hirvonen is surprisingly small, but one can immediately feel the touch of professionalism right from the beginning.
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irvonen established Ofelia 15 years ago. His career as a goldsmith is, however, much longer, stretching out for than 40 years. “In my youth, I had planned on becoming an engineer. My teacher said in a straightforward way that it would not suit me. Today, it is easy to see that he was right.” Hirvonen’s teacher, Olavi Kaarnakorpi, recommended that he should try to get into a goldsmith’s school. About 350 applied. “I was one of the lucky 13 who entered the appreciated school in Helsinki.” Since 1973, he worked eight years for Lapponia Jewellery, which at that time was a real trend-setter, an innovative company even on a global scale.
Gold from Lapland is manually mined by a “pan for gold” technique, without any machines, so these are really ecological rings."
Kari Hirvonen
Two courageous men began the tale of Lapponia - the entrepreneur and visionary Pekka Anttila and the jewellery designer and artist Björn Weckström. Together, these men broke all the rules concerning jewellery. After Pekka Anttila’s death, his son Jorma Anttila played an important role. “It was Jorma who asked me to join Lapponia again in 1987. During my first Lapponia period in the 1970s, I was a craftsman; during the second period, I was quite much in charge of new models. I wouldn’t, however, say that I was an artistic director. We just had a great team and could create tens of new models every year.” “I appreciated fellow goldsmiths and the strive of Pekka and Jorma Anttila for something different. The s sales personnel also worked hard to find international customers, not to speak of Björn Weckström, who, for example, made stylish designs from platinum.” In 1994, however, Kari Hirvonen felt that he wanted to have new challenges. He placed an open job application in a professional magazine for goldsmiths. Within a few days, Yves Thoman from the Swiss company, Golay-Buchel Asia, based in Hong Kong, offered him a job in Manila. “I was in the Philippines for two years. There were 150 employees at one time. These were great times, but I wanted to set up my own business and return to Finland.” Today, Hirvonen has a workshop in Helsinki. He works alone, but also cooperates with a number of fellow goldsmiths from time to time.
culture & design River Gold It is important for Kari Hirvonen that he knows the origins of the gold and precious stones that he uses. “The materials that I use must come from sustainable sources, ecologically and ethically. I do not want to be part of the blood diamond or illegal gold business. As an example, I personally know the person who delivers gold to me from the sources in Finnish Lapland.” Kari Hirvonen has quite a large number of Japanese customers, some of whom have asked Kari if he can make rings from the purest possible gold. He thus created the River Gold ring, a very gold-rich ring, the surface of which is not as smooth as a normal gold ring. Golden River rings are quite heavy, between 6-20 grams. The Japanese appreciate the rough style of these rings, which are made by using primary melting. There are four basic versions of River Gold rings. “The most dynamic person in Lapland’s travel industry, Päivikki Palosaari, also asked me to do something from Lap-
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land’s own gold, and I have designed several pieces for her.” “Gold from Lapland is manually mined by a “pan for gold” technique, without any machines, so these are really ecological rings,” notes Hirvonen.
maline is also an interesting precious stone.” Sometimes, Kari Hirvonen receives special orders. One of the largest was a couple of years ago: “One customer wanted to have a wedding date of 10.10.2010, so I made a solution for him with lots of ones and zeros. 678 diamonds, platinum, white gold. The price was quite high, tens of thousands of euros, but normally, a customer can get a tailor-made and really unique jewel for between 5000-10 000 euros. But naturally, there are not so many of these during one year.” “I have sold unique pieces to Japan, Germany and Great Britain most of all.”
The Flanders Cut
Snow crystal expertise
One of Ofelia’s specialties are jewels that are based on Flanders diamonds, which often come in a range of colours, from yellowish “champagne” to the shades of chocolate and cognac. Flanders Cut diamonds are 8 sided and have 61 facets. “The brilliance of the Flanders Cut lies in its octagonal shape. All of the facets have been positioned in a very precise way, so extreme glittering and shining are achieved.” “In one item of jewellery, I used a cognac coloured Flanders diamond of 7 x 9 mm. It was a 3.5 carat wedding ring.” Diamonds are naturally not the only option. “My favourite precious stone is actually the arctic carnet, a dark red-wine coloured stone, which can be found in Lapland and the Urals mountains. Tour-
Kari Hirvonen does not look down at projects that are based on volume products. He has designed and manufactured champagne straws made of silver, numerous business gifts etc. USB Memory sticks with silver decorations have also been popular.
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Other popular business gifts include hand bag hooks. A “roller skater pin” that was designed for the then presidential candidate and recent president Sauli Niinistö was very popular. As many as 38 000 pins were manufactured, according to Hirvonen’s design. “Unique items are naturally more challenging, but there is nothing wrong about also producing nice items on an industrial scale.” It is however very important for Hirvonen that jewellery has a story, a future history of its own, but he does not like artificial, fantasy-only stories. “In a way, Lapponia has made fictions. I want to stick to the facts. Also, Fabergé’s famous goldsmiths relied on fantasy. Goldsmith Alma Pihl, for example, made famous snowflake jewels, which do not follow the real patterns of snowflakes.” Although Pihl’s approach was different from his own, Kari Hirvonen does not want to boast that his way of doing things is better: “I was just impressed by a book named Snow Crystals, written by Bentley and Humphreys and printed in 1931. In their book, possibly for the first time, they re-
vealed what snowflakes and crystals really look like.” “Alma Pihl and other Fabergé goldsmiths have, however, carried out great work in the late 19th century and at the beginning of 20th century. This success story of its time was created to a large degree by Finnish goldsmiths who moved to St. Petersburg. Many Russians and Finns know this fascinating story, but not many others. For example, the long-time head workmaster, Henrik Wigström, was from Finland, and he played an important role in making Fabergé a world-famous name.” Like his Czar era predecessors, Kari Hirvonen is a hard-working man. “I sometimes work 12-13 hour days, but during the summer, I take a two month holiday and enjoy the Finnish waterways and archipelagos by boat.” Kari Hirvonen even has a sauna on his 11 meters long travel boat Ofelia II. “During the winter time, I rest abroad for one month, but often, I also work, since I try to find additional contacts to find precious stones for my jewels.” www.ofelia.com
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Wood Jewel Strong Faith in Local Materials and Motifs Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Klaus Susiluoto, Wood Jewel
Kauko Raatiniemi represents Lappish entrepreneurship in its fullest. The self-made man believed in handcraft, in artistic motifs of his native province of Lapland and in local people’s talent. Today Raatiniemi’s Wood Jewel souvenirs and jewels concept has grown from one-man garage effort into an essential employer in the West of Lapland.
We do all design by ourselves. We do not even use freelance designers. Continuous renewal is one cornerstone of our success.”
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n English the term “garage success stories” is sometimes used when referring to business breakthroughs, which literally started from a garage. For example, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer in the 1980s in a garage. Larry Page and Sergey Brin started Google, the biggest internet search firm now, also in humble premises. In a smaller scale, Finland also has some garage success stories. Kauko Raatiniemi started his Wood Jewel, souvenirs and business gifts business at home and in a garage located in his own yard in the 1980s, in Kolari, western Lapland. “In 1984 I ran my last marathon – after that it became so hectic with handcraft business that I could not practice sports any more. Officially I set up the company in 1986,” says Raatiniemi. From the mid 1990s the business has expanded greatly. In 2001 new modern production facilities and a small shop connected to it were finished. In 2005 Wood Jewel expanded further. “A café and restaurant was opened on the other side of the road. Factory outlet and a small production unit for knife sheath are in the same building complex.”
culture & design Local motifs In 2007 a new Wood Jewel shop was opened in Ylläs ski resort, in Äkäslompolo, in connection with a small Jouni shopping centre. The last enlargement was in another ski resort Levi, where a shop was set up in 2010. Kauko Raatiniemi reveals that it was in fact tourists coming to Lapland’s ski resorts that gave him the original idea of souvenirs and gifts: “I was thinking what kind of products would appeal to a Finnish or non-Finnish traveler. I immediately understood that materials and motifs should be local or regional.” “There is an interest in local materials and genuine hand-made products. It is not just a boom. People are tired of mass production, I believe.” Wood Jewel does not make much mar-
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keting, but inquiries are coming from abroad and Finland quite regularly. “We listen to customers’ wishes. Many ideas originally are from some of our customers, but naturally we have to find our own approach with materials and techniques.” Wood Jewel premises in Kolari are actually a tourist venue at the same time. “Visitors can see through the window how gift items are manufactured, from raw materials to a finished product. We have nothing to hide. People are interested in hand-made products. Why shouldn’t we show the process?”
In-house design Kauko Raatiniemi emphasizes the role of talented craftsmen and craftswomen. “We do all design by ourselves. We do not even use freelance designers. Continuous renewal is one cornerstone of our success.” Today the company employs 15-20 people, depending on the season. Kauko Raatiniemi’s son Tuomas and his wife Heidi are also working for Wood Jewel, as
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is Kauko’s’s wife Irma. The material widely used in Wood Jewel products is curly birch. This material is quite rare, mainly found only in Finland. “Basically it is just normal birch, which for one reason or another has converted into a very tight material, often with beautiful curly patterns,” explains Kauko Raatiniemi. “We also use gnarls, mostly birch gnarls but also goat willow or other gnarls.” Heat-treated and through-dyed-birch are also used to some extent, as is aspen.” Products from reindeer antlers form a whole product group, and include such items as key rings, bottle openers, cheese slicers and jewels. Stainless steel is used to make cheese slicers and carbon steel blades.
