– 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 originally got to know Mäkelä Alu as a profile supplier through the Door and Window Section of the Wood Industry Entrepreneurs’ Association. Over the years, we have manufactured dozens of different profiles to meet our customers’ window and door needs, says Karelia Ikkuna’s Managing Director Otto Ahtonen.

The company was founded over 30 years ago by Kauko Ahtonen and his business partner Vesa Silvennoinen. Through a generational shift, responsibility for the company’s operational activities has been transferred to the next generation of the founders.

The company’s production facilities are located in Hammaslahti near Joensuu, as well as in Kerimäki and Hartola, but its area of operation covers all of Finland.

– Our customers include private consumers, construction companies, hardware stores, house manufacturers, and housing cooperatives. The projects vary greatly, and we always deliver windows tailored to the customer’s building, says Otto Ahtonen.

A sustainable approach to manufacturing has supported the company’s growth. Currently, Karelia Ikkuna employs about 70 people across its three production facilities.

– The production of wood-aluminium windows is concentrated at the Hammaslahti factory. Fixed windows are manufactured at the Kerimäki factory, and balcony doors are produced in Hartola, summarises Otto Ahtonen.

Powder-coated aluminium profiles in the final product

All Karelia Ikkuna products use aluminium profiles, which are typically powder-coated as part of the surface treatment.

– Aluminium profiles are mainly used in the exterior cladding of windows and doors. We receive the profiles from Mäkelä Alu in six-metre lengths, already powder-coated and partially machined. However, we carry out most of the machining ourselves, such as fitting hardware and cutting, says Juuso Ahtonen.

Over the years, the company has accumulated dozens of profile tools, and every year there is a need to design new profiles.

– We draft the initial designs, but the final aluminium profiles are developed in close collaboration with Mäkelä Alu’s design department. This process has always worked very well, says Juuso Ahtonen.

Karelia Ikkuna does not stock finished windows, but it makes sense to keep certain profiles readily available.

– White, brown, and black are the most commonly used colours, so we always have a stock quota of certain profiles in these colours. Of course, customers can get window frames in any colour they need, says Otto Ahtonen.

– Recently, two-tone painting has also become more popular, meaning that customers want different colours for the inner and outer surfaces of the frame, he adds.

AluBasket® as part of production

Karelia Ikkuna uses the AluBasket® service, a weather-resistant and environmentally friendly aluminium basket solution for transporting, handling, and storing long aluminium profiles. The baskets are stackable and easy to handle with a forklift. Thanks to these baskets, handling profiles is faster, and since they can be reused repeatedly, packaging waste remains minimal.

– AluBasket® is an extremely good solution. The baskets protect the profiles very well during transport, preventing any dents or damage, says Otto Ahtonen.

At Karelia Ikkuna, the use of AluBasket® has been fully integrated into the production process.

– We store aluminium profiles in AluBasket® baskets in our warehouse. The forklift picks up the baskets from the storage and takes them directly to the machining equipment, which automatically retrieves the profiles from the basket, explains Otto Ahtonen.

Reliable deliveries, top quality, and durability

Karelia Ikkuna’s products require aluminium profiles that are weather-resistant and have a high-quality surface treatment.

– We have been extremely satisfied with this. Windows have been in use for decades, and the aluminium profiles have proven to be highly durable over time, says Otto Ahtonen.

– An aluminium-framed window or balcony door is practically maintenance-free. Just wiping it with a cloth is enough to keep it looking like new, says Juuso Ahtonen.

– Mäkelä’s reliability in deliveries and product quality has been excellent, he praises.

Confident about the future

Although the construction industry has faced challenges in recent years, Karelia Ikkuna has performed well in the renovation sector. The company has consistently invested in the development of its production.

– Our situation currently looks quite good. Our intention is to continue developing our products and operations, says Otto Ahtonen.

– We make smaller investments every year, and a few years ago, we made a larger investment in the Hartola factory. Similarly, we have recently invested in automation in production at the Hammaslahti factory, says Juuso Ahtonen.

For its successful business operations, Karelia Ikkuna Oy was awarded the national entrepreneur prize in Finland in 2024.

Artikkeli High-quality and durable aluminium profiles as part of a window factory’s production julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

“We manufacture doors for various industries operating in demanding environments. The door must be wear-resistant, impact-resistant, fire-resistant, hygienic, moisture and water-resistant, and resistant to chemicals and corrosion,” says Juha-Matti Aho, the company’s Vice President.

Muovilami’s product guarantees are not just empty words. This is proven by the fact that the first LAMI door, manufactured in 1966, is still in use. The products last for decades. Under normal use, LAMI door panels and frames are guaranteed for 25 years against water and moisture.

“It is very important in demanding environments that the product lasts,” adds Jaana Aho, Managing Director.

The door frames are manufactured at Mäkelä Alu’s Luoma-aho factory. There are dozens of different extrusion tools available at Muovilami.

