High-quality and durable aluminium profiles as part of a window factory’s production

The family-owned company Karelia Ikkuna Oy, which manufactures domestic (finnish) Karelia windows and doors, bases its operations on high-quality and durable custom-made products. Mäkelä Alu supplies surface treated aluminium profiles for window and door production needs. The collaboration began in the mid-1990s.

– 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.