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Extensive product range Wood Jewel has an extensive products range. Among the most popular ones have been key rings, jewellery, wine bottle corks and openers and hunters’ survival kits. Telescope sausage sticks and telescope shoe horn are the latest novelties. Knives, ‘puukkos’ in Finnish, have become even collectors’ items. Mostly, however, people buy those for their trekking, hunting or fishing activities. “We have manufactured more than 1000 different kinds of products. The most popular individual items have sold hundreds of thousands,” recalls Raatiniemi. www.woodjewel.com
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Curly birch There is even a Curly Birch Society – Visaseura – which was founded in Finland in the year 1956. Its purpose was to promote the cultivation and use of curly birch and to coordinate the activities of curly birch cultivators, forest industry and research. Curly birch (Betula pendula Carelica) is a rarity in the world; its narrow range includes Finland. Due to its rarity and decorativeness, curly birch has been considered a valuable and interesting specialty. When in demand, it fetches a higher price than any other Finnish tree species.
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We can offer a wide range of special effects to help the packages stand out among many others.�
Hannu Vakkari, CEO of Pyroll
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yroll is a packaging manufacturer, paper merchant and paper converting Contract Company. Of the three business branches packaging is the biggest. “We offer packaging solutions of carton, paper and plastic, with different material combinations. Recyclable and biodegradable materials are widely used,” says Hannu Vakkari, CEO of Pyroll. When visiting Pyroll’s Tampere carton package manufacturing unit, one can feel a strong sense of pride among the personnel. Production facilities are modern and everyone seems to concentrate well on what she/he does.
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Vakkari tells that the company aims at a flexible and fair attitude towards customers as well as employees, with forward-oriented planning. “Pyroll’s key words before were growth, profitability and internationalization. These are still important, but the focus is a little bit different now. In our customer satisfaction survey we did quite well, so I believe we truly are fair and flexible.”
Special effects and simplicity In the highly competitive modern economy, a visually attractive package is in practice a must in order for the product to sell well. “Products compete for consumers’ attention on the shelves. In some cases special effects are used to make a difference to a product in a standard package,” says Vakkari.
First of all, the package protects the product. A purposeful package thus optimizes distribution and reduces product losses. It provides information on the contents, properties and the right use of the product.”
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“We can offer a wide range of special effects to help the packages stand out among many others.” “Special effects” can be, for example, achieved by varnishing, embossing, foil blocking and special materials. Innovative glued construction can add to these.” However, at the same time a package should also be simple and easy to open. The opening of a package can be improved by using well-designed creasing, perforations or a pouring spout. “Together with our customers we strive to find the best solutions.” Pyroll manufactures also industrial packaging products. For example, large sacks, gift wrapping papers and Christmas papers are made in the company’s Lempäälä unit. “In gift and Christmas papers we have used many designers. Satu Ketola’s ‘Frost’ (Kuura in Finnish) has been popular, with a bird motif.” Multi-talented cultural person Jarkko Martikainen designed wrapping paper called “Lahjakas” in Finnish. The word is difficult to translate, but refers both to talent and gift. Martikainen depicts on the paper two fellows and a dog in a humorous way. Pyroll also cooperates with Ivana Helsinki fashion company. “Customers can buy gift papers with their fashionable patterns, like the Butterfly. We can also make customerspecific solutions based on their or any other design.”
Protecting the product Sometimes it is popular to criticize packaging. However, packaging is a “necessary good,” reminds Hannu Vakkari. “First of all, the package protects the product. A purposeful package thus optimizes distribution and reduces product losses. It provides information on the contents, properties and the right use of the product.” In most cases packages can be recycled. If not, energy use is possible. “Naturally one option is to avoid un-
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necessary packaging, but in most cases package solutions have been well-thought beforehand. We have taken the environmental challenge seriously. Since 2010 the company has been a member of the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate citizenship initiative, with participants from more than 130 countries. “Social responsibility is a key term for Pyroll. For example, we do ensure that no child labor is used in our partners’ operations,” says Vakkari. Another issue Vakkari emphasizes during our factory tour is sustainability. Pyroll’s paper merchant business has EU’s environmental certification, the EU Ecolabel. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and PEFC certifications are important. “With a standard food industry package the environmental load coming from packages is about five percent,” reminds Vakkari. Vakkari believes that to a large degree
packaging is and will remain a local or regional business. “Logistically it is not good to produce packages on the other side of the world. However, although being a regional business, we will have to compete with large international companies.” Certain demand does automatically come from local industries, but packaging is far from an easy branch. “This is not an easy business. We are quite heavily dependent on raw material prices. Especially prices of different foils and films have traditionally been varying significantly.” Exports are made mainly to neighboring areas. Exports count for a little more than 15 percent in terms of the turnover. Russia and the Baltic countries are the main export areas.
Varied technologies In Vakkari’s view, Pyroll’s longtime expertise in materials, structural design, printing technologies and color management ensure competitive advantages for clients.
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“We can offer a large number of special solutions. Our trademarks FlowPap and FormPap are good examples of this. FlowPap is a paper-based flexible flowpack laminate for horizontal and vertical packaging machines. It can be combined with a wide range of other materials. It can also be equipped with individuallyshaped windows.” FlowPap is ideal for packing fresh
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tal printing solutions, especially for case packages. “Personalized and campaign-specific packaging solutions can be made flexibly and quickly. Small series can be made in a cost-effective way. “We also have a digital model service for product development, consumer testing and exhibition use. We can provide package samples, structural and graphic design. It is possible to make different versions of the package – ranging from printing, various sizes, material – to support customers’ decision-making. Threedimensionality certainly helps in the planning stage,” believes Vakkari. www.pyroll.com
foods such as bread. It is a thermo-formed paper-based solution for shallow packages such as trays used for sliced meat. The combination of paper and film provides the best properties of both materials. “For fast-food wrappings we have BioWrap, a compactable wrapping material. In plastics and film, our HD Flexo technology can be used to have more complex four-color system printing in flexography plastic packaging,” says Hannu Vakkari. Modern packages can also include more and more smart technology such as RFID. RFID can offer more information about the product inside the package than the bar code. “However, RFID possibly does not become as common as anticipated.”
Digital solutions Pyroll also has a digital carton plant which specializes in small series. For these solutions there is a company called SOLVER Palvelut Oy, which offers digi-
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Paper merchandise and converting services Pyroll is not only a packaging company, but a paper merchant that operates as a member of the Igepa Group, the third largest paper merchant chain in Europe. The product range includes art and offset papers as well as boards for graphic and packaging end uses. Pyroll Paper Converting provides sheeting and rewinding services. Converting division handles more than 200 000 tons of paper annually. Pyroll Contract Converting is the leader in its field in Europe. The Pyroll Group is a privately owned Finnish company. Chairman of the Board Reino Uusitalo founded the company in 1973. Today the company operates in fourteen locations in Finland. It also has one packaging unit in Hungary and contract converting unit in Poland. Pyroll employs about 500 people. The net sales amount to almost 90 million euros last year.
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Pyroll is not only a packaging company, but a paper merchant that operates as a member of the Igepa Group, the third largest paper merchant chain in Europe."
The founder of Pyroll, Mr. Reino Uusitalo, is keenly interested in sports and art. He has sponsored the Parikkala sculpture park, which originally was established by the artist Veijo Rönkkönen more than 40 years ago. Rönkkönen made about 500 unique sculptures, most of which depict human figures. There is seriousness, playfulness, meditation – many different moods and attitudes in his works. One major motif in his works is yoga. All yoga statues except one face the East. Veijo Rönkkönen had a close relation to yoga. He started his day by practicing yoga one hour each morning. Rönkkönen also created animal figures, such as kangaroos, ostrich and camels – although he never traveled in exotic countries or saw these animals live elsewhere. The statue park attracted more than 20 000 visitors per year. Yet the artist did not want to take an entrance fee from visitors. In the spring 2010 Rönkkönen unexpectedly died at the age of 66. His relatives did not have resources to upkeep the sculpture park. Reino Uusitalo decided to save the great artistic venue, with the help of informal organizations and the municipality of Parikkala. The sculpture park is impressive indeed, with the beautiful nature surrounding the site. In 2008 the “Veijo Rönkkönen art park” was chosen as the “Domestic Travel Destination of the Year”.
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Leading the Way to
International Markets The fair services business is foregoing an interesting phase. Mr Topi Ruuska says that “Wulff Enter is one of the key players in the Nordic countries and is seeking strong growth from emerging economies.
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, Wulff Enter
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uuska started in Wulff Entre in April 2011. His previous career in business development training was one the motives for his hiring by Wulff Group’s senior executives. Topi Ruuska has fulfilled all expectations. Under his leadership, the company could turn profitable once again. “Our business was basically healthy even before I entered Wulff Entre, but there were some excess costs, especially in the events side of the business.” “Something had to be done. We changed three of our four unit directors. The sales department is nowadays headed by Ninni Arion, the project department by Satu Pekkala and the design department by Milja Moliis. Robert Sjöblad continued as the director of the finance unit. All of them have been able to motivate their teams.” In 2011, the turnover of Wulff Entre dropped to 5.6 million euros, a decrease by 0.6 million compared to previous year, but EBIT was positive. One coincidence was that the positive result of 388 000 euros was the same as the anticipated loss.” Topi Ruuska and the rest of the personnel of 20 could, thus, turn the company towards a more positive direction. “It is important to operate in a profitable way. Although the turnover temporarily dropped, I believe that a company like this should seek growth.” “For the year 2015, which will come all too soon, we are looking for the turnover of 8.5 million euro. We will not however expand at the expense of profitability.”
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A focus on emerging markets The fair services business is foregoing an interesting phase, says Topi Ruuska. “For example, in some African countries, the economy is progressing
well. With our partners, we have also attended Australian fairs for the first time ever this year.” “Asia continues to be a very important market for us. It is not only China, but also Japan, Korea and many others. We have studied the Indian market and we were involved, for example, in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi last year. We also see huge potential in the Brazilian exhibition market for Finnish and European companies. Entre annually coordinates stand services for European, Russian and American companies in Brazil. ” says Topi Ruuska.