“The profiles delivered to us are anodized and sometimes powder coated. We surface treat very small batches of less than eight pieces here in Ähtäri, in a smaller paint shop next door to our factory,” says Juha-Matti Aho.

A long partnership

Muovilami Oy is one of Mäkelä Alu’s longest standing customers. When Mäkelä Alu was about to order its first extrusion line from Germany in the late 1980s, it was breaking new ground. It was a big investment: the new machines cost around FIM 35 million. Of course, Mäkelä Alu had to find customers for its new production.

“Before the extrusion plant was even up and running, Mäkelä Alu contacted us and asked if we would buy their products if the company started manufacturing aluminium profiles. And of course we promised to buy, especially since the factory was planned so close,” says Jaana Aho.

The first aluminium profiles were extruded at Mäkelä Alu on 16 December 1990.

“Indeed, our cooperation started with the design of profiles in 1990, and the first extrusion tools were ordered in spring 1991. The cooperation has been quite smooth on both sides,” says Asko Perälampi from Mäkelä Alu.

High quality, timely deliveries and excellent service

One of Muovilami’s requirements for aluminium profiles is uniformity.

“Of course, the surface treatments must also be of high quality. The delivery times must be very accurate. We are very satisfied with Mäkelä Alu’s service in these areas,” Juha-Matti Aho says.

Muovilami uses Mäkelä Alu’s AluStorage® warehousing service, which helps them with fast deliveries.

“Certain profiles are always in stock at Mäkelä Alu. When we order these profiles, stock levels are replenished to the agreed level,” says Plant Manager Jussi Pöyhölä.

Untreated, anodized and powder-coated profiles are available from stock as required. The machining is done by Muovilami itself.

“Our batches are small, and each door can be a little different. This is why it makes more sense to carry out the machining in-house,” explains Jussi Pöyhölä.

The company also relies on Mäkelä Alu’s expertise in designing aluminium profiles and ensuring that they are just right.

“We need new tools from time to time. Mäkelä Alu helps us in our development projects or in the design of new products. We first sketch the profile shape ourselves, and then Mäkelä Alu’s designers draw it the way it should be,” Pöyhölä laughs.

“We work very closely with Mäkelä Alu. We have known the office staff for a long time. Doing business is easy and comfortable,” adds Juha-Matti Aho.

Doors around the world

LAMI doors are used in the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals and nursing homes, food industry, supermarkets, industrial kitchens, spas and swimming pools, and various production facilities. All premises where hygiene, sanitation and durability are important. The main reason to choose LAMI doors is the long life cycle of the products.

“Around half of our production is exported. We have subsidiaries in the UK and Sweden, but all our products are manufactured in Ähtäri, Finland. The Nordic countries are an important region for us, as are England, Ireland, the Baltic States and Poland. There are also important export countries in Central Europe. As a rule, our products are sent to ten to twelve countries,” says Jaana Aho.

“But we have also delivered doors to more distant locations, such as a hospital laboratory in Australia and Myanmar. We delivered several hundred doors to a clinic in Nigeria; two sea containers in total,” Jussi Pöyhölä adds.

Recently, Muovilami was involved in a major project, the refurbishment of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in England.

“The site required water and moisture-resistant doors that are easy to clean. The project included the delivery of 106 doors for dog rehoming facilities and 16 doors for cat rehoming facilities, as well as doors for the utility rooms, staff rooms and lobby areas,” says Jussi Pöyhölä.

“We are not consciously looking for customers from the ends of the earth. Usually it’s because someone has seen our products, for example on a hospital visit in England, and finds us through that. We focus on our main export countries in Europe, where we are actively involved in sales and marketing,” says Jaana Aho.

In the main photo of the article there is plant manager Jussi Pöyhölä (left) with packer Eino Tuhkio.

Artikkeli Decades-lasting products and partnership julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

Investment in modern production and continuous improvement are the basis for high-quality operations. In addition, a close-knit partner network offers significant advantages in terms of cost efficiency, flexibility, and delivery reliability. Al-Men Oy, which is situated right next to Mäkelä Alu’s aluminium extrusion plant, is a family business like its neighbour.

A flexible partner

Aluminium profiles are used to make a wide range of products from trains to ocean-going vessels, cash registers, large and small doors, windows, balconies, lighting fixtures, and many other products. Six-metre-long aluminium profiles are rarely, if ever, needed on its own.

“Further processing is quite often needed. Some operators have their own equipment, but a quality product always requires good equipment, and customers often do not have the means to invest in their own machinery. And it’s not always profitable, either. We have specialised in further processing and made significant investments in modern equipment so that the end customer doesn’t need to purchase expensive machinery,” says Antti Pokela, CEO at Al-Men Oy.

The transport, construction and electronics industries are the largest sectors in which Al-Men’s customers operate.

“Customer orders are typically “quick and small”. This means that batches are often small, and products need to arrive quickly. We manage the entire logistical chain, so all the customer has to do is order the pieces they need. Sometimes all we do is machining, and this is of course also the case at Mäkelä Alu,” says Antti Pokela.

