– At Mäkelä Alu, raw material procurement is based on long-term cooperation and reliable partnerships. We use Nordic raw material and operate within supply chains where proximity, transparency and continuity of cooperation play a key role. Long-term agreements also support the availability of raw material in situations like these, where uncertainty exists in the market, says Purchasing Director Ari Kytölä.

Supply chains located close to our operations are not only important from the perspective of delivery reliability, but they also support more responsible operations. When supply chains are well managed and partners are well known, it is possible to ensure consistent quality, good predictability and responsible operations throughout the entire chain.

– For our customers, this means above all continuity and reliability. At the same time, we are able to react more flexibly to changing situations. In a constantly changing global situation, good delivery reliability is built on trustworthy and responsible supply chains as well as well-functioning partnerships. We want to offer our customers confidence that cooperation with Mäkelä Alu will remain reliable and smooth both now and in the future, Ari Kytölä continues.

Artikkeli Origin and availability of raw material at Mäkelä Alu julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

– High-quality aluminium profiles and smooth cooperation are clear strengths at Mäkelä, says Kari Salonsaari, CEO of Alutec Oy.

– There is always time for the customer. This is especially helpful in product development. The storage service, in turn, speeds up our own production chain, summarises Purchasing Manager Jarkko Somero.

From steel to aluminium

Alutec is a family business whose operations began in 1979 as part-time production of steel doors in the Salonsaari family’s garage. The business was started by Kari Salonsaari’s father. Over the years, the operations became full-time, the raw material of the doors changed to aluminium, and the product range began to expand. The company has grown steadily over the decades and today employs around 80 people.

– Our customers are mainly large and medium-sized construction companies, although there are also smaller ones. Our operations are divided into project business and terrace and balcony glazing solutions sold and installed through our reseller network. In project business, the focus is mainly on apartment and commercial construction, largely concentrated in the Helsinki metropolitan area, where we supply aluminium doors, windows and façade solutions such as various glass walls and roofs. Recently, projects have been located more widely across Finland, from Hanko to Levi, Kari Salonsaari continues.

Alutec’s production facilities and headquarters are located in Ylivieska, where there are two separate factories: one produces doors, windows and façade solutions for project business, and the other focuses on terrace and balcony glazing solutions. In addition, the company has offices in Vantaa, Oulu, Tampere and Turku.

– Our reseller network includes around 40 resellers across Finland. These are typically smaller glass installation companies or similar, who resell and install our terrace and balcony products. Mäkelä Alu produces aluminium profiles for us specifically for this market, Kari Salonsaari explains.

Appearance and fast deliveries matter

Alutec has invested in the digitalisation of its operations and is already highly digitalised for its size. Orders to Mäkelä Alu are also transmitted via an electronic interface.

– This significantly improves efficiency for both parties, as people do not need to manually enter data anywhere, which also eliminates typing errors. Order confirmations always arrive quickly from Mäkelä, within the same day, says Jarkko Somero.

Delivery time has been minimised thanks to the storage service.

– This clearly benefits us. The storage service speeds up our own production chain: we receive profiles quickly and can serve our customers smoothly. Especially with international customers, there may be a wide variety of colours, and we cannot anticipate these orders. But any colour can be delivered quickly from Mäkelä, Jarkko Somero notes.

Another important factor is the quality of the profiles. The profiles are delivered to Alutec already powder coated.

– The quality has been good. Of course, there are occasional issues, but considering the volume we receive, there are relatively few, Jarkko Somero says.

– The surface must be perfect, as the products are installed in visible places on terraces and balconies. They are often viewed from very close distances, and there must not be even the smallest defect, he adds.

Services that improve efficiency

In addition to the AluStorage® storage service, Alutec uses the AluBasket® logistics solution.

– We constantly have a large number of baskets in circulation. Some are in use and partially filled, others are empty. They can be stored compactly and are easy to handle with a forklift. The solution also reduces transport costs and improves occupational safety. The baskets also physically save space in the hall, says Jarkko Somero.

– In addition to speeding up our production chain, the storage service also saves money. Our own warehouse would require significant storage costs and tie up a lot of capital, Jarkko Somero reflects.

– Profiles arrive very quickly and go almost directly into production. This is another reason why quality must be top-class, as any quality issues would slow down our production, notes Kari Salonsaari.

Support in product development has also been an important advantage for Alutec.

– If we have any product development challenges, they are resolved quickly together with Mäkelä. Communication works smoothly, which helps move things forward quickly, Jarkko Somero adds.

– There is a lot of variation in our profiles, and we have a large number of tools: very small profiles as well as large ones. It is important that we can rely on the profile supplier when designing new tools, says Kari Salonsaari.

Architects usually aim to minimise the visible aluminium in their designs.