“In Europe, we have been present with our partners at the Barcelona Mobile World Conference since its beginning in 1987. There were more than 30 Finnish companies at Entre’s joint stand at Barcelona MWC this year. “Russia continues to be important. We have employees who can speak Russian, one of them is a native speaker.” “This spring, we will attend the OTC Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, the US. Whatever the continent, we have good references.” Only recently, Wulff Entre designed and constructed the Nordic Pavilion, or-
ganized by the Swedish Trade Council at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The world's largest biotech trade show, BIO Annual International Convention, is held in Boston in June, and the Swedish Trade Council hosts a pavilion, together with the other Nordic countries. “Country-focused or Nordic pavilions have been especially appreciated by small- and midsize companies that for cost reasons would not be able to exhibit otherwise.”
Events and office decorations Wulff Entre also makes the interior decorations of offices. “We have three qualified persons in our design team. They communicate keenly with the sales unit. What we can offer, in addition to visually and functional fair services, is experience on project management activities. Schedules are met with precision.” “It is quite normal for the preparations for the next mega fair to already start almost one year before the event. Sometimes, even more than a year is needed, but sometimes with smaller fairs and events, we only need several weeks to reach the solutions that
satisfy our customers.” “It is not only fairs. We can also make unique events on behalf of our customers,” says Topi Ruuska. “We arranged the Finnish Sports Gala in January 2012. Not all of our customers are Finns. We also offer our stand services internationally. We have Russian, German, Swedish and American clients, who rely on our stand services in different continents. For example, for Russians, it is important to receive the Finnish quality standards and to be served in Russian. We are seeking strong growth on international markets. Topi Ruuska says that Wulff Entre attempt to “jump in the shoes” of a customer, no matter how small the company is. “There is still much to do. What we need is co-displays of SMEs. Only about 10 percent of Finnish exports are generated by SMEs. They cannot go abroad without subsidies and/or joint-stands. “I sometimes used to say that every large company has once been a small one. Larger companies can have a presence with smaller companies, which really should not be underestimated.”
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Wulff Entre also makes the interior decorations of offices."
Wulff KB-Tuote Wulff Group also has the Wulff KB-Tuote company that specializes in business and advertisement gifts. Topi Ruuska is also in charge of this business. “Almost two thousand companies and associations rely on us in this business. We not only provide ready-made business gifts, but also perform designs with customers on how business gifts could support their corporate brand. A larger concept can be created by combining all or a significant portion of business gift activities with us.” www.entre.fi
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CE Lindgren Found Its Niches The Finnish town of Porvoo is one of the bestknown travel destinations in Finland. Porvoo also has strong small and medium sized companies like C.E. Lindgren, which has found its niches from ski jumping and sledding – on top of their more than 120 year old paining brush business.
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Sini Pennanen, CE Lindgren
Heikki Kaukinen, CEO of C.E. Lindgren
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.E. Lindgren has long traditions. The company was founded in 1881. Painting equipment still consists the largest business sector, but Oy C.E. Lindgren Ab is the market leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing of plastic matting systems for ski jumping centers. “These have become common in ski jump centers around the world. Jumping, training and competitions are now able to continue the whole year round,” says CEO
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of C.E. Lindgren, Mr Heikki Kaukinen. Since 1984, more than 300 ski jumps have been equipped with Everslide Plastic Matting System. Among these, several are well known from the Olympics and World Championships. “Last year 2011 we delivered our products to Sochi Olympic ski jumping hills. We also delivered so-called snow nets for the downhill, which will be installed on the hill in the winter time to prevent snow falling down,” says Kaukinen. “In addition to Sochi, we had two
other projects in Russia last year. Russia seems to be clearly a growing market for us. There is a growing interest in ski jumping.” There is a need for replacements too. The average using time for plastic matting is between 15-20 years, so some of the oldest have been renewed already.
Growing popularity How does Mr Kaukinen see the future market?
Alpensia, South Korea
Almaty, Kazakhstan
“Ski jumping has been popular in some central European countries like Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Slovenia is also a traditional ski jumping country. We delivered last year plastic mattings to seven ski jumps in Planica, where the world-famous flying hill in is located. However, in flying hills plastic matting is not used, they are all snow-based, but there are smaller hills in Planica too, where we delivered new mattings.” The smaller hills in Planica offer an excellent training place for any ski jumper around the world. “I believe it will be Europe’s most modern ski jumping center. It was granted EU support, and the price of the project came to 42 million euro. Planica mattings will be installed in May-June this year,” says Heikki Kaukinen.
Bischofshofen, Austria
Erzurum, Turkey
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Lillehammer, Norway
Oberstdorf, Germany
“One of our strengths is project management. We can carry out the project in agreed timetable and find suitable solutions for deliveries and installments.” “Also new countries like Kazakhstan have emerged. We have delivered facilities even to Turkey.” “The market in North America on the other hand has been very quiet for a couple of years. Japanese trust in their own systems,” notes Kaukinen. The basic materials and solutions in ski jump mattings have not changed much over years. “However, we have developed for example UV-resistant solutions, so that the mat color sticks better to the materials and does not fade away because of strong sunlight.”
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Sledding hills A business sector with lots of potential is sledding hills made of plastics. “Already now we have delivered close to 70 projects of different sizes, usually between 100 and 200 m2. Our solutions can be found in Mexico, Spain and South Korea for example.” “We usually deliverer sledding solutions to countries where there is no snow in the winter time, but with our solutions sledding season can continue also in cooler countries with winter-time snow.” Oy C.E. Lindgren Ab has equipped sledding slopes with Everslide Plastic Matting for children in water parks and at sports resorts and family entertainment centers since 1994.
Hinterzarten, Germany
“Our Plastic Matting is equivalent to the surface of a snow-covered slope and for more fun on the slopes, make sledding possible all year round.” “The plastic surface is watered, and sliding goes all the smoother. Thousands of families have already experienced the excitement of sledging on our Everslide Sledding Slopes.”
Painting business Approximately 60percent of CE Lindgren’s turnover comes from painting brushes and other tools for interior decorating. “We are the leading suppliers of painting tools in Finland, so he painting business is naturally very important for us.
The core idea of our business is to develop and market flawlessly functional, durable, efficient, and ergonomic painting brushes and tools to meet even the most demanding requirements,” says Kaukinen. The product line includes high-quality tools for both professional and do-it-yourself use. Each year some millions of painting brushes and tools are marked with the CEL trademark, which represents the high quality standards . The products are available in all well-supplied home improvement and hardware stores in Finland. “For more than ten years now, we have been working in co-operation with the Swedish company Anza AB, which is the leading manufacturer of painting tools in Scandinavia. This co-operation includes production of brushes to Lindgren. Anza
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Everslide in LIFE Park, Thailand
Everslide in South Korea
belongs to international Jordan Group.” “Painting tools is more volume business, but our technical brush division is based on tailor-made solutions. Our customers send drawings or instructions to us and we will study if it is possible to manufacture such a brush in our factory.” “In 2008 we entered co-operation with Europe’s leading manufacturer of tapes, and the company now represents also the wide range of Tesa® products in Finland.”
New CCI business One cornerstone is of C.E. Lindgren is CCI – Corrosion Control International – business, which is done as subcontracting. “CCI is about corrosion prevention.
It can be utilized for example in bridge constructions that are often sensitive to corrosion. CCI as well as our ski jumping and sledding solutions are typical niche businesses.” “There will a large Corrosion Control project in Australia for one bridge. Basically it is fabrics that is handled in a patented solution.” Heikki Kaukinen tells that CE Lindgren’s varied businesses are doing rather well. “We have 33 employees. From time to time we use hired staff to manage the peaks. Our turnover last year was close to 10 million euro.” www.celindgren.fi
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Caviar From the Top of the World Text: Jarkko Repo Photos: Caviar Empirik, Dreamstime
Caviar Empirik Oy is a new player in the world of cuisine. CEO Sergei Kapanen established the company in 2010. The purpose was to produce world class caviar in Finland. As is typical, there have been problems on the way to get everything running, as well as some changes to the original plan.
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Caviar production in Finland is easier for everyone. The customer can be sure of the quality due to the local laws and the Russian market is just right behind the border."
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orn in Russia, Sergei Kapanen is a young entrepreneur who is known in the building industry. His companies have provided excellent housing possibilities for Russian clients in Finland. − This is more like a diversion from my other activities. I have been able to taste great caviar before and when the possibility arose to work with this business, I took it on as a challenge. Sergei Kapanen has been working with Russian customers in different businesses. In addition to this experience, his Russian heredity has also been a key idea in the caviar business. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the whole world of caviar changed. The black market for caviar has been enormous and legislation has attempted to control illegal production operations. Gone are the days of wild caviar, as only a few countries allow the production of natural caviar. This change left the market without caviar and sales numbers have been low in comparison to the time before modern Russia. There are currently only a few coun-
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tries which produce caviar. At the present time, Iran is the largest exporter, followed closely by Russia. The quantities are, however, nowhere close to what was produced before. Very few new countries have stepped into the caviar business and some production is carried in countries such as Italy, Spain and Saudi Arabia. Sergei Kapanen is changing the business and his first production site is in Imatra, Finland. − Production in Finland is easier for everyone. The customer can be sure of the quality due to the local laws and the Russian market is just right behind the border. The objective of the Saimaa plant is to have commercial production running in the second quarter of 2012. The schedule has changed somewhat from the original plan, however, the current situation is great and everything is going as planned.
Sergei Kapanen would not be in the situation he is these days if he hadn’t jumped into action as soon as he did. Kapanen heard of the possibility to buy a Spanish caviar production facility during 2011. − I was first of all against the idea of including two sites in this business. But when we got there and talked with the owners, we agreed upon a deal on the first day. Now, the Spanish site is also ramping up the production volumes. Together with Saimaa, they have the possibility to produce just enough caviar in 2012 for current sales demands. − It's still not enough and we need to increase our production. Hopefully, we will be able to enhance all aspects during 2012, to have a better situation, quantity wise, in 2013. That is the business side of it. However, caviar is not a regular product. It's part of some cultures and a way of life. Sergei Kapanen is not only aiming to produce caviar, he also wants to change attitudes towards it.