Long-term cooperation

Antti’s father, Mikko Pokela, founded Al-Men Oy in 1999. Cooperation with Mäkelä Alu started right away. The company’s first longer machining centre was acquired in 2001.

“Of course, we have many important contract manufacturing partners, but Al-Men is logistically the closest to us, just across the road. Of course, there are also other contract manufacturers close by. Our further processing network is very cost-effective, and overall, it is constructed so that the pieces do not have to be transported long distances,” says Jouni Peltomäki, Subcontracting Manager at Mäkelä Alu.

“Al-Men can handle CNC machining, cutting, and sawing, not to mention welding. High-quality, reliable, and skilled work. Al-Men is also a customer of ours; we supply the aluminium profiles for their own customers’ needs,” he adds.

“Of course, sometimes our customers may have bought the profiles themselves from elsewhere, in which case we only do the necessary machining or other further processing. Very often, we can use Mäkelä Alu’s profiles, which has a positive impact on delivery time and the carbon footprint of transport,” says Antti Pokela.

“Our cooperation with Mäkelä Alu is close and smooth. We know each other well, and it’s nice to work together with people we know,” he continues.

Specialists in long aluminium profiles

Al-Men’s versatile equipment also contributes to the excellent delivery reliability.

“We wanted to invest in our machinery so that it meets a wide range of needs and enables us to respond quickly to them. We have a total of five machining centres that can machine pieces of different lengths. The maximum working length is up to 15.5 metres. There are not many such machines in Finland, or even in the Nordic countries. Our shortest machines are just under seven metres long,” says Antti Pokela.

“Some years ago, we also acquired a robotic welding cell, although small batches are still welded by hand. The robotic welding cell can also be used to efficiently process long pieces. This makes it possible to process and weld pieces up to five metres long,” he continues.

“For example, Mäkelä Alu’s AluBasket baskets are welded with the robotic welding cell,” adds Kati Pokela, Antti’s wife, who works as a management assistant at the company.

Investing in the working environment and people

In addition to equipment purchases, the company has also invested in infrastructure and the operating environment.

“Over the past few years, for example, we have tarmacked our entire yard and renewed our lighting. We also built a new storage hall to complement our other properties. We had already bought two halls where our production is based,” says Antti Pokela.

“We handle a lot of long pieces, so improving the working environment not only gives us better working conditions, but also improves comfort and safety,” he adds.

“Employee wellbeing is one of our most important values. We have invested in the quality and safety of working environments, but we also offer extensive occupational health care, for example, and maintain an atmosphere where everyone can have their say on development ideas and participate in common issues, such as workwear choices,” says Kati Pokela.

Indeed, the company has a very low turnover of employees, many of whom have been with the company since its founding, more than 20 years ago.

Functional packages for customers

Al-Men’s focus has always been on providing the customer with an easy solution where further processed products are available as a one-stop-shop service. Customers do not always have sufficient information to buy machined aluminium profiles. They may have little or no knowledge of aluminium profile manufacturing. There’s a solution for this, too.

“In these situations, we receive fast and flexible proposals from Mäkelä Alu’s profile design team. This means that we can provide our customers with expert help in product design,” says Antti Pokela.

“The focus is on designing a functional profile based on the customer’s needs. Even small changes can improve product features or simplify assembly, which can bring significant cost savings to mass production,” he continues.

“Similarly, we can provide machining expertise to the design of a profile and see whether the planned machining can be done on the profile at all. We decide on the best option together,” says Kati Pokela.

“This way, we get a package that works for the customer,” adds Antti Pokela.

Machining is used to create the desired slots, holes, or threads in aluminium profiles. Machining can be done on pieces at almost any angle with high precision.

Artikkeli Extensive experience in the further processing of aluminium julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

Lighting columns made of galvanised steel or wood are a familiar sight in Finland. Sähkö-Jokinen Oy, a company specialising in the development and manufacture of outdoor lighting products, wanted to bring something new to the traditional products: a pattern-coated steel column that would be both durable and attractive.

“We had taken a liking to Decoral and wanted to finish our new column model with this solution. We started discussing the solution with Mäkelä Alu years ago,” says Ville Nieminen, Sales Director at Sähkö-Jokinen Oy.

“We came up with some solutions that could work, but the Decoral coating is not the best and most cost-effective solution for use with steel. However, the customer was determined to use Decoral,” says Mäkelä Alu’s Sales Specialist Janne Kohonen.

“We then asked if the column profile could be made of aluminium. This was the starting point for the development of column models made from aluminium profiles,” he adds.

A solution developed together with the customer

The lighting contract for the Loviisa Housing Fair area was awarded to Sähkö-Jokinen through a public tender organised by the City of Loviisa.