– In this context, usability of the profiles is also emphasised, and of course design plays a key role in achieving the best possible end result for the customer, Jarkko Somero states.

New potential in decorative coating

In some projects, Alutec has used the Decoral decorative coating. According to Jarkko Somero, it has even more potential.

– Decoral is a very striking and maintenance-free solution. It is suitable, for example, for balcony handrails in more visually demanding projects where a wood-like appearance is desired. In some projects, we have used a Decoral coating that imitates white oak, he says.

Looking ahead with confidence

Although the downturn in construction has also slowed Alutec’s growth figures, the company remains optimistic about the future. Responsible operations are also an important core value.

– We regularly measure employee satisfaction, and it has remained at a good level. We continuously invest in developing and improving our operations. Customer satisfaction is also at a good level, Kari Salonsaari says.

The company is also planning to expand its production facilities when the market improves.

– Investment decisions are somewhat difficult at the moment, but despite that, we acquired the Swedish company Balkongrutan Mälardalen AB at the turn of the year. Our goal is to strengthen our position in Sweden, says Kari Salonsaari.

– Despite the downturn, we aim to return to our previous growth levels and have set growth targets accordingly for the coming years, he adds.

The main image of the article features Veikko Nurkkala, who has extensive experience in aluminium construction.

Artikkeli The quality of aluminium profiles affects the final result of terrace and balcony glazing julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

– We have chosen to go beyond what is required in our reporting. For us, reporting is not just an obligation, but a tool for identifying areas for development and measuring our progress, says CEO Marko Orpana.

Concrete actions to reduce emissions

The report brings together Mäkelä Alu’s key sustainability actions and results. We have significantly reduced our carbon dioxide emissions over the long term and continued to invest in energy efficiency, electrification of production and renewable energy over the years.

– Our climate work is primarily based on reducing our own emissions. We continuously develop our production to be more energy efficient and utilise solutions that help us reduce emissions across the entire value chain. In addition, we improve material efficiency as part of the overall approach, says Sustainability Director Päivi Venesoja.

People at the centre

Personnel play a key role in our sustainability work. We invest in wellbeing at work, safety and competence development.

– A skilled and motivated workforce is the foundation of our operations. We have developed, for example, supervisory work and invested in wellbeing at work, which is reflected in improved employee satisfaction results, says HR Manager Jenni Hautakangas.

Read the sustainability report

The 2025 sustainability report has been prepared in line with the VSME reporting framework and, where applicable, key ESRS requirements.

A summary version of the report has also been published, providing the key content in an easy-to-read format.

Read the summary
Download the full report

Artikkeli Sustainability report 2025 published julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

Photo: Tuukka Kiviranta

Artikkeli Päivi Venesoja appointed as sustainability manager julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

– The plant performs well even in early spring when days are bright and cold. The panels are bifacial and also capture light reflected from snow. The best efficiency is achieved in April and May when daylight increases and the air remains cool, preventing the panels from overheating, says Ismo Pitkänen, Managing Director of Pitkäsen Sähköasennus Oy.

Made from our own profiles

The solar power plant was purchased as a turnkey delivery from Pitkäsen Sähköasennus Oy. The subcontractor for the project was Wisol Oy, a company specialised in building solar parks and also a customer of Mäkelä Alu.

– The project was special because solar parks are typically built from steel. We wanted to do things differently and built the support structures entirely from aluminium profiles extruded in our own factory, says Reijo Seppälä, Project Manager responsible for the project at Mäkelä Alu.

The structures were designed based on official strength calculations by an engineering consultancy. The profile design was carried out by our own profile designer Joni Malinen in close cooperation with Wisol, who also handled the mechanical and layout planning of the plant.

– Wisol was also responsible for the on-site installation thanks to their strong expertise in solar field construction, says Ismo Pitkänen.

– The cooperation with both Ismo Pitkänen and Mäkelä Alu was extremely solution-focused. Together we found the right ways to utilise aluminium in the mounting system, says Arto Kurtti, Commercial Director at Wisol Oy.

Supporting energy self-sufficiency

The plant consists of 1488 solar panels and has a maximum output of 952 kWp.

– The plant produces approximately the annual electricity consumption of fifty electrically heated detached houses, says Ismo Pitkänen.

The electricity consumption of Mäkelä Alu’s factory area is still considerably higher.

– The plant naturally does not cover our full consumption, but it is a good step towards improved energy self-sufficiency. Locally generated electricity also supports our green electricity sourcing strategy, says Reijo Seppälä.

The plant is located in a field area behind the extrusion plant and the anodising plant. The same area also contains an energy storage unit that Mäkelä Alu uses on the national reserve market.