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Caviar from Spain
About caviar Tasting caviar for the first time must feel like a weird situation. Everyone knows the overall price (depending on the quality of course) and expectations are high. Caviar has been consumed for long as there have been humans. The word itself even dates back hundreds of years. Its a long history and a high price tag for fish eggs.
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world, it's the top caviar. Caviar Empirik will have it's first commercial batches ready later this year. Produced in Saimaa, Finland. The production in Spain is currently up and running and the first shipments are to be sent out within the next few weeks.
Finnish cuisine
But, it's not about the price, it's not about the history – it's all about the taste. Quality caviar tastes like nothing else. Depending on the quality and other factors, the taste can vary widely. Even when originating from the same production site, the caviar from one sturgeon tastes different from another sturgeon. Current methods of production are environmentally safe. Taste differences between wild and produced caviar are nonexistent, so there really is no reason to hunt for wild sturgeons anymore. − Caviar can be for anyone, it's about what you like Says Ilona Virtanen, the marketing manager of Caviar Empirik Oy. Caviar is, commonly, a part of a feast. It's seen as an ingredient for many festive foods. This common idea of caviar is also the reason why it has been faked many times. When something can be sold with higher prices, copies are soon to follow. There are currently producers who are targeting the lowest possible price, instead of high quality. − Our key idea is to produce the best caviar, nothing else. The price depends on our costs, but we will never try to enter the lower price range. That also sums up Sergei Kapanen as a person. He thrives in businesses in which the most important factor is quality. Caviar has been a high quality product before and Sergei Kapanen is doing his part to keep it that way. It's not just caviar from the top of the
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Sergei Kapanen also has a lot to say about Finnish cuisine. At the present time, there aren't that many customers for Finnish caviar in Finland – a situation which is uncommon in the world of caviar. Closely produced caviar is always a better choice. − Here in Finland, it seems that people do not want to eat high quality ingredi-
It's not just caviar from the top of the world, it's the top caviar. Caviar Empirik will have it's first commercial batches ready later this year."
Caviar is also seen as being merely one product. There are many varieties available with different possibilities for cooking. It's mostly up to the local restaurants to educate people in the varieties of caviar. Finland does not have a long history
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ents in anything. A typical Finnish feast is to serve the same food that people eat everyday or in the worst cases, the food is even worse than the regular cuisine. In part, the negative views concerning caviar originate from the history between Finland and Russia. Even more so, the negative label which is given to caviar is created from the wrong facts. Finland is a world leader in many environmental fields and caviar has been seen as a product which has a negative impact on the environment. − Our caviar from Spain is, to my knowledge, the only caviar in the world which is produced naturally. Both of our sites (Saimaa and Spain) are extremely efficient in both energy consumption and all other corresponding aspects. The production of high quality caviar is more about time than anything else. There is no scientific information available, when it comes to the environmental impact of caviar production. However, it can be said that all of the production of fish is on the same level. Sturgeons are raised in a closed system, which is different from the open water production of salmon etc. From these differences, one can easily see that caviar is a better choice than almost any other fish product on the market when it comes to environmental views.
with caviar and there are only few restaurants that offer it. − We are currently working to get our products onto the local market also. We need to have chefs using our products before we can sell it to people. Finnish cuisine is also changing and we will do our best to also have some festive ingredients in there. Cuisine in Finland is perhaps not changing as rapidly as elsewhere. What was seen as festive a few decades ago is now seen as the worst possible food. Caviar was the top food in the world a century ago and now it's coming back. Maybe Finland will also gets it share this time. www.caviar.fi
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Oversol – Lighting the Way
Text: Jarkko Repo Photos: Oversol, Dreamstime
Our customers also desired other products with our technology. We started out with the sauna and progressed on from that to other lights for such environments."
Oversol • • • •
Oversol, established in 2000 Owned by Pertti Suominen and individual investors Own R&D and production Entering new markets with Lumi R street and road lighting technology For more information, please visit: www.lumi-group.eu/en
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versol is a fast growing Finnish company who are designing new ways of lighting. They've only been using LED -technology and are one of the best in the world when it comes to street lighting. How can a small Finnish company be the best and what is the philosophy behind the company. The company was established by Pertti Suominen over ten years ago. The lighting business is however a very competitive field with companies that have been in the business since the very first light bulb. Suominen started Oversol as a company with just one worker, one product and one customer. From that humble beginning, they've had a good run to being one of the best companies globally when it comes to street lights. The idea to establish Oversol was fairly clear. − I've always been interested in technology and have been working with lights for almost all of my life. When I first saw the new white LEDs back in 1999, it provided me with new ideas. We started out with sauna lights, which is a product mainly for a niche market. We however also received sales in Sweden, Norway and Russia. Pertti Suominen also had another business for a few years before Oversol. That company was also involved with lighting. The new idea for sauna lights was, however, a new thing for the market and it was a good time to establish a company just for LED -technology. − Our customers also desired other products with our technology. We started out with the sauna and progressed on from that to other lights for such environments. We had new products (such as Steplight, Starlights etc). The product names were in English from the beginning. Export operations were in mind when Oversol was established. To gain growth, Oversol has negotiated sales channels with a few larger companies. For example, K-Rauta in Finland, and Bauhaus in Europe. Oversol has not attempted to put all their products into all markets. It has been up to the customers to tell us what the best way to proceed is.
Different markets
Oversol is a fast growing Finnish company who are designing new ways of lighting. They've only been using LED -technology and are one of the best in the world when it comes to street lighting. How can a small Finnish company be the best and what is the philosophy behind the company.
Oversol has its place in the Finnish market. They are also working with a large company to change old technology into new LED -technology. This is providing a boost to growth. However, it's not just LED, it's about understanding the customers. − In Europe, the LED is somewhat easy to sell, merely because of the energy savings that it offers. But in Russia (concerning Oversol), it's only about the design and style. LEDs offer a new way of creating lighting and that has been the key to getting into the Russian market. Oversol has created LED based lighting for a warehouse
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in Russia. It was a step into the future of lighting. − The possibilities with LED are extensive. It's easier to control, it has low maintenance costs and the overall energy consumption is very low. To be able to grow, Oversol has agreed upon manufacturing in Asia. Some products are manufactured in Finland, but the mass production is outsourced.
− It is a risky move for a smaller company to take. However, we decided to check that possibility out to be able to offer our products to a larger market. The design for Oversol’s products is also outsourced. − New products are mainly based on what we hear from the market. We don't try to push new things, instead, we listen to what our customers are looking for.
We do, however, try to control the overall design of our products. Personally, I'm looking for products which offer clear esthetical feels. It’s mainly up to the end user how they use the products. People are still new to LED technology and the possibilities are still not commonly used. It's good for the end users to check the ideas on the Oversol website to know what could be done with modern light fixtures. China is a new market for Oversol. Similarly to Russia, the key to getting into the market is the design and overall style. In new markets, customers are already waiting for a new design. Oversol is doing many things right for a small Finnish company. They, however, do not have the possibility to educate everyone about the possibilities of LED.
Lumi R, street and road lights
Technical specifications of the Lumi R product family • Light source: 1 W LED • Rated power*: 29–96 W • Operating voltage: 100–240 V • Temperature range: -40 °C - +50 °C • Colour temperature: 4200 K, Ra 80 • Lumen depreciation: 30% after 60 000 hours of operation (25 °C) • Protection rating: IP65, power supply IP67 • Dimensions: 940 mm x 520 mm x 210 mm • Weight: 12–12.5 kg • Installation height: 5–11 metres • Pole distance: 33–51 metres • Assembly: Pole and arm fitting Pole fit: ø 40–70 mm, Angular adjust: -5° - +100° • Structure: Body: cast aluminium Heat sink: anodized aluminium Exterior: marine aluminium Reflector: polycarbonate - special coating Protective glass: shock resistant acrylic, dirtrepellent nanocoating • Lighting category: S -classes, MEW-classes • External control: 1–10 V • Guarantee: 5 yrs, body and reflector 10 yrs • Pat. pending • Average with CLight function
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One of the success stories for Oversol is their Lumi R -system. Street and road lighting with new technology. − The energy savings gained in street lights are over 50%, even more so in colder regions. Oversol began the R&D for Lumi R years ago. The idea for it is simple. New technology can not only offer savings in costs, but also enhance the safety and usability. Just a few of the ideas in Lumi R are that it's totally recyclable, energy savings are up to 85%, self learning (individual lamp posts can change the illumination depending on the lighting from other sources) and that it can easily be fitted into existing posts. − Our engineers also worked towards reducing light pollution. One of the reasons for the high energy savings is that Lumi R does not scatter light, thus reducing light pollution. Light should only be there where it is needed, instead of dazzling passers by. Light pollution has been talked about for years. Only Lumi R has offered a clear solution to the situation. The problems arising from light pollution are wide. Peo-
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for light fixtures which provide design and personality. Within a few years, it will be common to have visible sources for light which do not illuminate an overall space. Overall illumination will be handled by light fixtures which are hidden from sight. This can be used to reduce glare and enhance living conditions. The Lumi R could be built with new sensors and technology, so that cars could ”chat” with the lighting. This could be used to reduce risk factors, such as too high speeds before an area of a collision. The possibilities are there, and even the technology is ready – now it's up to the people. − Even with today’s technology, the limiting sources are the designers and end users. Once people learn to use LED – the sky's the limit. The sky might be the limit for the technology, but not for the light. With the new technology, light is there, where it should be.
ple should be able to sleep without being disturbed by light from outside sources. It's also better for mental health in areas which, for a few months of the year, receive reduced levels of illumination from the sun. In addition, one group will instantly love the new product in particular – sky watchers. Oversol is looking to get into a global business with Lumi R. The product is being taken care of by a new company called Lumi Group Oy. − We've already received inquiries for the product from various countries, such as Australia and Mexico. There is a global need for new street and road lighting.