“Their aim was to build an attractive area featuring wood or a similar material. They also had an idea of the colours they wanted for the area. Together with Janne, we started to plan possible solutions. We drew sketches, thought about materials, and specified dimensions. In the end, we came up with the solution we set out to offer,” says Ville Nieminen.

The smaller columns illuminating the pedestrian walkways in the area are made entirely of aluminium and are also coated with Decoral.

“If you look at urban areas and coastal roads, for example, there are a lot of stress factors such as humid, salty sea air, traffic, exhaust fumes, and dogs, all of which contribute to the performance of the coatings and appearance of the columns. The materials and solutions must be of the highest quality to withstand the stresses and strains of the outdoors,” says Ville Nieminen.

Aluminium: A sustainable and environmentally friendly choice

Wood is a traditional material for lighting columns, but its life-cycle cost is often higher than that of other materials.

“In public buildings, the best solution is to use weather-resistant materials that are virtually maintenance-free. This frees up resources for maintenance. Aluminium is an excellent material for these applications,” says Ville Nieminen.

Lighting columns made of aluminium have had a bad reputation in Finland due to the common assumption that aluminium is not durable. In the past, the best solutions were not available, but alloys, techniques and knowledge have evolved considerably since the 1970s or 1980s.

“Aluminium is used in the manufacture of lighting columns in other Nordic countries as well,” says Janne Kohonen.

“Mäkelä Alu has extensive expertise in aluminium products. They have found alloys that are sure to last on lighting columns. We have a great deal of confidence in the use of aluminium in these products,” says Ville Nieminen.

Both companies strongly believe in this joint innovation and look forward to continuing the cooperation.

“We plan to expand this into a product family in the near future,” says Ville Nieminen, contemplating Sähkö-Jokinen’s future plans.

INFO Sähkö-Jokinen Oy

• 55-year-old family business in Noormarkku, Pori
• 26 employees
• Exports around 20% of turnover, mainly to the Nordic countries, England, and the Baltic countries
• Notable innovations, including collision-resistant KAPU® poles, which either bring vehicles to a stop in a controlled manner or give way to vehicles safely in the event of a collision.

Artikkeli Innovation: Aluminium lighting columns developed through collaboration julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

“Our head office and our warehouse in Southern Finland are located in Tuusula. Our logistics centre is located in Tampere. From there, we send our supplies all over Finland and also for export. Exports are growing, and Finnish suppliers are attracting interest. Currently, our products are mainly exported to the Nordic countries, and exports to Estonia are growing,” says Arto Kurtti, Business Director at Wisol Oy.

Smooth and efficient services

Mäkelä Alu manufactures panel fixings and mounting rails for Wisol for both rooftop power plants and solar farms. In total, five different aluminium profiles are in production. In addition, Wisol uses the AluCoating® surface treatment service, which means that the aluminium profiles ordered are finished as requested by the customer; in this case, with a black powder coating.

Wisol has its own storage space, but Mäkelä Alu’s AluStorage® warehousing service is a good addition for storing certain profiles.

“We keep the customer’s most popular rail in our warehouse in a ready-to-use package. This allows the customer to get the products quickly and efficiently. The idea is that by having a buffer in place, we can respond to Wisol’s unexpected needs. The concept is very flexible; this way we ensure that they can also serve their own customers as well as possible,” says Olli Korkia-aho from Mäkelä Alu’s sales team.

“The warehousing service is great for unexpected needs. Sometimes our products are ordered on short notice. For example, if a customer company has not made an order on time, they may suddenly need 3,000 rails in two weeks. On the solar farm side, we don’t keep much of the rails we need in our own stock, as the need for them is always project-specific. Occasionally, we may be offered the opportunity to install smaller power plants on short notice. In situations like these, Mäkelä Alu’s warehousing service has worked extremely well,” says Arto Kurtti.

More than a profile manufacturer

Although Wisol Oy was established only last year, the actual business of developing mounting products for photovoltaic systems started more than six years ago.

“We originally started developing these products at Sadex Oy, which has a long experience in various roofing and ladder products as well as rainwater systems. Mäkelä Alu has long been our partner also in Sadex’s operations, and the aluminium profiles used in the company’s products are still supplied from Mäkelä,” Arto Kurtti says.

It was therefore natural that Mäkelä Alu was also chosen as the profile supplier for Wisol Oy’s mounting products.

“The cooperation has always been constructive and smooth, which made it easy to continue. I didn’t feel the need to seek other suppliers,” he says.

“We received good help from Mäkelä Alu in designing the profiles. I had drawn a profile model on graph paper to see if it would be good, and that’s where it all started,” Arto says.

What the whole Wisol team appreciates about Mäkelä Alu is that they are not just a manufacturer.

“Mäkelä’s service concept is very similar to ours: Wisol is not just a supplier either, our service range is much broader. When we deal with Olli or Viljo Sivula, we see that they have a genuine desire to be our partner and, for example, to develop and make a product even better together,” Arto says.

Optimistic about the future

Effective and close cooperation is in the interest of both companies and ensures a successful and long-lasting partnership.