– By participating in the reserve market, Mäkelä Alu supports grid balancing and the use of green energy. The energy storage unit acts as a flexibility element when weather-dependent production fluctuates, says Tomi Pilbacka, Development Director at Mäkelä Alu.

Part of the RRF project

The solar power plant is part of Mäkelä Alu’s RRF project. RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility) is EU funding under the NextGenerationEU programme, granted for green transition projects. In Finland the funding is provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (TEM). Mäkelä Alu’s project began in 2022 and received RRF energy investment support covering 27 percent of the total investment.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mäkelä Alu’s factory area consumes as much electricity annually as a small municipality. The consumption equals that of around 1000 electrically heated detached houses. All the electricity we purchase is emission-free.

Artikkeli Our own solar power plant is built from aluminium profiles julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

“In the evenings I worked in the horizontal coating unit doing ‘napsu’ profiles, window profiles with different colours on the inside and outside. From there I continued to summer jobs and stayed until military service. After that I got a permanent position in the vertical coating unit, where I mainly worked as a painter and also did some packaging,” Markus says.

He transferred to the extrusion plant, line P3, in 2017.

“I worked at the press for about five years before I felt it was time to try something new, so I moved on to another job,” he continues.

A balanced and reliable employer

A few years of experience elsewhere strengthened Markus’s view of what he values in working life. When the opportunity to return to Mäkelä Alu came up, the decision was easy.

“It was good to broaden my perspective and I am glad I went somewhere else for a while. Mäkelä Alu is a balanced and reliable employer, so it felt right to come back,” he says.

His workstation has also seen improvements. Line P3 has received an investment in modern billet heating technology. He learned the new equipment quickly, and the core work itself has not changed. Working comfort has been improved with a new air-conditioned and soundproofed workstation in the extrusion hall.

“The working conditions, tools and wellbeing are really well taken care of here. Right now, it feels good to be back. The only downside is the three-shift work, which can sometimes be a bit heavy,” Markus continues.

Fortunately, there are plenty of positive aspects. He highlights the sports and culture benefits offered by the employer as well as the team’s own sports activities and events.

“It is great that the workplace also organises low-threshold leisure activities,” he adds.

The responsible work of a press operator

A press operator’s work is very versatile and allows room for creativity. Operators monitor the extrusion process, plan the runs, load them into the machines, and ensure the billets are placed in the furnace.

“The operator also helps the profile ‘at birth’, meaning the profile ends are guided out of the press. The entire process is continuously monitored. Sometimes the run has to be stopped if there is a suspicion that something has gone wrong and the finished profile would have a defect. It is cheaper to stop than to run defective profiles. You must be ready to make quick decisions,” Markus explains.

After a successful extrusion, the profiles move to the stretching table where they are stretched. The press operator takes a sample of the profile for quality testing.

A good work community brings people back

Markus’s return to Mäkelä Alu has been smooth.

“It was nice to come back when I knew what to expect. The work community is good and colleagues are friendly. When I left earlier, I missed some of the people here, so it was great to join the same team again,” he says.

Outside work, Markus enjoys exercise and the outdoors.

“I hunt and have a hounddog and a Jämthund, which keep me busy; one of them is only a year old. I also go to the gym and wrestle. Spending time in nature is the best counterbalance to work.”

Artikkeli The work of a press operator carries great responsibility julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

Balancing renewable generation capacity with electricity consumption is challenging and requires changes to the electricity grid infrastructure. When it is both windy and sunny, the grid can become overloaded. When it is calm and cloudy, the situation can be the opposite. This creates instability in the electricity grid. One way to support grid stability is through electricity storage systems. We wanted to do our part and take on more societal responsibility as part of the broader energy transition.

– This is why we have decided to invest in our own electricity storage system. The state-owned transmission system operator Fingrid Oyj (Finland’s national grid operator) needs electricity storage capacity. Mäkelä Alu participates in Fingrid’s reserve markets with its electricity storage system, explains Development Director Tomi Pilbacka.

Fingrid Oyj manages and oversees Finland’s national electricity grid at a high level. When a company invests in an electricity storage system, it can make an agreement directly or via an intermediary with Fingrid and sell battery capacity to the so-called reserve markets for various purposes.

– Our factory area already has a robust electrical infrastructure, and this investment allows us to utilise it for purposes other than aluminium profile production, he adds.

Although the storage system is not directly linked to aluminium profile manufacturing, it reflects Mäkelä Alu’s forward-looking and open-minded approach.

– One of our values is Challenging Tomorrow. This investment fits that value very well. Finland will need more electricity storage systems in the future, so participating in maintaining grid stability is also a genuinely responsible choice, adds CEO Marko Orpana.