The future LED is being developed continuously. What was new a year ago is now in common usage. The technology is changing rapidly with new inventions. − One example of the future might be organic leds. They can be used as wallpaper or such to offer overall lighting from flat sources. Even today, people are integrating light fixtures, so that light can be used without seeing the source. This is the current style for some. At the same time, people are looking
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Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Klaus Susiluoto, Novoplastik
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We make instrument panels, door trim panels and interior trims for Lotus sports cars."
The development and production of vehicle interiors is the core competence of Novoplastick Oy, a company based in West Finland. “We are enthusiastically looking to widen our expertise to also developing and producing natural fibers too”, says Johannes Heiskanen, CEO and owner of the company.
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N
ovoplastik was founded in 1950 in Helsinki. Initially, the company produced PVC products and it was the first High Frequency elder of PVC foils in Finland. “Since the mid 70's, Novoplastik has focused on interior trim parts for the vehicle industry, specializing in a series below 30 000 units per year,” explains Johannes Heiskanen. Novoplastik returned to private Finnish ownership in 2003, when Heiskanen bought it as a MBO, management-buy-out. Today, the company has technology in handling rigid, as well as soft, polyurethane foam for foils and textiles, as well as some technologies involving thermoplastic natural fibre composites that are used in furniture etc. “At the moment, however, we mainly produce cost effective, high quality vehicle interior solutions, but also high-quality noise absorbents.” “We make instrument panels, door trim panels and interior trims for Lotus sports cars. Instrument panels and headliners are made for Garia golf-carts. For Tesla electric cars, we have made interior trim parts, which we have also subcontracted to Scale City busses.” “It is an honour to work for Lotus cars and Tesla. Lotus is a classic, with its Exige, Croft and Evora models, and in particular, the Lotus Espirit. Tesla is a less-known electric sports car, which can accelerate from zero to 100 km/hour in 3.9 seconds. The Tesla Roadster is also made by Lotus and subcontracted by Novoplastik. “We also have extensive experience on making cabin parts for heavy-duty vehicles, such as forestry machines and tractors. For John Deere forestry machines, Novoplastik have made cabin interior surfaces, for Valtra tractors, instrument panels and cabin interior trims. The forestry machine manufacturer Logset is also a customer of ours, we have made all the cabin interior parts for their machines. Novoplastik also carries out the preassembly of dashboards, bumpers, shelves, etc., for passenger cars, as well as for larger vehicles.
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cutting edge solutions Compos Lobby chairs
Quality matters In 2005-2006, Novoplastik was chosen as the best performing QCD supplier of Lotus Cars. These statistics proved that Novoplastik Oy was the best among all of the over 250 other suppliers of Lotus. “We also cooperate with Lotus Engineering, which has a vast R & D and design unit. They have made the planning for all the main cars.” “Our quality management system has been approved to meet the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard since September 2002. Our registrar is Bureau Veritas (BV). “The overall purpose of our system is
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to ensure that we understand the needs of our customers and that we translate these needs into products that meet our customers’ specifications, in a way that is consistent and reliable.” In many cases, Novoplastik participates in the planning process, for example, if a new part is designed for a new vehicle model. “We have to be active in our relations with the contractors. The development and production of vehicle interiors is currently the core of our business. We are constantly assessing the effectiveness of the system, making improvements and capturing improvements through documented processes and staff training.” Novoplastik Oy has committed itself since 2005 to take care of the recycling and utilization of the packaging that it delivers to the market, according to the EU directives, waste management laws, and the decisions and regulations that are made by the Council of State. “The Finnish PYR trademark also shows that the firm is attending to its responsibilities towards the environment, also with regard to the recovery of its packaging,” says Johannes Heiskanen.
100 % natural fibres Johannes Heiskanen explains that Novoplastik is also enthusiastically looking to widen its expertise to developing and producing natural fibres. “Novoplastik was awarded the regional Innofinland prize in 2009 for its 100 percent biodegradable thermoplastic natural fibre composite,” he says. Natural fibres are developed under the
Novofrux name, which is an extremely versatile material with numerous applications. Public furniture has been produced in cooperation with the Piiroinen furniture manufacturer. For example, chairs have been designed from Novofrux material, the designer was Samuli Naamanka. “We are now developing the secondgeneration solutions of Novofrux. More and more, non-food and non-farmed materials are being used.”
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We are now developing the secondgeneration solutions of Novofrux. More and more, non-food and non-farmed materials are being used.”
www.novoplastik.com Lotus Evora interior
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Viking Grace M/S
Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Viking Line
- a Completely New Kind of Experience on the Sea
The new Viking Grace will be one of the most environmentally friendly passenger ships in the world. Four multifuel Wärtsilä engines and doubled engine rooms ensure economic and safe voyages."
Viking Line strengthens its fleet in January 2013 with a new vessel. The new build 1376 was named in February 2012 as M/S Viking Grace. “The name reflects a special style, design and atmosphere,” tells Viking Line Abp’s CEO, Mikael Backman.
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V
iking Line’s newbuild 1376 or M/S Viking Grace is an innovative passenger and car ferry that is under construction at the STX Finland shipyard in Turku. There has been a strong interest in 1376, partly due to the choice of fuel, Liquefied Natural Gas, or LNG, which results in less emission. The new vessel will be able to use three alternative fuels: traditional heavy fuel oil, diesel or LNG. “When running on LNG, the vessel meets all the new and forthcoming emission rules now being devised by the European Union,” says Mikael Backman. For example, the Nox emission limits of 2016 can be managed. The LNG system is designed and manufactured by Wärtsilä. The system includes two 200 cubic meters tanks, which contain liquefied natural gas in the temperature of minus 160 degrees. “The new Viking Grace will be one of the most environmentally friendly passenger ships in the world. Four multi-
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fuel Wärtsilä engines and doubled engine rooms ensure economic and safe voyages. “It is not only the LNG and other fuel solutions. Innovative hull design results in less fuel consumption. The hull of the vessel will be hydro-dynamically optimized to minimize its fuel consumption and cause the smallest possible swells, which is particularly important when passing through a sensitive archipelago.” The NB 1376 has proceeded in schedule, and the ferry will be launched in January 2013. The grand block was lifted from the production hall in February 2012. When ready, Viking Grace can take almost 2800 passengers and 200 crew members. The ship is 214 meters long, but only 31.8 meters wide. The maximum cruising speed is 22 knots per hour.
Compact Silencer System Thanks to the new soundproofing technology, the noise level of Viking Grace will be very low. “Our new flagship will be a very quiet
vessel, both when operating at sea and while in port. Viking Grace will certainly be one of the most silent passenger ships in its category,” says Backman. The Compact Silencer System is also designed and manufactured by Wärtsilä. “Electric propulsion adds to the rather low noise and generates fuel saves.”
Interiors by Vertti Kivi & Co The visible design, especially interior decoration solutions will be stylish. Interior design is made by the award-winning dSign Vertti Kivi & co, and a host of other innovations provide the passengers with a totally new and fresh cruise experience. “We are glad to be able to cooperate with Vertti Kivi and his design team of the company dSign Vertti Kivi,” says Mikael Backman. The conferencing spaces also are the most modern. Night clubs are in two stores. There is a wide screen and surround sound in the movie theater. Live music will be on three different stages.
Mikael Backman tells that the new ferry will have the largest scenery windows on the Baltic Sea passenger ships. “It is easy to observe beautiful archipelagos of Stockholm and Turku.”
Design Capital Helsinki Viking Line is one of the main partners of Helsinki World Design Capital 2012. “We have called the new Viking Grace the design ship, because comfort and good design count much to our passengers and in developing even more customer-oriented solutions.” “The themes of World Design Capital Helsinki are openness, global responsibility and roots for new growth. Viking Line’s values are pretty much the same,” says Mikael Backman. “It is also important that through the new build 1376 project we can utilize Finnish ship planning expertise which combines cruise ship and passenger ferry features.” Viking Grace is not the first Viking
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ship that has brought new features to the market. “Our XPRS is sailing between Tallinn and Helsinki. It takes only a couple of hours to reach the other city – earlier it took 4-5 hours with large passenger car ferries.”
Increased interest from Asia Mikael Backman tells that Viking Line has more and more Russian and Asian customers. “Their share is still 2-3 percent, but they use more money than average Finns. Asians who come to Europe are willing to spend more money, since many come to Scandinavia just once in a lifetime.” “With Viking ships passengers can reach Helsinki, Stockholm, the Åland Island and Tallinn. Irregularly we have cruises to Latvian capital city Riga. “Finns form the largest customer group. The proportion between Finns and Swedes on the Stockholm routes is about 35 to 65 percent. On the Tallinn route, naturally many Estonians sail.” www.vikingline.fi
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On the website dedicated to the new Viking Grace, Vertti Kivi talks in a cozy way about “the boat”. He says: “The boat will, for example, live with the people onboard: in the morning the boat will look like morning, daytime reflects daytime and when the night comes the boat dresses up for the night time. I don’t know if there is another ship in the world that changes with the time of the day.” In 2011, Vertti Kivi, the creative director at dSign, was named as Finland’s Interior Designer of the Year.
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Vertti Kivi: Cozy “boat”
For more about Vertti’s thoughts and Viking Grace’s construction in general on the website dedicated to NB 1376, please visit: www.nb1376.com in Swedish, Finnish and English.