“Mäkelä Alu has an active team that is always happy to talk to us. There’s even a project going on right now where they’ve been involved in discussions and thinking about whether we could make a certain product out of aluminium. This gives a very positive signal to us that the whole Mäkelä Alu team wants to participate and go over these things together,” Arto says happily.

“We believe that the next step in the cooperation could be a profile made from recycled AluPure, which would create added value for both sides by achieving emission reductions. It is great to cooperate with a customer that shares the same values of environmental responsibility with us through its own operations,” says Viljo Sivula, Sales Manager at Mäkelä Alu.

The construction of solar farms is now growing strongly both in Finland and abroad. Wisol aims to target more export markets, once the domestic market is up and running.

“The whole market is still very much in its infancy in Finland. We want to strengthen our foothold in Finland first, before we really start to invest in exports. Of course, Europeans and Chinese are rushing into the same markets, but our strength is our specialised knowledge of northern conditions, which we have years of experience in. In Norway, for example, snow loads are slightly different from, say, the Netherlands. With our specialised expertise, we’ve been able to secure a fairly significant installation company in Norway,” he continues.

Artikkeli Wisol Oy: An aluminium profile supplier is an important partner in the photovoltaic sector julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

“When someone has an idea for a product, they present it to the supplier, and our job is to design the aluminium profile needed in the product so well that it fits perfectly with the other parts and that the final product is cost-effective, durable, and ready for the market. This is also the part we play in the story of Subsoccer®,” says Product Manager Pasi Korhonen from Mäkelä Alu.

An idea born by chance

The developer of Subsoccer®, Jarno Saarinen, came up with the idea for the product by chance.

“I was on a summer holiday in Spain with my family, and the European Football Championship was taking place at the same time. I was watching a game between Russia and Spain on the balcony of the hotel when my daughter Emma wanted to play with me. We sat opposite each other on chairs and had a plastic ball that we kicked at each other. Emma kicked the ball under my chair and shouted SCORE,” says Jarno Saarinen, the man behind the Subsoccer® idea and the founder of 4 Feet Under, the company behind the brand.

“I also wanted to watch the game while I was playing with Emma, so we used wet towels and swimsuits to build sides around the chairs so that the ball wouldn’t roll away. We had a lot of fun and suddenly I realised that we had come up with a whole new game,” he continues.

The story of Subsoccer® began from that moment, and within a few years, the product gained immense popularity among the world’s most famous football stars, leagues, sports circles and brands.

From vision to production

The idea for Subsoccer® sat in a drawer for a few years before it was taken forward with the help of 4 Feet Under, a company founded in 2016.

“At first, we didn’t really know whether the product was intended for children or adults. We also had no plans for internationalisation. We started looking for Finnish manufacturers who could deliver parts for the assembly as a turnkey solution,” says Markus Toivanen, partner and Head of Product Development and Production at 4 Feet Under.

The product consists of aluminium profiles and an injection-moulded corner piece that bind the structure together.

“This was our first challenge: how to make the relatively soft plastic part and the aluminium profiles stick together. We had to find suitable experts that could work together to solve this problem. We wanted to find the best people for the project, because the product had to be of high quality and durable,” says Jarno Saarinen.

Turnkey delivery

The successful solution was developed in cooperation with Mäkelä Alu and North Karelian plastic product manufacturer Vesuto. In total, the product receives components from 11 Finnish suppliers.

“The design work together with Mäkelä Alu went well. We received plans for parts from 4 Feet Under. We had to improve the original plans to some extent to ensure the quality and usability of the parts,” says Veikko Viitanen from Vesuto.

“When designing the profiles, it was important to find the right dimensions to fit the plastic and aluminium parts, within their respective tolerances. Aluminium profiles can be extruded into all kinds of shapes, the possibilities are endless. Another option for an edge profile is a profile with LED lights,” Pasi Korhonen adds.

“We often cooperate with other suppliers as well. This highlights Mäkelä Alu’s service promise: we can provide various services to our customers on a turnkey basis, from an idea to a finished product. We can take care of the profile design, tool manufacturing, extrusion of aluminium profiles, surface treatments, the necessary machining on the profiles and, of course, the delivery,” says Sales Specialist Antti Lesonen from Mäkelä Alu.

“We deliver two different profiles for Subsoccer®. They are pre-sawn to the right dimensions and surface treated. What makes the product particularly interesting is when it is made with the colours of different brands and it is exciting to see where the product ends up,” he adds.

Viral videos boosted success

The first Subsoccer® games were delivered to Superpark in Vantaa in 2019. This was just before the coronavirus pandemic. Shortly after, it became clear that the market in Finland would not be large enough.

“We had a product worth 2,500 euros that we wanted to sell to the world. In the second year of the coronavirus pandemic, we sold the product to more than 50 countries. Of course, in the beginning we had trouble getting notable references. Soon, however, football stars began to take an interest in the product, and soon our videos had millions of views on various social media channels,” says Saarinen.