Part of the RRF project

The electricity storage system is part of Mäkelä Alu’s RRF project. RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility) funding is part of the European Union’s NextGenerationEU programme, granted for example to green transition projects. The funding in Finland is allocated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Mäkelä Alu’s overall project began in 2022. It has been granted RRF energy investment support covering 27 percent of the total investment value.

Artikkeli We have invested in an electricity storage system julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

In Tampere you can meet our Finnish sales team, while in Jönköping you will find our export department and the Swedish office.

Come and talk with us about the production and surface treatment of sustainably manufactured aluminium profiles. This year we have achieved carbon neutrality in our own production and internal logistics. We will also be happy to share more about our recent investments in production and energy efficiency.

Artikkeli See you at this autumn’s trade fairs julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

– The heat recovery and pump system replaces the use of liquefied gas in the pre-treatment processes of both coating lines. The waste heat is collected from the foundry’s cooling water basin. This water is generated when castings are cooled with water, explains Tomi Pilbacka, Development Manager.

The foundry produces Mäkelä Alu’s own recycled billet by casting recycled aluminium. The idea of capturing heat from the cooling water originated nearly ten years ago.

– Together with the equipment supplier, we explored different possibilities for utilising process waste heat, and this was identified as one of the most promising targets, says Reijo Seppälä, Project Manager.

The system replaces liquefied gas

With the new system in place, the thermal energy recovered from the foundry is used to heat the pre-treatment water in both coating lines and the horizontal coating line. Before powder coating, the aluminium profiles are washed – previously, this process water was heated with liquefied gas.

– Once the new system is fully operational, we’ll be able to eliminate the use of liquefied gas in these heating needs, Pilbacka states.

Since cooling water is only generated when casting is in progress, the system includes an electric backup boiler that operates with clean electricity.

Container solution allows mobility

The equipment was installed in a separate container that was preassembled at the factory. On site, piping and electrical work was carried out by local contractors.

– This solution is cost-efficient and, if needed, movable. Commissioning is still ongoing, but the system will be fully up and running shortly, Seppälä says.

The equipment supplier was the Finnish company Calefa, specialised in heat pump solutions, and the project was also carried out in cooperation with local piping and electrical companies.

The solution will result in a reduction of 290 tonnes of CO₂ emissions already this year. The investment is valued at approximately €360,000 and will bring substantial energy savings by eliminating liquefied gas usage.

The foundry heat recovery project is part of a larger investment programme aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions from our own production. The project received energy investment support (RRF) from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland.

Artikkeli Foundry’s waste heat used for heating paintshops julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

Investments in energy efficiency and emissions reduction

We made significant investments to improve energy efficiency and replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. For example, at Press Line 3, we replaced liquefied gas-powered billet heating equipment with modern electric solutions, reducing our CO₂ emissions by 900 tonnes per year.

At our Luoma-aho foundry, we introduced a heat recovery system that enables process water in our paint shops to be heated without liquefied gas. A similar project was implemented at our Voikkaa unit, where replacing natural gas in process water heating reduces emissions by 204 tonnes per year.

Award-winning sustainability efforts

The renewal of the energy system at our anodising plant received both national and international recognition. We were awarded the Energy Genius of the Year 2024 by the Energiavirasto (Energy Authority), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and Motiva (a state-owned company specialising in sustainable development), in recognition of our responsible energy use.

We also won the Net-Zero Industries Award in the Outstanding Projects category, highlighting our innovation in reducing industrial carbon emissions.

“We have achieved permanent improvements that are reflected in both emission figures and daily operations. The fact that our work has gained international recognition is a sign of true success,” says Päivi Venesoja, EHSQ Manager at Mäkelä Alu.

People at the centre

People are at the heart of our sustainability work. We have invested in strengthening our safety culture, supporting employee wellbeing, and encouraging continuous learning. We have also supported local sports clubs, helping to promote regional wellbeing.

Our 2024 employee satisfaction survey showed improvement in all key areas.

“In recent years, we have especially focused on developing supervisor work and the training provided to support it. It’s great to see that these efforts are now being reflected in our employee satisfaction results,” says Jenni Hautakangas, HR Manager.

Moving forward together

Sustainability is not just a collection of individual actions – it is a shared goal for our entire work community.

“Responsibility is part of our everyday work. It has been truly rewarding to see how we, as a team, have committed to our shared goals and successfully taken concrete steps to achieve them,” says CEO Marko Orpana.

These actions are part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and continuous development. We are proud of what we have accomplished and we will continue working toward an even more sustainable future.

Read our 2024 Responsibility Report on Issuu.
You can download the report here: Mäkelä Alu Oy Responsibility Report 2024.

The report is also available in our Material bank.

Artikkeli The year of action 2024: our responsibility report is now published julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.