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Chain Competence of
Sokos Hotels Sokos Hotels, part of the S Group businesses, has been able to make itself the biggest and best-known hotel chain brand in Finland. The senior Vice President Harri Ojanperä says that Sokos Hotels brand is getting more and more known also in the Nordic and Baltic countries, let alone in St. Petersburg, where the chain has three hotels.
Text: Jarkko Repo Photos: Sini Pennanen, Sokos Group
The S Group has two main hotel brands – Sokos and Radisson Blu Hotels. There are almost 50 Sokos hotels in Finland, three in St. Petersburg and one in Tallinn, Estonia."
Harri Ojanper채, Senior Vice Presidet in SOK Travel Industry Chain Management.
cutting edge solutions p Sokos Hotel Palace Bridge in St. Petersburg, Russia
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he S Group’s national chains in the tourism and hospitality trade include Sokos Hotels, Radisson Blu Hotels, as well as dining venues and cafés Rosso, Rosso Express, Fransmanni, Amarillo, Sevilla, Memphis, Night, Corner, Coffee House, Presso, Buffa, Fiesta! and Wok Up. Harri Ojanperä is in charge of the coordination of hotel chain business. Ojanperä says that different restaurant and hotel brands create some synergy. “There are some advantages in purchases and logistics, but mostly these chains operate independently.” The S Group has two main hotel brands – Sokos and Radisson Blu Hotels. There are almost 50 Sokos hotels in Finland, three in St. Petersburg and one in Tallinn, Estonia. Besides Sokos Hotels, the S Group also operates Radisson Blu Hotels in Finland. Radisson Blu Hotels and Resorts is an international brand based on franchising model. Holiday Club Spa Hotels chain was sold in March 2011 to the Holiday Club Resort Oy. S Group is also known for its hypermarkets, in connection with which there are often cafés and restaurants. “It is quite evident that in our Sokos
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hotels, dining venues differ from hypermarkets’ cafés and lunch places. We have a concept called a casual food business. Sevilla, Fransmanni and Memphis restaurants represent this. These are not particularly only for hotel guests, but available for everybody else.” “We have the best CCI Loyalty Index in Finland. This proves that our customers have been satisfied,” says Harri Ojanperä. “We believe that we have better chain competence than our rivals and can thus offer good price-quality ratio.” “We have some ideas for new hotel and restaurant concepts, but at the moment there is nothing concrete to tell about.”
Unique co op model Harri Ojanperä emphasizes the unique business model of the S Group. “In our co-op model, each chain control organization is responsible for coordinating, developing, steering and supervising the chain activities in their own business area. When the cooperatives’ good local market and customer knowledge is combined with chain activities, the effective S
p q Restaurant Sevilla in St. Petersburg, Russia
St Petersburg in focus S Group has Sokos hotels in Estonia and Russia, in Tallinn and St. Petersburg. “In Tallinn we operate the best-known hotel in the city, the Viru Hotel. Hotels in St. Petersburg are Olimpia Garden, Vasilievsky Hotel, and Palace Bridge. In these hotels the majority of customers are Russians, but Finns comprise about one fourth.” The visa-free cruises from Helsinki to St. Petersburg have brought new hotel customers.
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Group business model is born. “We can offer one of the best benefits and discounts to our customer-owners. For example, our hotel customers know in which restaurants one can get bonuses for their drinks or meals. “The individual regional cooperative units could not have so strong chain business. Chain management is easier with larger organization.” On the side of hotel business, the main competitors of Sokos Hotels are Restel and Scandic Hotels chains.
t Restaurant Memphis in Helsinki, Finland q Sokos Hotel Palace Bridge in St. Petersburg, Russia
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cutting edge solutions p Sokos Hotel Levi in Levi, Finland “Many leisure travelers have already seen Tallinn and Stockholm several times, and they want to get to know Russia’s second city as well,” analyses Ojanperä. “Even Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced that St. Petersburg has still unused tourism potential. The amount of recreational visits to Russian tourist capital will increase.” “Finnish and other western business travel customers, who have long visas and visit Russia several times a year, are as important as leisure travelers.” In Ojanperä’s opinion, the fast train connection from Helsinki to St. Petersburg is very useful both for business and leisure travelers. “It takes only 3.5 hours to reach the other city. With such a concept it is of little use to fly between these cities. The fast Allegro connection will bring even more new customers in the near future.”
The Design Year in Helsinki Harri Ojanperä is satisfied with the utilization rates of Sokos Hotels. “Our rates have been about 70 percent. The year 2012 looks good.” Ojanperä believes that the Design Year will bring a zest to Helsinki. “Helsinki has gained quite much visibility in the international media. We live in a world of information or attention
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p Sokos Hotel Hamburger Börs in Turku, Finland economy. You just need to offer new ideas to more and more demanding travelers, and distinguish yourself from others. In addition, you must preserve your basic flows of travelers. For example, we cooperate with shipping companies like Eckerö Line to bring people to Tallinn and use our hotel there.” The Sokos Hotels in Finland naturally have a wide international customer base. Swedes, Germans, Americans, Russians and English are large customer groups. “This year possibly more Japaneses and Koreans will come, thanks to Helsinki’s World Design Capital title. We have had more Chinese customers, but they still are not a very big customer group. Only a small percentage of Chinese can or want to travel abroad. Very few have a passport even.”
Face of the cities hotels Harri Ojanperä does not make very clear distinction between business travel and leisure hotels. “Some hotels are naturally striving to attract mainly corporate customers, while others mainly aim at leisure customers. But companies are also keen on incentive traveling, which comes close to recreational activities. “For example, our Levi Hotel in Ski Resort Levi is mainly a hotel for leisure
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Some hotels are naturally striving to attract mainly corporate customers, while others mainly aim at leisure customers. But companies are also keen on incentive traveling, which comes close to recreational activities." q Sokos Hotel Jyv채shovi in Jyv채skyl채, Finland
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cutting edge solutions p q Sokos Hotel Ilves in Tampere, Finland
customers, as are Tahko and Koli hotels.” Many hotels with more emphasis on business traveling are an integral part of the city structure. “In many cases they are landmarks in the city, even “face of the city hotels”. These include Kimmel in Joensuu, Jyväshovi in Jyväskylä, Hotel Ilves in Tampere and Hamburger Börs in Turku. Vaakuna in Helsinki just next to the railway station and 80-year-old Torni Hotel are well-known landmarks in Helsinki. Vaakuna hotels can also be found in Kouvola, Pori, Mikkeli, Joensuu, Hämeenlinna and many other Finnish cities. q u Sokos Hotel Torni in Helsinki, Finland
If a hotel is older and has joined the Sokos hotels group only later, its historic features are respected. A good example of this is Sokos Hotel Torni.”
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benefits at our chain restaurants and other hotel restaurants, such as favorably priced dishes and wines for co-op members.”
Operational freedom Although Sokos Hotels chain is very strong, much operational freedom is given to each hotel’s management. “If a hotel is older and has joined the Sokos hotels group only later, its historic features are respected. A good example of
this is Sokos Hotel Torni.” Ojanperä has a strong entrepreneur background. “This has been a great help in the chain business, for example, in understanding when hotels must keep their individual features, even a strong brand of its own. There is space in Helsinki also for small independent hotels, part of which are boutique hotels. However, thanks to our chain expertise we can offer benefits few others can do.” www.sokoshotels.fi
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“In addition to domestic business tourists and leisure travelers, we have lots of international guests. “In the late 2011 we started cooperation with the Nordic Choice hotel group. This means that in addition to Sokos Hotels, customers will get benefits also in the Nordic countries, such as Sweden, Norway and Denmark. This gives us a good network of hotels, as good as Scandic hotels can offer, partly even better. “We have a frequent customer concept S Card, which gives good benefits to a business travel customer. When you travel as a private person, you can use S-Etukortti card which entitles you to various
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Seinäjoki Leaps Forward The Seinäjoki region in Southern Ostrobothnia is one of the fastest growing areas in Finland. It is striding eagerly into the future, since the city of Seinäjoki and its nearby municipalities band together, both strategically and operationally. Text: Mervi Lepojärvi Photos: Seinäjoki, Jaakko Kuivamäki
Seinäjoki is well known for its favourable attitude towards entrepreneurship. Even though the municipal administration is generally claimed to be rigid, Seinäjoki serves companies flexibly and efficiently."
e z i s 's t i n a h t r e Bigg The Seinäjoki region in Southern Ostrobothnia is one of the fastest growing areas in Finland. It is striding eagerly into the future, since the city of Seinäjoki and its nearby municipalities band together, both strategically and operationally. The collective understanding of strategic planning and the willingness to take actions accordingly was particularly proven in 2005 and 2009, when the municipalities of Peräseinäjoki, Nurmo and Ylistaro were merged to the City of Seinäjoki. These consolidations are widely considered to be advisable examples of well organized and implemented local government reforms that have taken place in Finland. – The unification was based on a strategy aimed to increase the regional vitality and ability to compete. This strategy has since brought numerous new possibilities to the entire area of South Ostrobothnia, says Jorma Rasinmäki, the mayor of Seinäjoki. – We chose not to fade away, but to act proactively. This attitude, which reflects the true character of the region, will conduct us even further, Rasinmäki states.
es c i o h c l a i t n a t s b Su rategic planning via st The essence of a successful strategy rests in it's content. Instead of imaginary options, a solid strategy and its corporeal master plan is created from the commitment to a shared volition and decisions. – Although Seinäjoki and its longterm associates Alavus, Ilmajoki, Jalasjärvi, Kauhava, Kuortane, Kurikka and Lapua are strong and economically independent municipalities, local govern-
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ment boundaries are less significance for enterprises. On the contrary, the future of the entire region depends on our ability and determinacy to provide services, accommodation and employment, Rasinmäki remarks. The municipalities in Seinäjoki region have therefore found it necessary to expand their strategic and operational collaboration. – So far, we have accomplished mutual strategies for business and marketing, constructing, climate and energy matters, even funding. Funding arrangements that promote both regional and municipal projects will, according to Rasinmäki, proceed.
n o i t a c o l t n e l l Exce eans of and mportation trans
The location of Seinäjoki has increased it's attraction among enterprises, since it offers several solutions for transportation operations. It is simply one of Finland's most important intersections, where roads and tracks cross and enable transportation throughout the whole country. The railway provides a direct connection between the largest cities and even the utmost parts of Finland. Extensive highways pass through Seinäjoki to central and northern Finland and also serve as an excellent channel for cargo transportation. Several companies that serve both transportations and deliveries have established terminals and other operational units in the Seinäjoki region. However, the business expansion expectations pertaining to production and logistics require further output concerning the infrastructure and town planning. – The City of Seinäjoki is consequently willing to support companies in setting up or enlarging their businesses, Juha Luukko, the director of Seinäjoki Region Business Service Centre emphasizes.