Subsoccer® games for the world’s biggest brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Puma, Heineken and Ajax are currently on the production queue.

According to Saarinen, the Subsoccer® game’s popularity is based on a very simple thing: in addition to being fun, the game also looks fun on social media. There is often an increase in orders and contacts after social media posts gain high visibility.

“The videos that have gone viral have also caught the attention of sports media, and we have gained visibility in prime time even on Fox News. All thanks to social media,” says Saarinen.

International business from Finland

95 percent of the company’s revenue comes from exports. The product has not become a hit in Finland, at least not yet – this is likely due to the fact that Finland does not have a similar football culture as the big football countries abroad.

“Our first Finnish sports club partner is HIFK Football. Even though we have important partners around the world, everything is run from Finland. Of course, we also have warehouses and production lines abroad.”

“We have yet to conquer the consumer market. Our modest goal is to make our product the biggest table game of the century,” Saarinen concludes.

Artikkeli The aluminium profiles in the world’s most popular table football game are manufactured at Mäkelä Alu julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

Special solutions and surface treatment methods were developed together, and aluminium products became an increasingly important part of ROCA’s own product range.

“Today, we mainly supply ROCA with anodized and powder-coated custom-made profiles, although some of the profiles are pre-cut and pre-machined at our factory. The profiles are packed in ROCA’s own packaging, and ROCA delivers the products to their own customers,” says Anders Bengtsson.

We also have some long profiles ready in stock, which can be delivered machined very quickly to the customer, if necessary.

Today, there are regular orders and the annual volume is considerable.

“Since then, we have designed around 30 different profiles together,” says Bengtsson. According to him, ROCA Industry is a great and interesting partner company.

An international company with a long history

ROCA was founded in 1976. At first, the company’s the product range consisted of boating supplies, such as windshield wiper motors and boat fittings. The company has operated on international markets from the beginning.

“For example, we have a long history of cooperating with the Finnish company Maritim,” says Alexander Grinde, ROCA’s R&D manager.

“The company has been international from the very beginning and we started operations in Taiwan at a very early stage. In 2022, our turnover will reach approximately SEK 250 million and we employ 50 people, most of whom work at our headquarters in Tyresö. We also have offices in Denmark, Finland, China, and Taiwan, which is still the centre of our global operations,” says Alexander Grinde.

The owners of the company have always thought long-term, and the company has seen steady and profitable growth since the beginning.

“The company invests and expands continuously, in all areas,” says Alexander Grinde.

Continuous partnership development

ROCA’s products have been developed over the years. The company’s product range still includes boating accessories, as well as window and door fittings. New products are also being introduced to the market. The company sees opportunities for development especially in glass walls and doors, which are manufactured according to the ROCA’s wishes.

“In the near future, we will launch new products, such as soundproof glass doors, and a completely new door product family,” says Grinde.

Another growing product group is related to so-called “compact living”, which is all about maximising living space by making the best use of every square metre. This product group includes, for example, brackets for fold-down tables.

ROCA has recently invested in a production line that allows them to process Mäkelä Alu’s aluminium profiles, such as door frames, according to the customer’s wishes. The investment will double the segment’s capacity. These positive future prospects ensure the continuation of cooperation with Mäkelä Alu.

“We are challenging customers, but we get the best possible service from Mäkelä Alu’s sales manager Anders Bengtsson. Our requirements and wishes are always considered, and our cooperation runs smoothly. Our relationship with Mäkelä Alu is good. The products are of high quality and we look forward to continued cooperation,” says Alexander Grinde.

Please read some examples of our customers’ experiences with the AluServices concept from our References page.

Artikkeli Cooperation between ROCA Industry and Mäkelä Alu is running smoothly julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

Riikku consists of three subsidiaries: Sakkes in Sweden, Glassy in Norway, and Riikku Koti Oy, which is responsible for consumer sales in Finland. The last two companies joined the group a year ago. 

Mäkelä Alu played a key role in Riikku’s growth        

Cooperation between Riikku and Mäkelä Alu began six years ago, and Mäkelä Alu soon became the main supplier of Riikku’s aluminium profiles. According to Joni Mäkiranta, one of the owners of Riikku, the partnership marked something of a turning point for the company. Since the start of the cooperation, order and material flows have been closely monitored, and common operating methods have been developed in collaboration with Mäkelä Alu. Security of supply and transparency have constantly been improved, and at the same time, Riikku has experienced rapid growth. According to Mäkiranta, Mäkelä Alu’s warehousing services and flexible daily product deliveries have played a key role in this.   

“Our production has nearly doubled during our cooperation. Increasing our production to this extent would not have been possible without Mäkelä Alu,” says Mäkiranta.  

According to Mäkiranta, a steady, predetermined order flow is key when purchasing aluminium profiles. It has allowed the company to reduce its stocks and speed up its processes.  

“If we had to store aluminium profiles for many weeks, we would not be able to keep up with our current production volumes. We would be drowning in unfinished work.”  