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Respondningges to challe
Seinäjoki is well known for its favourable attitude towards entrepreneurship. Even though the municipal administration is generally claimed to be rigid, Seinäjoki serves companies flexibly and efficiently. – The reputation of the most entrepreneurial county necessitates true actions, such as acquiring and zoning industrial plots or purchasing premises, participating in marketing etc., so that business may thrive, regardless of its branch, Luukko states. According to Luukko, actions taken place have also gained- doesn’t make sense, maybe a word is missing. For instance, sales of industrial plots have tripled over the last few years. Even Nordic and global enterprises have establish subsidiaries in the Seinäjoki region. – Tailored settlement services that ease enterprises in finding success in Finnish markets are also available to international companies through the Seinäjoki Region Business Service Centre’s "Invest in Seinäjoki" -project.
f o h t w o r g t s a F s e c i v r e s d n a e trad
The City of Seinäjoki and the nearby region form a significant marketing area of over 200 000 inhabitants. Since the employment percentage in Southern Ostrobothnia is 71.5 and therefore higher than average, they also have sustainable purchasing power. – Seinäjoki, with its shopping centres and specialized stores, attracts customers even from a great distance, e.g., car sales, which are increasing rapidly. The trade sector has also invested heavily in large trading units. The construction of a new shopping centre of 14 000 floor square meters is about to begin and another 150 000 floor square meters will be erected in the near future, Rasinmäki describes.
In Seinäjoki, urban planning includes developing both the downtown and suburban areas, as well as rural-like areas. So, new retail space and apartments will also be built in the city centre. – The supplementing of services, accommodation, cultural sites and recreational activities is our recipe to nurture the attractiveness of the city centre. We even have a ski slope in the middle of the town, Rasinmäki boasts.
Investmenn,tsdeinvelopment educatio arch and rese
Although Seinäjoki has made its greatest investments in construction, technology, logistics and trade and services industries, it has also paid attention to education, development and research, in order to maintain the availability of a skilled workforce and to support the livelihoods of the area. The multidisciplinary institution of higher education, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences offers several bachelor and master degree programmes, whilst also being an efficient actor in research, development and innovation. Moreover, the University Consortium of Seinäjoki, where five different universities are involved, combines the knowhow of specialists and international and local collaboration. The consortium works actively to develop and regenerate innovational environments with the use of scientific knowledge. It has its focus especially on information technology, business, the food industry and the promotion of wellbeing. – The number of high level students that graduate each year is significant, not to mention the adults that are taking part in supplementary or specialization education. Besides this, educating oneself pays off, since the number of employment positions increases by hundreds every year, Rasinmäki points out.
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e v i t a v o n n I e Th e c n i v o r P d o o F Southern Ostrobothnia and, in particular, the region of Seinäjoki region is often characterized as the Province of Food, because of the strong impacts of the livestock breeding and food industry. Both Rasinmäki and Luukko admit that the food industry has a leading role among the manufacturers. – The Ostrobothnian food industry
Jorma Rasinmäki, the mayor of Seinäjoki and Juha Luukko, the director of Seinäjoki Region Business Service Centre
varies from larger corporations that apply the latest biotechnology innovations, to smaller specialized firms leaning on product development. Nevertheless, despite the size of production or turnover, most of these companies also directly benefit from the available automation expertise. – An expansion of the food industry can be achieved by harnessing research and development outcomes, which will
also lead to smaller carbon footprints of production and consumption, as well as to the better security and traceability of raw materials. To speed up this process, Seinäjoki has a specialized unit, Food House, that gathers together different actors of the food industry, technology and automation developers and researchers. The Food House is to be situated alongside the production facilities.
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The Regional Enterprice Agency provides
Guidance for Becoming an Entrepreneur Text: Mervi Lepojärvi Photos: Seinäjoki
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etting up a business is a promising way to get employed in Finland. Becoming an entrepreneur is also guided and supported in many ways. – Obtaining finance is supposed to be the biggest difficulty in the establishing process, but actually financing is not a problem, if your business idea is good enough. There are start-up grants and other forms of financing provided both by the establishement as well as financial institutions and business incubators, says Ari Loukasmäki, manag-
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ing director of Southern Ostrobothnia's Regional Enterprice Agency, Uusyrityskeskus. – Evaluating whether one's idea is or will be profitable business is the key matter, Loukasmäki emphasizes.
Especially for start-ups The Regional Enterprice Agency of Southern Ostrobothnia, that serves in all 12 municipalities in it's area, belongs to
the Association of Regional Enterprise Agencies of Finland. The nationwide organisation provides free of charge information and guidance for those that consider starting up business or have just recently became an entrepreneur. Although establishing guides, trade register and tax administration forms and a wide range of profitability calculation schemas are available also in the internet, most people require more personalized approach, for instance in processing their ideas and setting them in motion. – Together with the business advisers of Southern Ostrobothnia's regional en-
The Regional Enterprise Agency of Southern Ostrobothnia plays however a significant role in financing when giving recommendations for Finnvera's start-up loans and for start-up grants to the Employment and Economic Development Office."
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terprice agency business ideas can be tested or developed further. Business advisers also help to identify the risks relating to one's business, means and skills needed to make the business profitable, and to prepare business plans with requisite calculations and estimates, Loukasmäki describes. Since the Regional Enterprise Agencies give mainly basic counseling they may direct the becoming entrepreneur to seek for further assitance, for example in matters that related to accounting, tax or investment planning, or insurances. Agencies specialist network pertain e.g. law advisers and financial-management professionals, such as accountants, auditors and corporate acquisition consultants. The Regional Enterprise Agency of Southern Ostrobothnia plays however a significant role in financing when giving recommendations for Finnvera's start-up loans and for start-up grants to the Employment and Economic Development Office.
Ari Loukasmäki, managing director of Southern Ostrobothnia's Regional Enterprice Agency, Uusyrityskeskus.
All ideas don't fly Regional Enterprise Agencies are financed by municipalities, business and industry and Finnish government and have therefore high quality standands in executing their work impartially. Since it's foundation 1992 the Regional Enterprise Agency of Southern Ostrobothnia has evaluated over seven thousand business ideas of which were born 3538 enterprises. The number of business ideas as well of clients is rising futher: 2011 was tested circa 500 new business ideas. – Approximately only half of all business ideas are viable or even profitable. Since only thriving businesses are worth carrying out, agenicies' objective is to ensure that 90 % of the companies established under councelling are still operating after two years, 80% after five years. According to the tracking made here, in Southern Ostrobothnia, the 2-year survival rate was 88% and 5-year survival rate was 78%, Loukasmäki remarks. Also other Southern Ostrobothnia's entrepreneurship figures are outstanding. For instance the percentage of young clients, 40 % of under 30 years of age, is beyond Finnish average. www.oei.fi
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Text: Mervi Lepojärvi Photos: Seinäjoki
Frami Provides and Activates
Investments in Regional Development
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he success of South Ostrobothnia is achieved through the co-operation of several actors dedicated to the promotion of the wellbeing and prosperity of the whole province. One of these actors is Frami Ltd, a regional development company located in Seinäjoki, the core of the province. Aimed at supporting and strengthening businesses and professionals, Frami Ltd is a success story in itself. It has grown from an expression of will into a large Technology and Innovation Centre within a decade.
Service provider in many levels – Our objective is to promote regional business and industry by offering services that extend from operational prerequisites to tailored development projects. Through these actions, we also strive to increase the number of high level positions and professions, imparts Hannu Kantonen, Managing Director of Frami Ltd. – We work in close collaboration with other regional enterprises, organizations and educational institutions, e.g., the City of Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki University of
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Our objective is to promote regional business and industry by offering services that extend from operational prerequisites to tailored development projects."
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Applied Sciences and Tampere University of Technology, which are also Frami's shareholders, Kantonen adds. One of Frami's substantial means to implement its purpose is to offer premises and other facility services. For instance, construction investments that have been made since the set up of Frami will rise to 60 million euros this fall when the latest, the 5th in order, extension is completed. Approximately 45 000 floor square metres gathers together Frami, the University of Applied Sciences, Seinäjoki Region Business Service Centre, the University Consortium of Seinäjoki and 70 other companies. Over 2000 students and 900 employees constitute cooperation networks, where each participant benefits from the synergy effects. In addition to the premises managed by Frami, there are several other private enterprises that operate nearby and participate in networks, for example, Atria, one of the largest food industry corporations in Finland. Development projects supported by Frami are also funded, both by public and private sector sources. This, according to Kantonen, nurtures Frami's objective to strengthen the technological know-how of the area and promote business-oriented development initiatives.
Hannu Kantonen, Managing Director of Frami Ltd.
Refinement of business and production Although Frami provides its services to all branches, there are three identified business development programs that are based on the strengths and prospects of South Ostrobothnia, as well as its history as a province. The Agrotechnology -program consists of developing advanced business environments for the agriculture, forestry and food industry through tailored training programmes, market researches, project preparations, the refinement of business plans, international projects and knowledge networks. Sport and wellness industries also gain from research and product development services.