No more organising orders by urgency       

Every profile order placed by Riikku is unique in terms of dimensions, colour, and type. The right kind of aluminium profiles must be available at the right time in order for the company’s production to run as planned.   

Mäkelä Alu delivers raw materials to Riikku on a daily basis. The companies have agreed on a certain framework with regard to delivery quantities, and the details of daily orders can be confirmed at short notice within that framework.  

“As a result, the number of open orders is small and there is no need to constantly rearrange orders according to the degree of urgency. Each order is completed in its turn,” says Mäkiranta.   

Fast deliveries to end customers     

At the same time, the waiting time for orders has been shortened, which has also enabled faster deliveries.

“This is a huge advantage for the end customer. We are able to serve our customers quickly when we receive the materials we need for their orders within days instead of months,” says Mäkiranta.   

“We can count on Mäkelä Alu’s delivery reliability”    

Now that Riikku can rely on Mäkelä Alu’s quick deliveries, the company only has to hold a few days’ stock of aluminium profiles in its own warehouse. The rest of the stock is stored at Mäkelä Alu through the AluStorage® warehousing service. Mäkelä Alu’s warehouse houses about a hundred aluminium profiles of different sizes that have been manufactured in accordance with Riikku’s specifications.

The profiles are only surface treated at Mäkelä Alu once an order is placed by Riikku.  

“Outsourcing our warehousing activities to Mäkelä Alu means that we have less unfinished work in our production hall and less things lying around in the yard. This arrangement would not work if we could not rely on the quality of the products and security of supply. However, this arrangement works well with Mäkelä Alu. We always get what we order,” says Mäkiranta.

This has also allowed Riikku to minimise waste.   

“When we talk about waste, we don’t just mean aluminium left over from machining. Waste can also refer to work carried out at the wrong time or products that are just lying around waiting to be delivered.”   

Continuous development based on customer needs      

Although the profile orders are handled electronically, Mäkelä Alu and Riikku interact very closely. Both companies are constantly striving to develop their operations and improve their productivity. When bottlenecks are identified, appropriate solutions are immediately sought.   

“Our goal is to further shorten our delivery times,” says Mäkiranta.   

Mäkiranta praises Mäkelä Alu’s development-oriented attitude.   

“The fact that Mäkelä Alu is easy to work with is also important to us. We feel they are happy to serve us and see us as a valuable partner, despite our occasional rivalry on the baseball field.”   

A steady order flow benefits both parties      

Sales Specialist Janne Kohonen from Mäkelä Alu is also happy with the cooperation.   

“Riikku has truly grasped the idea of ​​our service and understood the benefits of our strategy for the customer,” says Kohonen.   

He emphasises the importance of continuous monitoring and communication in this type of operating model. According to Kohonen, Riikku is easy to work with as a partner, which is important because, in the end, partnership is all about cooperation.   

Customers can outsource their warehousing activities to Mäkelä Alu    

This operating model is also beneficial to Mäkelä Alu as steady daily deliveries spread out the work. When a certain capacity can be reserved in advance for the customer’s orders, the customer has the opportunity to change the content of the order right up until the last moment.   

According to Kohonen, the main advantage of Mäkelä Alu’s warehousing service is that the customer does not have to tie up any capital in a warehouse.   

“Our customers in the window and terrace industry are already familiar with this concept, but some customers from other industries may still be surprised by the fact that warehousing can be outsourced to us and that they do not have to order the raw materials to their own warehouse,” says Kohonen.  

Circulating baskets facilitate transport and storage    

Riikku also uses Mäkelä Alu’s AluBasket® service. This means that the customer’s aluminium profiles are delivered in protective aluminium baskets that travel back and forth between the customer’s facilities and Mäkelä Alu. The baskets can be easily moved and stacked with a forklift.

The baskets protect the aluminium profiles from dents and also serve as convenient, short-term intermediate storage for the profiles.   

Riikku in a nutshell:

• Implements projects from planning to installation  
• Specialises in custom-made balcony glazing and railings   
• Main customers: construction companies (new buildings and renovation projects) 
• Head office and factory in Alavus, regional offices in Jyväskylä, Tampere, Oulu, Helsinki, and Raisio
• Subsidiaries in Sweden and Norway
• Consumer sales under the name Riikku Koti Oy  
• Turnover of 34 million euros, employs more than 200 balcony industry professionals     

Artikkeli Partnership with Mäkelä Alu enabled Riikku’s rapid growth         julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.

The company began operations by installing solar panels on the roofs of summer cottages in the 1970s. In the 21st century, the company started importing solar panels to Finland, which was soon followed by their production.

Solar Finland Oy is a family business and a leading company in its field. The company’s closest competitor is found in Lithuania.

“Our goal is to be a leading global player in the solar energy sector,” says the company’s CEO Esa Areva.

“Solar energy is the cheapest form of energy in the world, which is reflected in the high level of interest in it. Various countries also strongly support solar energy investments,” says Areva, describing the market.

Solar Finland only accepts environmentally friendly raw material

Solar Finland always wants to ensure that the equipment they use for environmentally friendly energy production is manufactured in an environmentally friendly way.

“This is why we have chosen Mäkelä Alu as our aluminium supplier,” says Areva.

Solar Finland uses aluminium in the frames and mounts of its solar panels.

“Mäkelä Alu’s fully recycled aluminium allows us to use the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in our products. That is our number one criterion when choosing a supplier, so we don’t want to acquire our aluminium from anywhere else. In addition, our aluminium scrap can be recycled back to Mäkelä Alu.”

Solar Finland has given a lot of thought to environmental issues in its product development, and the company also collaborates with universities.

The company aims to implement solar panel installations in the most energy-efficient way, and aluminium has proven to be a better solution than iron or plastic.

Solar Finland’s fully automated solar panel production line consists of approximately 30 different machines.

“We want to know where the aluminium we use comes from and the amount of emissions it generates”

In addition to recycling, Mäkelä Alu also shares Solar Finland’s other values, which include the quality, purity and traceability of raw materials, and responsible production.

“We find it important that our raw material supplier actively manages their emissions. We want to know how the aluminium smelting process is carried out, what type of energy is used, and where the raw material comes from. Mäkelä Alu’s profiles have all possible certificates, from certificates of origin to emissions certificates. Therefore, we do not need to wonder whether actors throughout the supply chain have acted responsibly in terms of the environment and human rights.”

Correspondingly, Solar Finland issues an energy certificate for its customers, which specifies how long it takes for the solar panel to generate the same amount of energy used to manufacture it, and under what conditions.

Pekka Hannula from Mäkelä Alu (on the left) and Anu Areva and Pasi Areva from Solar Finland are very pleased with the smooth cooperation.

Customers value environmental friendliness

Areva emphasises that environmental friendliness is not just important to Solar Finland.

“It is also important to our customers, and ultimately to their customers, and people are willing to pay for it. Besides, even if the price were a few per cent higher, it is still a 50-year investment. That is how long we plan for our solar panels to serve our customers, without maintenance. After that, we hope our products are recycled back to us.”

Areva says that when investing in solar energy, people rarely think about whether the solar panels were actually manufactured in an energy-friendly and environmentally friendly way. Even consumers don’t think to question it when investing in a good form of energy.

“The fact is that during their lifetime, many solar panels do not produce the amount of energy that would compensate for the energy used and emissions generated in their manufacture. There are so many differences between different manufacturing processes and raw material suppliers.”

High-quality raw materials help avoid problems in the future

Areva admits that when they started production, using cheap aluminium from Asia seemed like an attractive option. However, the idea was quickly dismissed due to inconsistencies in the quality of the raw material.

“In the global market, it is not at all self-evident that aluminium is pure aluminium and that no cheap metal has been added to the alloy, which could cause the product to start to rust over the years. We don’t want these kinds of problems, as we provide a 25-year guarantee for our product. When we work with Mäkelä Alu, we know exactly what we get. Being able to trust our partner is important to us.”

“Of course, we also believe that it is important that the aluminium profiles are manufactured nearby, so that their transport does not require much energy. I think it’s a similar case to locally sourced food.”

Production lines around the world

Solar Finland’s latest undertaking is to begin building solar panel production lines all across the world. This also creates a new need for the use of aluminium. The company’s goal is to set up two new production lines a year.

“Exporting our know-how and production lines to other parts of the world is more sensible and environmentally friendly than exporting the actual solar panels. The idea is to find a local partner and share our know-how with them. In this way, we will also have the opportunity to employ locals.”

Areva also sees new opportunities in using solar energy in Finland, for example with the development of storage solutions.

Solar panels can also be used in façades. Even in Finland, there is great potential in covering south-facing façades with solar panels.

Demand for recycled aluminium is increasing

Pekka Hannula from Mäkelä Alu, who coordinates the partnership with Solar Finland, states that the cooperation between the companies is diverse. Mäkelä Alu manufactures about twenty different aluminium profiles for Solar Finland. Most of the profiles are delivered anodized. Some of the profiles are further processed by Mäkelä Alu’s partners, and some are stored using Mäkelä Alu’s warehousing service.

The recycled aluminium used by Solar Finland is produced in Mäkelä Alu’s own foundry. Any raw material left over from Solar Finland’s production is recycled back to the foundry.

“In April 2019, we received a certificate for our recycled aluminium, and demand for this aluminium is increasing,” says Hannula.

When ordering aluminium profiles, the customer can choose Mäkelä Alu’s recycled aluminium as the raw material.

“What adds to its environmental value is the fact that the production of recycled aluminium reduces the need for cargo transportation,” says Hannula.

Artikkeli Mäkelä Alu’s recycled aluminium meets Solar Finland’s values julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran Mäkelä Alu Oy.