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– We offer, for, usability testing for various sport and wellness products in the Kuortane Testing Lab, a service concept, produced together with the Kuortane Sports Institute. The institute itself, with its diverse customers, provides a true innovation environment for the development of sport and wellness entrepreneurship, Kantonen states. The Seinäjoki region has been known for its musical tradition and massive music festivals for decades. The know-how
in the production of events is therefore commendable. One of Frami's objectives is, thus, to promote creative industries by providing both facilities and networking possibilities, as well as auxiliary services. The Rytmikorjaamo area, which constitutes the expertise centre for creative industries, is conducted together with the City of Seinäjoki and the Seinäjoki Live Music -organization. Research projects related to creative industries are accomplished in co-operation with the
Cultural Management programme of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and Sibelius Academy, which is one of the five universities present in the University Consortium of Seinäjoki. – The Rytmikorjaamo facilities were completed in 2011 and already tens of new companies have been established, especially in the field of event production and marketing, Kantonen rejoices.
Influence on national programmes The Seinäjoki region strives to make an impact on national programmes that also have an affect on regional development. Frami Ltd, for its part, is therefore involved in The Regional Cohesion and Competitiveness Programme, COCO, Finland’s special programme for regional policies governed by The Ministry of Employment and Economy. Frami also participates in the development of ICT and mechanical engineering in the agriculture, forestry and food industries, among other leading actors through the Intelligent Machines Cluster Program. It also coordinates a national innovation network of over 30 city regions in Finland. and takes part in several European network and development programmes. www.frami.fi
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Text: Mervi Lepojärvi Photos: Seinäjoki
South Ostrobothnia - a Province of Uniqueness
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outh Ostrobothnia is often described as the most Finnish of all the Finland's provinces, because of its colourful history, distinctive culture and independence of mind and attitude. But, although South Ostrobothnia offers tourists both experiences and exaltation at its many exceptional, even
peculiar places, plains that stretch to the horizon, museums, traditions and cultural events, it is not commonly perceived to be the utmost holiday resort in Finland. – Ostrobothnia is simply too wide a region to be realized as one entirety for anyone who is not familiar with Finnish provinces or jurisdictions, states Ulla
Jussila, the CEO of South Ostrobothnia Tourist Service Ltd. – Regardless of the fact that single events gather tens of thousands of travellers, more is to be done to enhance the region's recognition, she admits.
Ulla Jussila, the CEO of South Ostrobothnia Tourist Service Ltd.
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and branch entrepreneurs. It is thus important that the development projects are implemented accordingly, so that enterprises also benefit in the long term, she emphasizes.
From extensive events to village gatherings Participation in South Ostrobothnia's event season pays off with its diversity. The largest events even attract people from far away, also foreigners, since the performers are often world-famous. – Provinssi Rock, for instance, attracts up to 80 000 music lovers for a period of one weekend, and the artists vary from heavy metalists to melodic pop musicians. Race & Rock Festival, on the other hand, is a combination of a challenging car race and a rock festival. Seinäjoki Tango Festival is also another event which is full with intense feelings and exciting experiences in a unique atmosphere. It attracts over 100 000 visitors to the City of Seinäjoki to enjoy the heat of the tango and couple dancing for a duration of one week. Ilmajoki Music Festival, for its part, presents opera
Various tasks of compilation One of the means is the South Ostrobothnia Tourist Service itself. It is owned by 13 South-Ostrobothnian municipalities and its objective is therefore, as a sales and marketing organisation, to promote tourism in the whole province. – Our role is two-folded. We provide local tourist information and marketing services for municipalities, to acquire attraction through brochures, websites, trade fairs and expositions, and yet, independently, produce tours and packages for tourists, Jussila describes. For instance, tours connected to distinctive, historical persons and stories that are founded on their lives and actions have, according to Jussila, been found to be inspirational and praised for making history and the unique character of Ostrobothnia visible through illustrations and memorable elements. A compilation of the existing services is also one of the various tasks of South Ostrobothnia Tourist Service. It provides, for example, centralized accommodation reservation and organizes tailored meetings and congress services. – We follow the guidelines defined in the regional tourism strategy, which is constructed together with the municipalities
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Provinssi Rock, attracts up to 80 000 music lovers for a period of one weekend, and the artists vary from heavy metalists to melodic pop musicians."
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and concerts. For example, an opera which is based on the life of President Urho Kekkonen will be presented in 2013, Ulla Jussila notes. In addition to mega events, there are several smaller happenings, such as the Midnight Sun Airshow in Kauhava, Old Time Days in Soini and tens of amateur theatre performances. Travellers may also access exhibitions concerning different themes. E.g. the Aalto Centre in Seinäjoki presents the lifetime work of Alvar Aalto, one of the notable innovators of Finnish architecture.
Symbols of devotion and creativity For those that seek comfort and wellbeing, Ulla Jussila suggests sports resorts and spas that offer excellent surroundings and know-how with indulgence treatments, luxurious massages, training centres, golf courses and other quality services. However, as a symbol of Ostrobothnian entrepreneurship and independence of mind, Jussila also recommends a visit to Töysä, to the department store of Keskinen Brothers, where over 6 million customers
visit each year, despite it's remote location. The amusement park, PowerPark, in Alahärmä, with 34 modern rides, a wooden roller coaster which is considered to be one of the best in the world, gokart tracks and other attractions, is a unique example of one man's devotion and creativity.
Room for events and travellers South Ostrobothnia provides a wide range of resorts, museums and events, but also provides accommodation for a large number of tourists. There are over 8000 beds within 80 kilometers of the heart of the region, the city of Seinäjoki. Seinäjoki itself offers 1300 beds in hotels situated in downtown, close by services. – Seinäjoki is suitable for large events, with its broad streets and functional infrastructure, one may even easily deploy the whole city centre for happenings and congresses, Ulla Jussila states.
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Text: Finland of Networks Photos: Tapani Kallio
Entrepreneurship from South Ostrobothnia The Finnish province of South Ostrobothnia is known for its entrepreneurship and the exceptionally large number of small and medium size enterprises. A positive stereotype of this entrepreneur spirit is Tapani Kallio, whose familyrun business concentrates to two different businesses, the bus coaching and travel industry and printing.
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apani Kallio started out with the printing business. At the beginning, Kallio had serigraphy and silk print equipment. The name of the printing company today is Seinäjoen Tarratyöt Oy/ Mapitex Oy, the latter of which is a parent company. The printing services also include digital printing, textile printing and embroidery etc. The bus charter business began later, but has expanded rapidly. “We do not practice regular bus traffic, but operate on a charter basis. We also offer travel packages, where we can utilize our own fleet of 11 buses. Altogether, there are 470 seats on our buses and two minibuses.” In the bus charter business, customers are sports clubs, organizations, schools, enterprises, informal groups etc. The bus charter resulted in travel agency operations. “The name of our own travel bureau is Matkalakeus and the parent company is Mapitex Oy.
Tapani Kallio
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Summer capital Pärnu Matkalakeus arranges 20-25 trips especially to Pärnu, “Estonia’s summer capital”, as it is called. There are many spa hotels in Pärnu, for example, Spa Estonia, Tervise Paradiis,
We also arrange bus trips to Karelia and Poland. The main destination in Poland has been Cracow."
Spa Viiking, among others. 2011 was a very successful year in the bus and travel agency business “We could triple the amount of our customers. We still mainly carry out sparelated trips, but, what we call theme destinations, have become more and more popular. For example, during our bus tour, we linked the ancient Russian city of Novgorod with St. Petersburg.” “We also arrange bus trips to Karelia and Poland. The main destination in Poland has been Cracow. We travel there by bus and fly back, or vice versa, depending on when the trip takes place. In all cases, a bus is always at the destination, ready to serve all the time.” Tapani Kallio says that Matkalakeus is also considering new destinations: “However, we do not wish to expand too quickly. I believe that we will have one or two new destinations per year. We can also occasionally arrange tailor-made tours. One interesting destination is Croatia, where we can arrange a trip for more than 100 people.”
seinäjoki
Pärnu
Cracow
Fishing in Norway The real classics of Matkalakeus are fishing trips to Norway. The conditions on the Norwegian cost are demanding. “We are fortunate to have an excellent tour guide, Jussi Paarvala. Catches
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have four machines. Transfer images are made with eight machines.”
Family-run business
in Norway include cod, pollock, redfish, wolf fish, and many others.” “To some extent, we also have groups from abroad. For example, we can pick up a group from Helsinki-Vantaa airport and transport them to a destination in Central or Northern Finland,” tells Tapani Kallio. The province of South Ostrobothnia, where Kallio’s firms operate, is located about 300-350 kilometres from Helsinki.
Embroidery and textiles Roughly half of the income of the familyrun companies comes from travel activities and another half from the printing business. “Printing is not that expensive in Finland nowadays. We can ensure that the logistics work well and schedules are adhered to.” “The printing prices in Russia and Estonia are also getting higher, so we will be able to win customers there. We have many customers in Sweden and in Estonia, also through partners. For example, in the led and illuminated ads of pylon etc, we co operate with an Estonian company. From Sweden, we bring garments and clothes and print those.
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Tapani Kallio notes that the printing services of Mapitex Oy are truly varied, from stickers to business cards and from textile printing to tailor-made digital printing. “For textiles, our machines can perform high-class embroidery, for which we
What is the success behind the business of Tapani Kallio and his family? “There are long traditions in South Ostrobothnia in small and medium size companies. A large number of these are family-run businesses, who feel proud of their traditions, handcraft skills and entrepreneurship.” All three daughters, Jaana, Sanna and Sari are in the business, as is the son Marko. “To some extent, we have expanded by making acquisitions, but we do not take risks that are too large.” www.tilausajo.com www.matkalakeus.fi